SonexBuilders.net

Slow (10 years and counting) Legacy Xenos. Using 912UL (80hp) Rotax. Hopefully first flight this year. A few questions:

1. Plan to use the short wingtips almost exclusively. Has anyone calculated the glide ratio (as well as other performance parameters) with the short tips? Fully understand that I will need to do my own flight testing.
2. Anyone aware of transition training for the Xenos or at least conventional gear Waiex? Might approach Paul Dye.
3. Has anyone converted a Legacy Xenos to center stick. (understand that the lowered seatpan makes this complicated)

Greatly appreciate any input.

Rick H

Hey Rick! I don't have any answers for you but welcome to the forum. Training is hard/impossible to come by. But depending on weight and location you may find somebody who will take you flying and get some familiarity.

Hi Rick,

Yes, I have the data from glide tests with short and long wingtips & with & without wheelpants & with cowl flap open or closed. Yes, I spent a week designing and building a cable operated cowl flap for my CAMit 3300 engine (about a 12% improvement in L/D.) I don't remember without looking at the data what the other differences were. I can send you the xcel files if you like. There was not very much difference. With the long tips, I have about a 20:1 glide with cowl flaps closed and with wheelpants, gear leg upper & lower fairings, etc. I never have achieved the claimed 24:1 that Sonex advertises.

Rick Caldwell
Xenos 0057 75 hrs on engine