Sonex #48 N25198 "first" flight

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Sonex #48 N25198 "first" flight

Postby fastj22 » Sat May 28, 2016 7:38 pm

Sonex #48 returned to the sky today after taking 15 years off due to being grounded for 9-11-2001 during phase 1 testing. She's changed hands numerous times, travel cross country twice on an open trailer and had the hangar rash to prove it.
Carl Benda picked it up on a barn find (literally) and spent the better part of two years fixing her up. New EFIS, tail feathers, and new turbo Aerovee. Carl's an A&P and did great work on her. He asked me to do the "maiden" flight as he has no Sonex/tailwheel/low wing experience yet.
She flew like a Sonex. The engine was silky smooth and produced almost as much power as my Jabiru. I different prop and it might actually outperform my plane. Only squawk was a heavy left wing. Good job Carl! Now to complete Phase 1 again!
I believe this is the first Turbo Aerovee in Colorado and maybe at any high altitude airport, 6800ft DA today was 9000ft. So far, so good!

John Gillis
SEL Private, Comm Glider, Tow pilot (Pawnee Driver)
Waiex N116YX, Jabiru 3300, Tail dragger,
First flight, 3/16/2013. 403 hours and climbing.
Home: CO15. KOSH x 5
Flying a B-Model Conversion (Super Bee Baby!)
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fastj22
 
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Re: Sonex #48 N25198 "first" flight

Postby Bryan Cotton » Sat May 28, 2016 11:34 pm

Please pass my congrats to Carl!
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
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Re: Sonex #48 N25198 "first" flight

Postby kevinh » Sat May 28, 2016 11:40 pm

Congrats! The best sort of post!
Taildragger Waiex in progress, tail done, wings done, about to mate wings to fuse,
then cowl, canopy, paint (photos): flush rivets, turbo aerovee, acro ailerons
(I built my RV7A and happily flew it for about 500 hrs)
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Location: San Mateo, CA


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