SubSonex Airframe to Enter 'Design Review'
An incident during the testing of John Monnett's enticing
single-engine sport jet program has caused him to go back to the
drawing board... While the company is saying little about what
occurred, an initial NTSB accident summary indicates that the
prototype "Landed In The Grass Short Of The Runway, Oshkosh, WI."
No injuries were noted, and the damage was reported as 'minor.'
A statement on the Sonex Aircraft website admits that the
airplane is heading back for a design review while offering few
details on the problems that took place during flight test
operations. The Sonex site notes that, "The SubSonex personal jet
program faces setbacks, despite huge successes with engine systems
integration and testing. Through the course of a series of
high-speed taxi tests in recent months, the design team has
identified some issues with controllability of the aircraft in the
transition phase approaching takeoff speeds, and has decided to
enter a thorough design review process aimed at making the aircraft
easier to handle for the average recreational pilot."
Sonex also states that this may represent a significant delay in
progress for the SubSonex as higher Hornets’ Nest Research
and Development priorities take precedence. Both the E-Flight
Electric Aircraft and Onex Single-Place Aircraft projects approach
critical stages that demand the design team’s full attention
over the coming months. Progress updates on both projects will be
posted soon.
“The challenges we face with the SubSonex perfectly
illustrate our reasoning for unveiling this project under the
banner of the Hornets’ Nest Research and Development
program,” states Sonex Aircraft Founder and President John
Monnett.
Sonex Aircraft Founder and
President John Monnett
“We have been very deliberate in not publishing timetables
for development of the aircraft or guarantees of kit availability
because there are no guarantees in R&D, despite our best
efforts. The Sonex, Waiex and Xenos airframes, along with the
current line of AeroConversions products offer impeccable
performance, and no product will emerge from the Hornets’
Nest to become available for consumers without meeting the same
stringent criteria. I am committed to seeing the SubSonex through,
and am confident that we can be successful, however, it must take a
back seat to other company priorities for now,” Monnett
continues.
“The E-Flight Electric Aircraft and Onex Single-Place
Aircraft programs are gaining a huge amount of momentum, and
represent the largest potential for successful new Sonex and
AeroConversions products in the near-term. These projects require
our full attention and resources as we move forward with
R&D.”
** Report created 6/7/2010 Record 4 **
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 141SX Make/Model: EXP Description: EXP-
Date: 06/03/2010 Time: 1546
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Minor
LOCATION
City: OSHKOSH State: WI Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE GRASS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, OSHKOSH, WI
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: SPECI 1545Z 34004KT 10SM CLR 19/07 A2985
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Landing Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: MILWAUKEE, WI (GL13) Entry date: 06/04/2010
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