PDA

View Full Version : Sonex Onex



RV8505
01-15-2012, 03:48 PM
Has anyone recived a onex kit yet? Thanks

Sonex1517
01-15-2012, 05:43 PM
The Sonex forums have people showing photos of significant build progress on their Onex...so I'd have to venture a "yes."

Bill
01-15-2012, 05:46 PM
With over 50 Onex kits shipped in 2011 by Sonex and the first kit shipped in July according to the Sonex end of year message, I'm sure that most of them have been received unless Conway is stockpiling them somewhere. Whether any of those builders frequent this forum and can thus offer first-hand information, I don't know.

RV8505
01-15-2012, 07:49 PM
I would like to really look at one of those wing fold mechanisms. up close. It sounds to good to be true! Not that I am doubting it but I have just have to see it work and if I would feel safe. I just have to find a solution to this hanger problem.

Mike M
01-16-2012, 06:35 AM
I would like to really look at one of those wing fold mechanisms. up close. It sounds to good to be true! Not that I am doubting it but I have just have to see it work and if I would feel safe. I just have to find a solution to this hanger problem.

hangar vs hanger14101411

RV8505
01-16-2012, 11:43 AM
I got one of those now and it fits my ego fine! ! I'm planning in my 40's for flying in my 70's.Former B-52 hanger by the way.1412

Eric Witherspoon
01-16-2012, 12:24 PM
I was there in 2010 for the "roll out" and saw them demo-ing the wing fold. Took about 15 seconds, both wings up or both wings down, if you weren't really trying. My hangar-mate was there in 2011 and said they were dropping the wings from fully stowed. Not that I would do that with my airplane, but I guess they have got some confidence in that mechanism.

Not sure what you want to see - there's a "paddle" for the aileron, so nothing to connect/disconnect there, and the release lever pulls 2 pins - one at the bottom of the main spar, and one through the aft spar.

Here's some photos I took, wing hinge about halfway down on this page:
http://www.spoonworld.com/flying/osh2010_onex/osh2010_onex.htm

RV8505
01-16-2012, 01:38 PM
Thank you. What did you think of the wing lock assy? Are you building one?

steveinindy
01-16-2012, 01:48 PM
I've yet to see a wing folding and locking assembly on a prop aircraft that I am fully comfortable with short of what is found on WWII naval aircraft.

RV8505
01-16-2012, 02:54 PM
I know what you mean.. I was iin the navy and we were always working on wing locks. That is why I want to see one up close to see if it is something I would like to pursue.

Mike M
01-16-2012, 03:54 PM
I got one of those now and it fits my ego fine! ! I'm planning in my 40's for flying in my 70's.Former B-52 hanger by the way.1412

hangar with a hanger inside it.

1416

steveinindy
01-16-2012, 04:40 PM
hangar with a hanger inside it.

1416

*wipes coffee off screen*

rwanttaja
01-16-2012, 08:06 PM
*wipes coffee off screen*
At least they're not showing pictures of hanger queens... :-)

Ron Wanttaja

rwanttaja
01-16-2012, 08:15 PM
I've yet to see a wing folding and locking assembly on a prop aircraft that I am fully comfortable with short of what is found on WWII naval aircraft.
Fly Baby's is pretty thorough. Four 1/2" pins are inserted at the spar carrythroughs, and all four pins are visible from outside the cockpit. A couple clevis pins are then inserted for the wing bracing, that's it. It's all out in the open, easy to inspect. In 50 years, there's been only one accident related to improperly unfolding the wings (left out the spar pins).

Avids and Kitfoxes have been pretty reliable, too.

Ron Wanttaja

steveinindy
01-16-2012, 10:10 PM
In 50 years, there's been only one accident related to improperly unfolding the wings (left out the spar pins).

Oops.

You'll be at Oshkosh right? If you bring your Fly Baby with you, would you mind if I took a look at the folding mechanism? I should also bring along my copy (once I get a new one....my psychotic ex-girlfriend stole it along with a bunch of my other stuff) of Kitplane Construction and have you sign it for me.

rwanttaja
01-17-2012, 02:29 AM
You'll be at Oshkosh right? If you bring your Fly Baby with you, would you mind if I took a look at the folding mechanism? I should also bring along my copy (once I get a new one....my psychotic ex-girlfriend stole it along with a bunch of my other stuff) of Kitplane Construction and have you sign it for me.
Actually, probably won't be at Oshkosh. I'll buy ya a beer another time.1417

For more detail on Fly Baby wing folding, see:

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/FOLDING.HTM

You'll note that, while it has the advantage of being mostly exposed so you can check the wings after unfolding, it's a bit more complex than a lot of folding-wing airplanes. I do like the idea of physically pushing-in pins to secure the wings, vs. some sort of mechanism that's supposed to be doing it for me.

I understand your preference for Navy-quality folding mechanisms, but those fail, too...

Ron Wanttaja

steveinindy
01-17-2012, 02:43 AM
I understand your preference for Navy-quality folding mechanisms, but those fail, too...

Which is a major reason I don't have much interest in an aircraft with folding wings.

Jim Hann
01-17-2012, 11:06 AM
Ron also didn't mention that the wing folding hinge is not in anyway attached or even associated with the spars. Pete unintentionally demonstrated how this was a good idea with N500F many years ago, it is detailed in one of the articles from late '62 or early '63 after he won the design contest.

Jim
Fly Baby and Hevle Classic plans holder.

Eric Witherspoon
01-17-2012, 01:37 PM
Thank you. What did you think of the wing lock assy? Are you building one?

I am not building one. I have built the better part of 2 of their Sonex, however. First one I sold prior to completion. Second one I've been flying for the past 3+ years. Their designs are "robust", to say the least. They do the math, then they test to failure (to confirm the conservatism in their calculations). So I wouldn't doubt what they have there is plenty strong.

If you have doubts, I'm sure within a couple of months, there will be builders' photos of every last part, every stage of assembly. There hasn't been a customer completion yet (that I know of), so give them some time. They only started shipping middle of last year.

rwanttaja
01-17-2012, 08:16 PM
Ron also didn't mention that the wing folding hinge is not in anyway attached or even associated with the spars.

Yes, indeed. The "Wing folding mechanism" doesn't associate with any structural elements. You disconnect the spars at the fuselage, and there's a low-tech pivot system to let you slide each wing alongside the fuselage.

That's one advantage of the Fly Baby for those who don't really like folding wings...you can replace those 1/2" spar pins with AN8 bolts and nuts. But if you *ever* need to fold the wings, you can just remove the bolts.

Ron Wanttaja

belgianbuzzer
01-20-2012, 09:26 AM
I'm glad somebody brings this up. Hangar, like Fuselage and Aileron and ... are originally French words and used that way worldwide. A Hanger, to the contrary, is what you (should) hang your coat on.