What is the Funnest 2-place airplane?

Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified

"Doug Wells" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for a fun airplane to introduce my two young kids to
aviation. Here is what fun means to me....

- flies low and slow
- Side by Side seating
- can get into small grass fields
- good STOL performance
- Dependable
- Relatively decent number of planes available to buy
- low operating costs
- OK if it tie down outside
- Homebuilt or Certified OK
- Under $30k

I learned to fly when I was 12 in a C-152 and am now a 40 year old ATP
rated pilot with several thousand hours. I've done a ton of XC
flights in Mooneys, twins, etc. Cool but not viceral fun. Looking
back over the years, flying my friends Piper Cub into grass fields,
small airports and such was probably some of the best shear joy
moments in my flying career.

I want to get my 7-year old EXCITED about aviation and don't have many
ideas outside of a J-3 cub. I'd greatly appreciated any thoughts on
aircraft that I should consider.

Thanks for your thoughts

"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...
Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.

tater wrote:
"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...
Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.



Yes, but that is TAS not MAS

Charles

Charles Vincent wrote:
tater wrote:

"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...

Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.



Yes, but that is TAS not MAS

Charles

Yes but it is a Max 120 kts. right?

"Jerry Springer" wrote in message
news:5dHFi.6472$Ot1.3873@trnddc07...

Yes but it is a Max 120 kts. right?

Nope. Max 120 knots continuous cruising speed.

Rich S.

Jerry Springer wrote:
Charles Vincent wrote:
tater wrote:

"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...

Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH,
LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.



Yes, but that is TAS not MAS

Charles

Yes but it is a Max 120 kts. right?

Sorry, should have added a smiley.

TAS=True Airspeed
MAS=Marketing Airspeed

Charles

"tater" wrote in message
m...

"Carl Orton" wrote in message
...
Sonex. $26,000, sonexaircraft.com amateur-built, 150MPH, LSA-qualified


Max airspeed for LSA is 138mph.


With a climb prop, it would be easy to keep one of the 4 cylinder Sonexes
under that speed. The question is whether the Sonex has enough interior room
for two people and how many people would be comfortable with the climb
performance of a Sonex with two aboard.

I know three Sonex owners or ex-owners. The guy with the 6 cylinder engine
has a good flying airplane, but it doesn't meet the performance claims. The
guys with 4 cylinder engines won't come out and say they are disappointed
with the performance, but their body language, tone, etc tells the tale.

KB

"Kyle Boatright" wrote:

I know three Sonex owners or ex-owners. The guy with the 6 cylinder
engine has a good flying airplane, but it doesn't meet the performance
claims. The guys with 4 cylinder engines won't come out and say they
are disappointed with the performance, but their body language, tone,
etc tells the tale.

Sat it one at Oshgosh, wasn't impressed, neither with the Zodiac 601
series... And thats just from sitting in it with another adult and not
trying to operate the controls inflight...

Darrel Toepfer wrote:
"Kyle Boatright" wrote:

I know three Sonex owners or ex-owners. The guy with the 6 cylinder
engine has a good flying airplane, but it doesn't meet the
performance claims. The guys with 4 cylinder engines won't come out
and say they are disappointed with the performance, but their body
language, tone, etc tells the tale.

Sat it one at Oshgosh, wasn't impressed, neither with the Zodiac 601
series... And thats just from sitting in it with another adult and not
trying to operate the controls inflight...

Loose some weight Darrel. The 601XL cockpit is wider than a 172 at 44
inches. It is a little tighter because of the center console but after you
get used to it it is much more comforable than a 172.

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
Loose some weight Darrel. The 601XL cockpit is wider than a 172 at 44
inches. It is a little tighter because of the center console but after you get
used to it it is much more comforable than a 172.

I recently checked out in the factory-made version of the 601 and find the
climb performance with two aboard marginal (and I live at sea level). Because
of this, it is the only plane that my FBO routinely does not fill the tanks on.
Balanced against that, I love the visibility, love the maneuverability, & love
the modern panel after a lifetime of steam gauges. You can feel what I assume
is the wing spar sticking into your back through the otherwise comfortable
seats. It would be just bad enough to totally ruin a long XC.

I am not sure that I would describe it as "roomy". For example, my kneepad
limits stick movement, so I have to leave it off my leg and drape it across the
center console. Being a "glider guy", I have no problem with canopies in
general, but find the one on that particular plane to be a serious
disappointment. One needs to fuss with it to get things to line up before it
will click closed. This is best done with two sets of hands & is a total pain
when solo.

My general feeling is that it could easily be my favorite 2-place if it had
a few more feet of wingspan to help the climb and a few important details
attended to.

Vaughn