Sonex Aircraft SubSonex

The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.

SubSonex
SubSonex JSX-1
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sonex Aircraft
Designer John Monnett
First flight 10 August 2011
Introduction 2015
Status In production (2022)
Produced Fall 2014-present
Number built 17 (January 2022)

Design and development
SubSonex JSX-1 demonstration flight
JSX-1 prototype

The JSX-1 is a single place, single engine jet aircraft similar in design to an Onex, with a Waiex style Y tail, fixed main landing gear and a retractable nosewheel. Introduced at AirVenture 2009, it is powered by a Czech-built PBS TJ100 turbojet engine mounted above the aft fuselage, with the exhaust exiting between the Y-tail. It achieved first engine test runs in December 2009. The engine produces 1100 N (240 lb) of thrust. Originally developed with only a central mono pod wheel, tail wheel and small wing tip outriggers, the prototype exhibited directional controllability problems during taxi tests.

The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a fully retractable, pneumatically-operated tricycle configuration.[1][2][3][4] It was flight tested by jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.[5][6]

At AirVenture 2013 the company began taking US$10,000 deposits on production kits. The kit's projected price was US$125,000 in 2013 and US$135,000 in 2014.[6][7]

The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015,[8][9] and completed and flown in October 2015.[10]

Operational history

By January 2022, 17 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[11][12]

Variants
JSX-1
Prototype version.
SubSonex JSX-2
SubSonex JSX-2
JSX-2
Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage.[13] Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field.[14] Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014.[15][16]
JSX-2T
Two-seats in side-by-side configuration version announced in July 2019. It will use the same PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine with the PBS TJ-150 as an option. The design is projected to offer a cruise speed of over 174 kn (322 km/h) and an estimated useful load of 970 lb (440 kg).[17] The aircraft was expected to be first publicly displayed at Airventure in July 2020, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18][19]
NASC Tracer
Twin-jet UAV model for military and civil applications, designed by Sonex and the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC)[20]
NASC Tracer

Specifications (JSX-2)

Data from Sonex Aircraft[21] and AINonline[16]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
  • Wingspan: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Wing area: 60 sq ft (5.6 m2)
  • Airfoil: 64-415
  • Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg) average
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg) utility configuration
  • Fuel capacity: 40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × PBS TJ100 turbojet, 290 lbf (1.3 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 210 kn (240 mph, 390 km/h) TAS
  • Stall speed: 50 kn (58 mph, 93 km/h) landing configuration
  • Never exceed speed: 249 kn (287 mph, 462 km/h)
  • Range: 420 nmi (480 mi, 770 km) with 30 minute reserve
  • g limits: +4.4/-2.2 in utility configuration, +6/-3 in aerobatic configuration
  • Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s) initial at sea level
  • Fuel consumption: 18 US gallons (68 L) per hour

Avionics

  • MGL Avionics Flight II instrument and the MGL V10 Com transceiver

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
  1. Grady, Mary (December 30, 2009). "First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex". AVweb. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  2. Grady, Mary (June 7, 2010). "Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights". AVweb. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  3. "SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing" (Press release). Oshkosh, WI: Sonex Aircraft. July 22, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  4. Sonex Aircraft (2014). "SubSonex Update: FAA NKET Checklist Posted, SubSonex Gets New Gear and New Test Flight Video Footage is Available!". campaign-archive.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  5. "SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight". Retrieved September 5, 2011.
  6. Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  7. Pew, Glenn. "Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article". Avweb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  8. Kauh, Elaine (February 18, 2015). "Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries". AVweb. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  9. "Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit". Sport Aviation: 14. August 2015.
  10. Pope, Stephen. "First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies". Flying. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  11. Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  12. Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  13. "SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011". Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  14. Grady, Mary (July 14, 2014). "Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet". AVweb. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  15. Sport Aviation: 14. April 2014. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. Thurber, Matt (September 1, 2014). "AirVenture Report: 2014". AINonline. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  17. O'Connor, Kate (July 11, 2019). "Sonex To Offer Two-Place Jet Kit". AVweb. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  18. Cook, Marc (January 15, 2020). "Two-Seat SubSonex Set to Debut at AirVenture 202". AVweb. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  19. Prinsen, Jake. "EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic". Northwestern Media. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  20. Phelps, Mark (April 26, 2022). "SubSonex-Based Unmanned Twin-Jet Revealed As Low-Cost Military UAV". AVweb. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  21. "SubSonex Brochure" (PDF). Sonex Aircraft. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
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