A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

Experimental aircraft manufacturer Sonex Aircraft introduced its AeroVee Turbo engine and announced new details on its in-development SubSonex personal jet during the company’s annual EAA AirVenture open house, held yesterday at its headquarters, which are adjacent to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The Turbo boosts the power of the standard AeroVee engine from 80 hp to 100 hp.


Noting that the turbocharged engine maintains power as it gains altitude in contrast to many of its more powerful, normally aspirated competitors, Sonex CEO Jeremy Monnett told open house guests, “You’re going to outperform engines rated 120 horsepower, or approaching 130 horsepower, because you have [the turbocharger] working for you.” AeroVee engines are sold as kits, and the Turbo is priced at $10,995. Deliveries are scheduled to being in the fourth quarter of this year. An upgrade package to turbocharge normally aspirated AeroVees costs $3,995. Some 500 to 700 upgradeable AeroVees are currently in operation, Monnett said.


Sonex president John Monnett, Jeremy’s father, announced pricing for the company’s SubSonex one-person jet, and said kit deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The SubSonex JSX2 is powered by the PBS T1-100 turbojet engine and has a range of about 500 nm, consuming some 18 gph on average. Price for a SubSonex kit is $130,000, with a $5,000 option for additional assistance for jets registered in the experimental exhibition category, which negates the 51-percent rule requiring builders to construct more than half of an experimental aircraft themselves. Prospective buyers with $10,000 deposits can firm their orders at a price of $120,000. A BRS system is standard, and an optional MGL iEFIS Explorer avionics package is available for $5,440. A Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required to operate the jet, and Monnett outlined the procedures for obtaining the authorization. This week at AirVenture the SubSonex JSX2 is taking part in fly-by flight demonstrations.

Sonex Intros Turbo Engine, Prices Personal Jet

Kit engine boosts AeroVee to 100 hp and JSX one-person jet kit will cost $130,000, deliveries of both scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter.

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