Model A Tailwheel 23500 onoSONEX Model A

The Sonex is a small, simple, monoplane designed by John Monnett for home building and day-time flight under Visual Flight Rules. Its compact size and efficient design results in good performance and fuel economy using a relatively low power engine (80hp). Typical cruise speed is about 100 knots at Max Mass of 522 kg, at 2500 feet and 2950 RPM burning about 19 litres of Avgas per hour. It was relatively simple to build, conventional to maintain and as it is almost entirely made from 6061T6 aluminium like the C47 Dakota, it is resistant to corrosion. G-YCMI has always been hangared and is painted inside and out.
MI is powered by a professionally built Aerovee 2.1 litre 4-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine. The engine has two independent ignition systems of different types, adjustable air/fuel mixture control, an alternator and an electric starter. This Aerovee is fitted with an AeroInjector instead of a conventional carburettor, which offers greater resistance to carb-icing. It drives a Sensenich 54 44 wooden propeller. A spare propeller may be available by negotiation
The main panel consists of an MGL Discovery Lite which provides engine and performance parameters including separate but simultaneous displays of all 4 CHTs and EGTs, as well as oil pressure & temperature and carb temperature. Airspeed and direction, artificial horizon, balance, and moving maps are also provided on the screen although for simplicity of navigation this Sonex also has a separate SkyDemon display. There are analogue duplicates for the Altimeter, ASI, compass and balance ball.
MI has a Funke ATR833 Air-band transceiver and a SkyEcho2 traffic detectorn picking up ADS B & Flarm traffic which is then superimposed on the SkyDemon display. A Trig TT21 transponder provides Mode A/S electronic conspicuity. The transponder does not transmit ADS B-Extended Squitter so the aircraft is not electronically conspicuous to other aircraft, but subject to ATC permission, may still operate in Class C & D controlled airspace. It has wingtip lights and strobes,
The colour scheme of G-YCMI is also pretty conspicuous, being mainly black underneath (which stands out against the sky) and mainly yellow on top (which stands out against the land and sea) The black rectangles, the star and the white discs bearing the letter I together with the registration reflect the fact that the aircraft was built as a tribute to the 448th Bomb Group of the USAAF which was based in World War 2 at Seething where G-YCMI was built

The Sonex is a strong aeroplane in which aerobatics are regularly flown in the USA but aerobatics are not (at the moment) approved in the UK. The maximum approved take-off weight in the UK is 522 kg and MI weighs 312 kg. The Permit to fly is valid until 20/12/2023