Sonex Aircraft SubSonex
{{Short description|American jet-powered homebuilt airplane}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
| {{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = SubSonex | image = SubSonexsmoke.jpg | caption = SubSonex JSX-1 }}{{Infobox aircraft type | type = Homebuilt aircraft | national origin = United States | manufacturer = Sonex Aircraft | designer = John Monnett | first flight = 10 August 2011 | introduced = 2015 | retired = | status = In production (2022) | primary user = | more users = | produced = Fall 2014-present | number built = 17 (January 2022) | developed from = | variants with their own articles = }} |
The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.
Design and development
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.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} It was flight tested by jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.{{cite news |last1=Whitfield |first1=Bethany |title=SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight |url=http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/subsonex-jet-completes-maiden-flight |work=Flying |date=16 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818125038/http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/subsonex-jet-completes-maiden-flight |archive-date=18 August 2011}}Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}
The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a fully retractable, pneumatically-operated tricycle configuration.{{cite news|last1=Grady|first1=Mary|title=First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex|url=https://www.avweb.com/news/first-flight-expected-soon-for-jet-powered-sonex/|accessdate=31 December 2009|publisher=AVweb|date=30 December 2009|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220810151255/https://www.avweb.com/news/first-flight-expected-soon-for-jet-powered-sonex/|archive-date= 10 August 2022|url-status= live}}{{cite news|last1=Grady|first1=Mary|title=Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights|url=https://www.avweb.com/news/jet-powered-glider-completes-test-flights/|accessdate=10 June 2010|publisher=AVweb|date=7 June 2010}}{{cite press release|author=|title=SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing|url=http://www.sonexaircraft.com/press/releases/pr_072210.html|location=Oshkosh, WI|publisher=Sonex Aircraft|date=22 July 2010|access-date=21 June 2012}}{{cite web|url= https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=749bba5932a5bd5cc95950a5c&id=5b94932a25&e=97883e4567|title= SubSonex Update: FAA NKET Checklist Posted, SubSonex Gets New Gear and New Test Flight Video Footage is Available!|access-date= 2 October 2020|author= Sonex Aircraft|author-link= Sonex Aircraft|work= campaign-archive.com|year= 2014|archive-url= https://archive.today/20201002151857/https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=749bba5932a5bd5cc95950a5c&id=5b94932a25&e=97883e4567|archive-date= 2 October 2020|url-status= live}}
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.{{cite web|last=Pew |first=Glenn |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sonex-Accepts-Deposit-Personal-Jet220285-1.html |title=Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article |publisher=Avweb.com |accessdate=31 July 2013}}
The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015,{{cite news|last1=Kauh|first1=Elaine|title=Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sonex-Begins-Microjet-Kit-Deliveries-223582-1.html|accessdate=20 February 2015|publisher=AVweb|date=18 February 2015}}{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|page=14|title=Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit|date=August 2015}} and completed and flown in October 2015.{{cite web|title=First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/experimental-aircraft-homebuilts/first-customer-built-subsonex-jet-flies|work=Flying|last=Pope|first=Stephen|accessdate=7 May 2016}}
Operational history
By January 2022, 17 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 8 January 2022|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 8 January 2022}}{{cite web|url = https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/MakeModelInquiry|title = Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results|accessdate = 8 January 2022|last = Federal Aviation Administration|author-link = Federal Aviation Administration|date = 8 January 2022}}
In August 2024, two JSX-2s were used by the Michigan Air National Guard as "cruise missile threat replication aircraft" and drones during Exercise Northern Strike. The JSX-2s are supplied by KestrelX.{{Cite web |title=KestrelX UAV and Cruise Missile Threat Replication Aircraft {{!}} SBIR.gov |author= |work=legacy.www.sbir.gov |date= |access-date=23 August 2024 |url= https://legacy.www.sbir.gov/node/2217697}}{{Cite web |title=U.S. Air Force Uses Contracted JSX-2 SubSonex Microjets to Simulate Cruise Missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24 |last=Stover |first=Andrew |work=The Aviationist |date=11 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024 |url= https://theaviationist.com/2024/08/11/usaf-microjets-simulate-cruise-missiles/}}{{Cite web |title=Contracted Subsonex JSX-2 microjets used by USAF to simulate cruise missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24 |last=Leone |first=Dario |work=The Aviation Geek Club |date= |access-date=23 August 2024 |url= https://theaviationgeekclub.com/contracted-subsonex-jsx-2-microjets-used-by-usaf-to-simulate-cruise-missiles-in-exercise-northern-strike-24/}}{{Cite web |title=F-16s Team With JSX-2 Microjets To Replicate Complex Cruise Missile And Drone Attacks |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |work=The War Zone |date=14 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024 |url= https://www.twz.com/air/f-16s-team-with-jsx-2-microjets-to-replicate-complex-cruise-missile-and-drone-attacks}}{{Cite web |title=Tiny Jets Masquerading As Cruise Missiles Featured In Michigan Airpower Exercise |last=Trevithick |first=Joseph |work=The War Zone |date=9 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024 |url= https://www.twz.com/air/tiny-jets-masquerading-as-cruise-missiles-featured-in-michigan-airpower-exercise}}
Variants
;JSX-1
:Prototype version.
;JSX-2
:Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage.{{cite web|title=SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011|url=http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/updates/subsonex/subsonex_update_100711.html|accessdate=21 June 2012|archive-date=June 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621215350/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/research/updates/subsonex/subsonex_update_100711.html|url-status=dead}} Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field.{{cite news |last1=Grady |first1=Mary |title=Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sonex-Flies-Single-Seat-Jet-222346-1.html |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=AVweb |date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910141047/http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sonex-Flies-Single-Seat-Jet-222346-1.html |archive-date=10 September 2015}} Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014.{{cite journal|journal=Sport Aviation|date=April 2014|page=14}}{{cite news|last1=Thurber|first1=Matt|title=AirVenture Report: 2014|url=http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-09-01/airventure-report-2014|accessdate=4 September 2014|publisher=AINonline|date=1 September 2014 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210829133400/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-09-01/airventure-report-2014|archive-date= 29 August 2021|url-status= live}}
;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 {{convert|174|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}} and an estimated useful load of {{convert|970|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/experimentals/sonex-to-offer-2-place-jet-kit/|title = Sonex To Offer Two-Place Jet Kit|access-date = 12 July 2019|last = O'Connor|first = Kate|work = AVweb|date = 11 July 2019|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190712133542/https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/experimentals/sonex-to-offer-2-place-jet-kit/|archivedate = 12 July 2019}} 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.{{cite web|url = https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/experimentals/two-seat-subsonex-set-to-debut-at-airventure-2020/|title = Two-Seat SubSonex Set to Debut at AirVenture 202|access-date = 23 January 2020|last = Cook|first =Marc |work = AVweb|date = 15 January 2020|archiveurl = |archivedate = }}{{Cite web|title=EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic|url=https://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/news/local/oshkosh/airventure/2020/05/01/eaa-airventure-oshkosh-2020-canceled-due-coronavirus-pandemic/3063605001/|last=Prinsen|first=Jake|website=Northwestern Media|language=en|access-date=2020-05-01}}
;NASC Tracer
:Twin-jet UAV model for military and civil applications, designed by Sonex and the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC){{cite web|url= https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/subsonex-based-unmanned-twin-jet-revealed-as-low-cost-military-uav/|title= SubSonex-Based Unmanned Twin-Jet Revealed As Low-Cost Military UAV|access-date= 15 April 2022|last= Phelps|first= Mark|work= AVweb|date= 26 April 2022|archive-url= https://archive.today/20220427123326/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/subsonex-based-unmanned-twin-jet-revealed-as-low-cost-military-uav/|archive-date= 27 April 2022|url-status= live}}
Specifications (JSX-2)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Sonex Aircraft{{cite web|title=SubSonex Brochure|url=http://www.sonexaircraft.com/subsonex/SubSonex_Brochure_032816-web-optimized.pdf|publisher=Sonex Aircraft|accessdate=28 July 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160417193940/http://www.sonexaircraft.com/subsonex/SubSonex_Brochure_032816-web-optimized.pdf|archive-date= 17 April 2016|url-status= dead}} and AINonline
|prime units?=kts
|genhide=
|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=16
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=18
|span in=
|span note=
|height m=
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=60
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=64-415
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=500
|empty weight note=average
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=1000
|gross weight note=utility configuration
|fuel capacity={{convert|40|u.s.gal}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=PBS TJ100
|eng1 type=turbojet
|eng1 kn=1.3
|eng1 lbf=
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=240
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=TAS
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=58
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=landing configuration
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=287
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=480
|range nmi=
|range note=with 30 minute reserve
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+4.4/-2.2 in utility configuration, +6/-3 in aerobatic configuration
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=1600
|climb rate note=initial at sea level
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=* Fuel consumption: {{convert|18|USgal|L}} per hour
|avionics=
- MGL Avionics Flight II instrument and the MGL V10 Com transceiver
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Sonex Aircraft SubSonex}}
- {{Official website|http://www.sonexaircraft.com/subsonex}}
- [http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1569343055001 Web Interview on SubSonex Progress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001190919/http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1569343055001 |date=October 1, 2013 }}
- [http://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/SubSonex-The-Second-Coming-of-the-Microjet-224055-1.html The Second Coming of the Microjet], by Paul Bertorelli, AVweb
{{Monnett aircraft}}
Category:Single-engined jet aircraft