Monnett Sonerai

Un autre appareil léger Formule V à moteur VW, le Monnett Sonerai et ses développements sur Wikipedia.en

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The Sonerai is a small, VW powered homebuilt aircraft designed by John Monnett. The Sonerai began to compete as a single seat mid-wing Formula-V racer class formed in 1972.

The Sonerai soon evolved into a two-seat model called the Sonerai II.

Later versions included a low wing Sonerai IIL, a tricycle gear Sonerai IILT and finally the stretched Sonerai IILS and IILST.

John Monnett came up with the name Sonerai from a combination of the words Sonic and Cosmic-Ray

Many Sonerais have been built and it remains a very popular design for people seeking a low cost experimental aircraft with good speed and maneuverability. The airframe cost to build in 1974 was estimated at $2,500.

The 2010 airframe cost is approximately $6,000 (US) and the total cost is approximately $15,000 (US) with the addition of hardware, instrumentation, engine and other required items.

The time to build is between 800 and 1000 hours.

Design

The Sonerai I design and construction started in 1970 with the goal of a flying aircraft to be demonstrated at the 1971 EAA airshow.

The aircraft was to meet the new Formula V rules. Inspired by the Spitfire, an elliptical tail profile was incorporated. Elliptical wingtips and a low-wing configuration was dropped, but a low-wing Sonerai II variant was released later.

The Sonerai I was designed to use a direct drive 1,600cc VW engine and the Sonerai II was designed to use the 1700cc VW engine.

The wings were designed to fold alongside the fuselage for towing without a trailer and compact storage.

The Sonerai II was designed to be soloed from the rear seat.

The aircraft is built around a fabric covered steel tube fuselage with all aluminum wings and a fiberglass nose cowl.

The plans cost $50 and $57 in 1974.

Great Plains Aircraft Supply Company currently holds the rights to the Sonerai series of aircraft. The aircraft is not available as a kit, and is built using plans, although some parts are available.

Operational history

The protoype Sonerai 1 was displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association Airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin where Monnett eventually relocated.

The aircraft was painted a bright green that became the color of all the future prototypes and company marketing.

The shade was from a 1971 Dodge Charger John Monnett saw painted Sassy Grass Green.

World Records

Brian Dempsey built a Sonerai I that holds a world record. The C-1a/0 (Landplanes: take off weight less than 300 kg) Speed over a straight 15/25 km course of 292.15 km/h on February 19, 1989.

Robin Austin of Australia built a Sonerai IIL with a 100hp Rotax engine.
The aircraft has set the following FAI records for C-1a/0 (Landplanes: take off weight less than 300 kg).

Aeroplane Efficiency : 29.79 km/kg 05/06/2008 Jacobs Well, QLD (Australia)

Speed over a recognized course 404.3 km/h 17 May 2008 St. George, QLD (Australia) - Brisbane, QLD (Australia))

Speed over a recognized course 440.0 km/h 28 Jul 2008 Blackall, QLD (Australia)- Rockhampton, QLD (Australia))

Aeroplane Efficiency 37.22 km/kg 08 Jun 2008 C1-b Class

Variants

Sonerai I

Single-seat Formula V Racer

Sonerai II

Two-seat mid-wing

Sonerai IIL

Two-seat low-wing

Sonerai IILT

Two-seat low-wing tricycle gear developed in 1983.

Sonerai IILS

Two-seat low-wing stretch fuselage

Sonerai IILST

Two-seat low-wing stretch tricycle gear

Specifications (Sonerai II)

General characteristics

Crew: 1

Length: 18 ft 10 in (5.74 m)

Wingspan: 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m)

Empty weight: 520 lb (236 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 950 lb (431 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Volkswagen air cooled engine air-cooled flat-four

Performance

Maximum speed: 174 kn; 322 km/h (200 mph)

Cruise speed: 122 kn; 225 km/h (140 mph)

Stall speed: 39 kn; 72 km/h (45 mph)

Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (2.5 m/s)