peter

Welcome Darkwalker, I fly the Onex out of Goolwa. Feel free to pop over and say hello if you see the hangar open, Cheers Peter

Why not a Onex, you don't have to have big tyres and STOL to have fun. It's trailerable, it's cheap, it's got a small fuel tank so you don't have to pretend you're going to do anything other than just tool around, it's delightfully well balanced, easy to land, has the little wheel at the back, you can't fit expensive electronics on the dash, and it's just fun, fun,fun, to fly.

This was a massive flight of about 5 minutes from home base of Goolwa to visit Sue and Robert at Finnissair and was the first landing away from Goolwa in the Onex. Finnissair is their private strip on the edge of the Finnis river, and home to their Cessna 150 Taildragger and beautifully restored 172. A great place to visit as the kettle is always on, the cookies are homemade and they love talking flying. Peter

Thankyou for posting all this. I find it very interesting to see the " process" in action and really appreciate your openness and honesty, please keep posting, Cheers Peter

She's no "pocket rocket", powered by the aerovee ( kit VW, produced by Sonex) which only puts out 80hp, but you can now get a turbo version which would really go! Photo taken this afternoon , pretty much straight and level showing 120 Kias at 2,000ft full throttle , but it is a fairly coarse prop so I am only seeing climb rates around 6-800fpm. Once it's up and going though it's pretty cool with a manouvering speed of 130 and VNE at 170plus! I think it is as close as I can get to the RV grin at an affordable price, Cheers Peter

I spent 3 years on the Onex but I work away a LOT . I thought the kit was excellent and easy to follow for a first time builder like myself. I was very lucky with the exchange rate at the time and had the kit door to door delivered including the engine kit for about 35000AUD (this included factory spar and machined angle kit-which saved a lot of time). I have probably spent another ~10000 on it(which included the professional paint job), so all up around 45. I have only got 10 hours flying on it so far but am delighted with it. Performance and handling are exactly as advertised. cheers Peter

It lost my vote in the opening statement of our "objectives" where it states "the promotion of aviation ". Maybe I'm cynical but this implies that if a few board members get it into their heads that they would like to support commercial aviation with my funds then they will be well within the charter. I thought we were/are a RECREATIONAL aviation organisation.

I think, but am not sure , that Lyndon at Custom Aircraft Maintenance at Goolwa may have a meter to measure output. If not, I am sure that he could recommend someone locally, Cheers Peter

The other "sensible" thing would be an amalgamation of the RPC and the RPL, having 2 seperate licenses/certificates to fly what are essentially the same types of aircraft is also quite bizarre. And all controlled by one recreational umbrella organisation, we can but dream.

I also have a foot in both camps with my Cobra registered RAAus and my Onex being VH (and built under the auspices of SAAA). I would like to see all recreational aviation under one umbrella, it just make sense, and I feel that the divide between GA recreational and Ultralight is rapidly diminishing, especially given that there is such a big overlap between the aircraft in both categories.

Sonex with a 3300 should do around 160-170 mph, whereas the Onex aerovee is only around 135mph. With the turbo option the performance at altitude would be pretty impressive but I am primarily interested in mucking around locally and the 80hp should be fun. I have made mine with the short wingspan, 18'10", which I am hoping will give me a fun roll rate, Cheers Peter

Hi Yenn, it is a single seater, roughly an 85 % scale of a Sonex. I am running the 80hp aerovee, so performance is modest. Tops out at around 120 knots, rated +6 -3, and if the first few flights are anything to go by it is going to be great fun to fly. Cheers Peter

Onex, folding wings par excellence! I think I had my wings up and down 3 times today just moving it round the hangar, takes 30 seconds to unfold or fold both wings. Cruises up to 120 knots but no rotax and only one seat but of course you can build the whole plane including engine for around the cost of just a rotax engine. Peter

Onex VH BHU took to the sky yesterday with test pilot Chris Kelly, and again early this morning with me at the controls. 3 years since ordering the kit! Over controlled it enormously on take off, stick forces are so light it is amazing. Took it up to 3000 ft and ran it hard then eased back for some slow "approach speed" runs with 1 and the 2 stages of flap then some gentle turns, climbing and descending and straight and level, topped out at 120 knots IAS, 14 degrees OAT. Landing view is different to say the least and just touched tail wheel before the mains. Great machine, well balanced, will not need any trim tabs, flies with 2 fingers on the stick. To say I'm delighted would be a huge understatement. Peter

Waiting on a replacement MGL instrument, everything else finished so hopefully not too much longer, Cheers Peter

Hi Tony, did you get another one? If yes, what and where? Cheers Peter

The flying schools at Aldinga and Goolwa use the the area near Milang as a training area which attests to its suitability as you have identified. I look forward to seeing the jet fly!!!!! Peter

Goolwa has 3 runways, empty paddocks surrounding the airfield, minimal traffic so holding for other traffic is a rarity. The local flying is excellent with good scenery and minimal tiger country. It is certainly a good place for test flying as I am hoping to demonstrate in the coming months with the Onex, And the locals are pretty friendly. We have a spare room if you would like to visit and check out the area. Cheers Peter

Thanks Yenn, I didn't see that one anywhere in the regs but will certainly add it to the list Cheers Peter

Thanks for the replies everybody, all very helpful (as usual). I have read all of the above, and will speak to a local engraver and get a very simple plate made up. I need a photo of it to complete my rego. Tony, yes I'm very happy with the paint job. I might be pm'ing you soon. Would love a ride in the RH seat if that is possible just to get a sense of the sight picture through the sonex windscreen, cheers Peter

This is what it will be going on, paint job by Custom Aircraft Maintenance at Goolwa

Thanks for that, I had found those but nowhere does it state size of lettering etc, so I will probably head down to the local engraver and just get something made up, Cheers Peter

Could someone please point me in the right direction. I need to supply a photo of my data plate in order to proceed with the registration of my Onex, in the VH category. I cannot find information of what form the data plate should take, what information needs to be on it, what size it should be and where it should be fitted. My little bird is now painted and just getting the finishing touches. Thanks Peter