Tag Archives: Sonex

896 Sonex Aviation LLC

Guest

Stephen Osborne is the owner and founder of Top Aviation Services and the president and CEO of The Osborne Company. Shortly after planemaker Sonex shut down, he purchased its assets and reopened operations as Sonex Aviation LLC.

Sonex has a history of providing the recreational aviation community with innovative and affordable aircraft kits, powerplants, and accessories. The company is a leader in the homebuilt space and works to cultivate new pilots and airplane builders through educational efforts.

Stephen describes how he quickly moved to purchase the Sonex assets, resume shipping kits, and set the tone for the company’s future. Sonex has a strong “work family” environment that serves not only employees but also customers and vendors. As Sonex moves forward, its success will be built on those core values and the mission to make aviation affordable for everyone.

Stephen is a military veteran and former U.S. Army Captain and FAA-certificated commercial pilot. Top Aviation provides FAA-certified flight training for Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, and Commercial, as well as discovery flights and aircraft rentals at KTOP in Topeka, Kansas. The Osborne Company is a general contracting firm specializing in the design and installation of electric vehicle and aircraft charging infrastructure across the United States.

Group photo of Sonex employees in front of a hangar. — Group photo of employees, courtesy Sonex.

Aviation News

Feds Mull Pulling Customs From New York, LA, Chicago, and Other Airports in ‘Sanctuary Cities’

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested removing Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called sanctuary cities where local authorities do not assist federal immigration investigations. Those cities include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco international hubs. In a recent congressional hearing, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We shouldn’t shut down air travel in a state that doesn’t agree with our politics.”

Airlines and business groups warn of chaos if US restricts international flights

In a joint statement, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Airlines for America, the National Retail Federation, U.S. Travel, and other groups said the move “threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system.”

“Any reduction in Customs and Border Protection operations at major U.S. gateway airports threatens to cause unnecessary chaos throughout the nation’s air transportation system. International aviation networks are highly interconnected, and operational changes at a small number of gateway airports will quickly ripple across the country, negatively impacting travelers, cargo shipments, supply chains, and the communities that depend on those connections. Airports and airlines rely on stable, predictable federal inspection services to keep people and commerce moving safely and efficiently. We urge DHS to avoid actions that would create unnecessary operational and economic consequences for communities nationwide. As the United States prepares for growing international travel demand, DHS should avoid actions that would create unnecessary bottlenecks and economic consequences for communities across the country. Now is the time to strengthen America’s gateway infrastructure, not weaken it.”

Eclipse Aero Says It Has about 3 Years of Parts in Stock

Eclipse supplier Resurgent Aviation Solutions (RAS) says on its webpage that the company “has elected to wind down all business operations and liquidate all remaining assets. All finished goods will be made available for outright purchase using an auction format. The liquidation will be completed over several auctions over the next two months.”

Spitfire could return to production 90 years after first flight

An original Supermarine Spitfire will set you back about £3 million. The new Aerolite Spitfire Type 433 has been constructed at a cost of about £750,000. The composite kit plane is touring the UK this spring and summer at air shows and military and classic motor festivals.

Great British Supermarine Ltd, is the manufacturer. Chief executive Jeremy Meeson, said: “The moment is right to reimagine the Supermarine Spitfire because today’s materials, propulsion, and digital engineering finally let us evolve an icon without losing what made it exceptional.”

A PDF let the internet hear the final words in the cockpit of a UPS plane as it crashed. The NTSB now wants it taken down

The NTSB does not release cockpit voice recordings made during an accident. Other evidence from investigations is released to the public, including photographs, videos, maps, and other data. During a two-day investigative hearing on the UPS flight 2976 accident, a PDF file was released that showed an analysis of the spectrogram of the audio recorded by the CVR.

However, the NTSB was not aware “that advances in image recognition and computational methods have enabled individuals to reconstruct approximations of cockpit voice recorder audio from sound spectrum imagery.” Subsequently, the NTSB closed public access to all dockets.

Spectrogram of the spoken words in a clip from Airplane Geeks Episode 895. Frequencies are on the vertical axis, and time is on the horizontal axis.

NBAA Welcomes New Website to Track ATC Modernization Progress

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) expressed its support for a new online dashboard developed by the Department of Transportation and the FAA to provide updates on the status of modernization of the country’s air traffic control (ATC) network. The Modern Skies dashboard provides information on ATC modernization projects already underway and updates at more than 4,600 FAA sites across the country, along with a map overlay detailing specific efforts.

Mentioned

Rob Mark and Max Trescott were shortlisted for the Aerospace Media Award in the Best Multimedia category for Episode 26 of NTSB News Talk – March 25, 2026 LaGuardia Plane Crash Into Fire Truck + Rob Mark on Losing a Pilot Friend. The Aerospace Media Awards will be presented on the evening of 19th July at No 8 Northumberland Avenue, London. The 2026 Call for Nominations closed with a record 700 nominations.

Amelia Earhart is back in Harbour Grace as stolen statue returns home

Infighting, court battles could put long-hyped air taxi breakthrough in jeopardy

An Air Taxi L ands in Manhattan, but You Can’t Fly in It Yet

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

892 Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations

Aviation News

Spirit Airlines shuts down, industry’s first Iran war casualty

Spirit Airlines shut down operations on May 2, 2026, and canceled all flights. In a statement, the company announced “an orderly wind-down of operations” and “Unfortunately, despite the company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook.”

Also on May 2, the DOT released Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Secures Relief for Spirit Airlines’ Flyers and Employees with actions for flyers and former Spirit employees. These include capped ticket prices, reduced fares, and benefits for former Spirit Airlines team members.

Aircraft Technicians Make Six Figures and Airlines Can’t Find Enough of Them

Aircraft mechanics are aging out, with over 40% over 60 and nearing retirement. As airlines await new aircraft, their existing fleets require intensive maintenance. According to an industry report, North America is expected to face a shortfall of almost 7,000 certificated mechanics. The estimated shortfall of noncertificated maintenance personnel is 15,000. Entry-level salaries have jumped about 50% since 2020, and some carriers have offered signing bonuses of up to $75,000 to recruit workers.

Sonex Reopens Under New Ownership

ON Capital, Inc., led by aviator and general contractor Stephen Osborne, has acquired all assets of Sonex LLC, including the Sonex Aerospace and the AeroConversions line of products. “The lights are on, crews are working, and kits are moving.” Stephen Osborne is a lifetime EAA member, a third-generation aviator, a warbird pilot, and a flight-school owner.

Waco Aircraft Ceases Operations

The WACO YMF-4 biplane on the ground. — WACO YMF-5.

Waco Aircraft Corporation has ceased operations and terminated most, if not all, of its employees. About 60 people worked at the plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. Employees left work as usual on Tuesday and shortly afterward received an email telling them not to report for work on Wednesday. A sign was posted on the front door on Wednesday confirming the bad news.

China Cover-up After Pilot Killed 132 by Flying Plane into Mountain

The NTSB confirms earlier leaks that China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735, a Boeing 737, was intentionally crashed into mountains in Guangxi province in March 2022, killing all on board. The flight recorders show that both engines were shut down manually, the autopilot was switched off, and the jet was put into a nosedive.

United Airlines 1382 NTSB Final Report [PDF]

The NTSB has issued its final investigation report on the February 2, 2025, incident involving United Airlines flight UA-1382. The Airbus A319 experienced a right-hand engine failure, and the pilots performed an emergency stop on the runway. Passengers saw an engine fire, panicked, and overwhelmed the flight attendants as they attempted to exit the aircraft with their carry-on luggage. In the mayhem, slides were deployed while the left-side engine was still running.

Driver on N.J. Turnpike hurt as United plane hits pole on approach to Newark airport

United Airlines Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, hit a tractor-trailer and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. The truck driver was briefly hospitalized. The incident was caught on the truck’s dash cam.

Deadly LaGuardia Airport crash investigation prompts Port Authority to install transponders in airfield vehicles

In March, Jazz Aviation flight 646 (operating as Air Canada flight 8646), a CRJ-900, collided with Rescue 35 (R35), an Oshkosh Striker 1500 aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicle, while landing on runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were fatally injured.

The fire truck involved in the crash did not have a transponder. The NTSB says in order for ASDE-X to work well, vehicles on runways need transponders. The Port Authority has now announced that it will install transponders on all airfield vehicles at local airports.

Several companies produce FAA-certified VMATs (Vehicle Movement Area Transponders):

uAvionix — VTU-20 all-in-one design operating on 1.5 watts in an IP67-rated enclosure, and supports both permanent and magnetic mounting. The VTU-20 has been deployed to over 60 airports across the National Airspace System.
PASSUR Aerospace (formerly L3Harris / Exelis) — ARiVA VMAT providing options for internally and externally mounted VMAT units. PASSUR has supplied and installed more than 2,300 VMAT ADS-B units throughout the United States.
FreeFlight Systems — VMAT 1.0, with hot-start capability, a compact rugged design, low power draw (10–40 VDC input). It is operational at major U.S. airports, supporting thousands of vehicles. FreeFlight Systems
AirBOSS (INDMEX Aviation) — The Portable Vehicle Tracking Transponder (PVTT), includes hardwired GPS modules and software-based tracking applications.

The Last Moments of Jeju Flight 2216

Jeju Air Flight 2216 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Bangkok, Thailand, to Muan International Airport in South Korea. On December 29, 2024, the Boeing 737-800 experienced bird strikes on approach to Muan, affecting both engines. The right engine lost thrust, the pilots issued a mayday, and attempted a go-around. During the second landing attempt, the landing gear did not deploy, and the aircraft belly-landed beyond the normal touchdown zone on Runway 19. The aircraft skidded off the runway at high speed and collided with a concrete structure. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed, with only two flight attendants surviving.

The investigation concluded that all passengers would have survived if the ILS antenna structure and its support berm had been built of frangible (breakaway) materials in accordance with international safety guidelines.

Mentioned

The Real Heroes Are Dead By James B. Stewart in The New Yorker, February 3, 2002.

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and Erin Applebaum.

888 Sonex Aircraft

Aviation News

FAA’s MOSAIC Rule To Help General Aviation Contributes To Sonex Failure

The FAA’s MOSAIC rule (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) expands what can be certificated as light-sport aircraft using consensus standards. It broadens sport pilot privileges to give access to more aircraft types.

The general aviation industry expected MOSAIC to create new opportunities for pilots and aircraft manufacturers. But unintended consequences may have arisen from removing limitations on light sport aircraft and making heavier aircraft available as entry-level airplanes. A drop in demand has contributed to Sonex Aircraft’s closure.

Video: Sonex is Closing: A Message from Mark Schaible

US airlines face fuel-driven financial shakeout

Global oil prices are up. Brent crude is roughly 50% higher than a year ago. Jet fuel is up around 90% compared to a year ago. Since fuel typically accounts for 20% or more of an airline’s total costs, we can expect higher fares, fuel surcharges, and capacity cuts. Profits could take a hit if airlines can’t pass higher costs on to consumers fast enough.

JetBlue Explores Selling Itself — Advisors Are Looking At United, Southwest And Alaska As Buyers

JetBlue is reportedly evaluating selling itself to a competitor, such as United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or Southwest Airlines. Any such deal could raise antitrust issues, and there is pressure to reach one soon, before the current political climate changes.

Presque Isle council recommends JetBlue to keep serving airport

After talking with JetBlue and American Airlines at a joint meeting with the airport advisory board, the Presque Isle City Council voted 5-2 to recommend JetBlue to continue serving the city’s airport for the next four years. The Council’s recommendation next goes to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a final decision on the Essential Air Service award, which may take several months.

See the DOT Essential Air Service page.

University of Maine at Augusta may start training air traffic controllers

The FAA’s Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) is a non-funded partnership between the FAA and approved institutions. The Enhanced AT-CTI Initiative was created to allow qualified institutions to provide students with equivalent FAA Academy air traffic control training. Program graduates are placed directly into a facility, with FAA oversight. They can immediately begin localized training at an air traffic facility. These graduates still must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) and meet medical and security requirements.

United Relax Row: 777 & 787 Economy Seats That Transform Into A “Couch”

United Airlines is introducing the Relax Row in economy on long-haul flights. Passengers can reserve a row of three seats, which can become a “lie-flat mattress-like space” for families with small children or passengers who want more space. Launching in 2027, the Relax Row will be available on more than 200 Boeing 787s. By 2030, the service will be available on Boeing 777s. Air New Zealand has licensed its Skycouch to United Airlines.

See:

Mentioned

SpaceX Starlink and GA:

Savvy Aviation Founder Mike Busch Receives AOPA’s Richard G. McSpadden General Aviation Safety Award

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

662 Spurwink Farm Fly-In

Interviews from the Spurwink Farm fly-in and pancake breakfast held July 11, 2021, at the Spurwink Farm Airfield in Maine.

Jim Brown’s Beech Staggerwing taking off

Jim Brown flew in with his Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing. This plane is the last model D-17S built for the military in 1944.

Max, Jim, Fiona, and Micah with the Staggerwing

Shawn Moody arrived in a Flightstar. Shawn talks about STEM initiatives and the Maine Blue Collar Scholarship program.

Bunk Chase gives us some of the history of the event, which is sponsored by EAA Chapter 141 out of Limington, Maine. Bunk also explains the history of the EAA Young Eagles program.

Bunk (Illuminated from heaven), Max, and Micah

Mike Smith flew up from Stowe-Minuteman Airport in Massachusetts in his Sonex, which he built from plans.

Ron Edson, EAA Ch apter 141 president, tells us about this builder’s chapter.

Ron cooking blueberry pancakes with friends

AirplaneGeeks 376 Van’s Aircraft Founder and CEO Dick VanGrunsven

Van’s Aircraft kitplanes, Boeing doesn’t plan to change the Dreamliner for Emirates, NASA is looking for astronauts, the first customer-built SubSonex jet flies, the Pilatus PC-12 business jet also has its first flight, and livestock pass gas.

Guest

Dick VanGrunsven

Dick (“Van”) VanGrunsven is founder and CEO of kitplane maker Van’s Aircraft. Van has been flying since 1956 and has logged more than 15,000+ hours (the majority of it in airplanes of his own design) and holds CFI, multi-engine, and ATP ratings.

We talk with Van about the kitplane business in general and the Van’s Aircraft planes in particular. Van tells us what it is about the character of the planes that makes them so popular with kit builders and with the pilots who fly them. We also touch on personal jets, the decrease in numbers of amateur built planes, and how the availability of used experimental planes contributes to shrinking sales of new kits. Van also talks about getting good flight instruction in experimental aircraft.

Throughout high school and college Van flew a Cub and a Taylorcraft from the 670 foot grass strip on his parent’s farm. After finishing engineering school and a stint in the Air Force, he purchased a homebuilt 65 hp Stits Playboy, which he rebuilt with a 125 hp Lycoming engine, bubble canopy, Hoerner style wingtips, and an all new set of cantilever aluminum wings to replace the strut-braced wood and fabric originals. Renamed the RV-1, the Playboy flew like a new airplane.

Van flew the RV-1 from 1965 through 1968 but he felt something better was possible. He wanted an airplane that was able to fly in and out of any reasonable airstrip, with enough power and maneuverability to do good basic aerobatics, and cruise as fast as possible. He reluctantly sold the RV-1 and began design and construction of a completely original airplane.

The single-seat RV-3 flew for the first time in August 1971. Van quit his job at a forklift manufacturer and began supplying basic kits for the RV-3.

Over the next forty years, Van’s Aircraft became the acknowledged leader in the kit aircraft world. New aircraft, from the RV-4 through the Light Sport RV-12 and now the “widebody” RV-14, have been introduced and each has proven successful in the marketplace. For most of that time, Van was chief engineer, head designer, and CEO of the company.

For homebuilt resources, see the Van’s Aircraft homepage and Facebook page, the independent Van’s Air Force site, and the EAA homepage.

Guest Co-Host

Mark Newton in his RV-6

Mark Newton is an Australian private pilot who started learning to fly in 1999, after a weather diversion as a passenger in a Grumman Traveller light aircraft wound-up as an unexpected overnight stay at a gliding field. Over the years Mark has flown 24 types of gliders, and he holds a glider instructor rating.

Gliders in Australia don’t require pilot licenses, so Mark didn’t start training for his PPL until 2008. He bought a well-built RV-6 in 2011, and enjoys using it for traveling to distant parts of the country, aerobatics, the odd “$100 hamburger,” and installing “RV-grins” on new aviators as part of their first taste of flight, including several who have gone on to gain pilot licenses of their own.

News

Boeing says will not make changes to Dreamliner stretch for Emirates

Emirates has said they will decide in 2016 if they will order almost 100 planes, either the Boeing 787-10 or the Airbus for A350-900. Emirates needs long-range planes that can operate in hot climates. Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of marketing Randy Tinseth says, “The plan is not to change the aircraft, we really like what we have.”

Wanted: Astronauts. Got the right stuff?

NASA announced that by summer 2017 they will begin recruiting a new astronaut class of 8 to 14 people. This is an item that Yong-Lim Foo should pay attention to, our listener from Singapore. There are some basic requirements: You have to be between 62 and 75 inches tall and have a military, science, or technical background. You could end up on the International Space Station, traveling to the moon, or maybe even going to Mars. For more information, see http://www.nasa.gov/astronauts.

First Customer-Built SubSonex Personal Jet Flies

Redge Greenberg, of Durango, Colorado, received the first SubSonex kit (S/N JSX0003) in February and is now the first customer to build and fly the SubSonex Personal Jet. The SubSonex is sold as a Quick Build Kit only. Greenberg has 4,500-plus hours in numerous aircraft and says, “…I never got the chance to fly a jet. I first saw the prototype of the SubSonex at Oshkosh, and followed the development for over a year. When Sonex offered the jet as a kit, I was first in line. Like my RV8, the SubSonex is aerobatic, but the Sonex company also included a ballistic parachute for extra safety.”

Swiss-built business jet to compete against Cessna Citations

Pilatus Aircraft is entering the business jet market with its six-passenger PC-24, which had its first flight in May. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2017, the second half of that year for U.S. deliveries. This will compete with the Cessna Citation business jets.

No Evidence Farting Livestock Caused Emergency Landing, Airline Says

The Aviation Herald reported that a Singapore Airlines plane with 2,186 sheep onboard diverted to Bali after “exhaust gasses and manure produced by the sheep” caused the smoke detector to go off. The airline says there is no evidence the livestock were responsible.

The Australia News Desk

Qantas loses its bet with Air New Zealand and celebrates the recent All Blacks win.
If it’s not one volcano blocking Bali, it’s the other.
QF and VA say credit card surcharges don’t cover the costs.
Virgin Australia on track for profit in 1st QTR of 2015/2016.
The eighth and final C17 arrives.
RAAF Sponsors two Female Scholarships with the Australian Women Pilots’ Association.

Across the Pond

Pieter visits the Science Museum in London to show what visitors can see from an aviation perspective in the center of London. He gives a quick review of the aviation, aerospace and space exhibits on display and talks about other potential aviation sites to visit in the capital and elsewhere in the UK. The Science Museum is free and has a couple of hours worth of aviation exhibits if you want to slowly browse. If you want to speed around you can do them in less than an hour. However, the reset of the Museum will attract some attention as well and worthy of a whole day if you can spare it. Pieter also suggests making contact with him, if you are visiting and he (and his network) will help point you in the direction of aviation sites to visit in both London as well as the rest of the UK.

Mentioned

Barrage balloon cuts power to Seattle and causes air raid scare on January 12, 1942

Benfica safety video with Emirates:

Do you know what this clock is? Can you explain the markings? Leave any information in the comments.

ClockFaceUAL

Flying 101 paint job:

flying 101 paint job

Garmin AOA indicator calibration, via listener Craig:

AOA 1 AOA 2

Photos by Neil from San Francisco Fleet Week:

nrphotography L-27

nrphotography L-29-2

nrphotography L-27-2

Credit

Photo of RV-14 copyright Van jones photos.

Photo of Van and RV-10 by Jim Koepnick.

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.

AirplaneGeeks 353 Passionate Aviators on TV

Anthony Nalli from The Aviators, a Sonex crash takes two lives, United spurns the A380, EPA to announce aviation emissions regulations, EasyJet using drones for aircraft inspections, and JetBlue does the right thing for autism.

Guest

Anthony Nalli is Executive Producer and Director of The Aviators, an independently produced television series with 5 seasons completed so far. Anthony is an instrument rated pilot and published writer with a passion for aviation. As the show’s “everyman” Anthony does things most weekend pilots can relate to.

Anthony first appeared as our guest on Episode 242.

We talk with Anthony about growth in viewership, some of the people featured in past episodes, and the new Air Boss program that provides an inside view of that very demanding job.

The Aviators airs on most PBS stations across the United States, it’s on in Canada on Travel+Escape, and on Discovery Channel in many countries. You can also find episodes on iTunes, Hulu, and Amazon. Visit The Aviators website, find them on IMDB, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

News

Sonex aviation CEO, mechanic die in Oshkosh crash

Some sad news. Jeremy Monnett, the CEO of Sonex Aircraft, and Michael Clark, a Sonex assembly mechanic, were killed when their plane crashed near Wittman Regional Airport. Jeremy Monnett was 40 and Michael Clark was 20. Jeremy was our guest on Airplane Geeks Episode 65, in 2009. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

United Airlines does not see a fit for Airbus A380

United Continental Holdings has confirmed that they have been talking with Airbus about the A380, but the plane just doesn’t work for them. The A380 trip cost is more than using Boeing 787’s.

Commercial airlines industry mixed on imminent emission regulations

According to “unnamed” sources, the Environmental Protection Agency will soon announce carbon emission standards for commercial aviation. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta says, “This is something that we have been working with EPA on. It’s going to be a long-term process really to bring aviation into compliance with a lot of policy level initiatives taking place globally. What we want to make sure is that anything EPA does, they understand the technical ‎situation in the aviation industry and what is within the realm of possible.”

For more background, look into the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, which addresses Aircraft Engine Emissions.

EasyJet tests UAV with A320 inspection

UK company Blue Bear Systems is working with EasyJet to use the Remote Intelligent Survey Equipment for Radiation (RISER) quadrotor UAV for aircraft inspection. The RISER was originally designed for gamma radiation inspection. A two-laser infrared system keep the RISER 1m away from the aircraft it is inspecting. RISER has a number of sensors (electro-optical, light detection, and ranging) which can locate damage caused by lightning strikes. The Riser area of operation can be geofenced.

The Australia News Desk

It’s the Queen’s Birthday long weekend here in Australia and while the boys didn’t get any recognition from Her Majesty, some of their friends and guests of Plane Crazy Down Under did as Chris Sperou and Dave Jacka both get Order of Australia Medals and Dick Smith gets upgraded to Companion of the Order of Australia:

Queen’s Birthday Honours List: Dick Smith awarded Companion of the Order of Australia

Meanwhile, Qantas is saying it can restore its investment grade credit rating AND get the new 787-9s it has on order.

Qantas still on track to buy new planes, says Joyce

The Air Traffic Controller union in Australia is less than enthused with CASA’s decision to allow non-ATC people provide Unicom services.

Mentioned

“Family flight” – Five A350 XWBs together in flight

Burbank’s First Ever Wings for Autism event

You Have To Hear What Jetblue Did For This Boy

Airspeed Online

Credit

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.

Episode 65 – Build Your Own

www.sonexaircraft.com
Guest Jeremy Monnett, the CEO of Sonex Aircraft, joins Rob and Max to talk about building your own airplane. Sonex is also developing other interesting kit planes, including jet and electric powered versions and we talk about those as well.

We have aviation news from the past week as well as the report from the Airplane Geeks Australia Desk. David Vanderhoof joins us for his This Week in Aviation history lesson and we have some listener mail.

Dan couldn’t make it for this episode (although we note he’s been spending time at the Plane Crazy Down Under Podcast), but he sneaks in with a recorded interview with Simon Talling Smith, Executive VP of the America’s for British Airways.

The news:

Also mentioned this episode:

The online Air & Space article, The Electric Airplane, featuring Sonex Aircraft
Forvo, the pronunciation guide discovered by David Vanderhoof: http://forvo.com/
“U.S. Missile-Defense Laser Fired in Flight” from listener Tracy.
A cutaway image of the Airborne Laser 747-400 Freighter Platform discovered by David Vanderhoof.
The Flight Crew Zoo aviation humor site submitted by listener Jaime.

Follow the @AirplaneGeeks on Twitter, send us email at thegeeks@airplanegeeks.com, or leave us voice mail at (812) 757-4252.

This episode’s opening and closing music is provided by Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. Visit his site at http://www.brotherloverocks.com/.