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Sonex Aircraft SubSonex

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The SubSonex is an experimental, single-seat, amateur-built jet aircraft from Sonex Aircraft's "Hornet's Nest" development division.

SubSonex
SubSonex JSX-1
Role Homebuilt aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sonex Aircraft
Designer John Monnett
First flight 10 August 2011
Introduction 2015
Status In production (2022)
Produced Fall 2014-present
Number built 17 (January 2022)

Design and development

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SubSonex JSX-1 demonstration flight
 
JSX-1 prototype

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] It was flight tested by jet-sailplane performer Bob Carlton in August 2011.[1][2]

The production model of the SubSonex is the JSX-2. The landing gear was changed to a fully retractable, pneumatically-operated tricycle configuration.[3][4][5][6]

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.[2][7]

The first JSX-2 kit was shipped to a customer in February 2015,[8][9] and completed and flown in October 2015.[10]

Operational history

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By January 2022, 17 examples had been registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration.[11][12]

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.[13][14][15][16][17]

Variants

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JSX-1
Prototype version.
 
SubSonex JSX-2
 
SubSonex JSX-2
JSX-2
Second version with a BRS parachute, wider fuselage, more streamlined nose, and fully retractable undercarriage.[18] Bob Carlton performed the first test flight with the prototype JSX-2 on 10 July 2014 from Wittman Field.[19] Entered production as an amateur-built kit in the fall of 2014.[20][21]
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 174 kn (322 km/h) and an estimated useful load of 970 lb (440 kg).[22] 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.[23][24]
NASC Tracer
Twin-jet UAV model for military and civil applications, designed by Sonex and the Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC)[25]
 
NASC Tracer

Specifications (JSX-2)

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Data from Sonex Aircraft[26] and AINonline[21]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)
  • Wingspan: 18 ft (5.5 m)
  • Wing area: 60 sq ft (5.6 m2)
  • Airfoil: 64-415
  • Empty weight: 500 lb (227 kg) average
  • Gross weight: 1,000 lb (454 kg) utility configuration
  • Fuel capacity: 40 U.S. gallons (150 L; 33 imp gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × PBS TJ100 turbojet, 290 lbf (1.3 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 210 kn (240 mph, 390 km/h) TAS
  • Stall speed: 50 kn (58 mph, 93 km/h) landing configuration
  • Never exceed speed: 249 kn (287 mph, 462 km/h)
  • Range: 420 nmi (480 mi, 770 km) with 30 minute reserve
  • g limits: +4.4/-2.2 in utility configuration, +6/-3 in aerobatic configuration
  • Rate of climb: 1,600 ft/min (8.1 m/s) initial at sea level
  • Fuel consumption: 18 US gallons (68 L) per hour

Avionics

  • MGL Avionics Flight II instrument and the MGL V10 Com transceiver

See also

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Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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  1. ^ Whitfield, Bethany (August 16, 2011). "SubSonex Jet Completes Maiden Flight". Flying. Archived from the original on August 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 126. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ Grady, Mary (December 30, 2009). "First Flight Expected Soon For Jet-Powered Sonex". AVweb. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
  4. ^ Grady, Mary (June 7, 2010). "Jet-Powered Glider Completes Test Flights". AVweb. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  5. ^ "SubSonex Jet Prototype Ready to Resume Testing" (Press release). Oshkosh, WI: Sonex Aircraft. July 22, 2010. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  6. ^ Sonex Aircraft (2014). "SubSonex Update: FAA NKET Checklist Posted, SubSonex Gets New Gear and New Test Flight Video Footage is Available!". campaign-archive.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Pew, Glenn. "Sonex Accepts Deposits For Personal Jet - AVweb flash Article". Avweb.com. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  8. ^ Kauh, Elaine (February 18, 2015). "Sonex Begins Microjet Kit Deliveries". AVweb. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  9. ^ "Sonex Aircraft Delivers First Subsonex Kit". Sport Aviation: 14. August 2015.
  10. ^ Pope, Stephen. "First Customer-Built SubSonex Jet Flies". Flying. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  11. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "JSX-2 Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  12. ^ Federal Aviation Administration (January 8, 2022). "Subsonex Make / Model Inquiry Results". Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  13. ^ "KestrelX UAV and Cruise Missile Threat Replication Aircraft | SBIR.gov". legacy.www.sbir.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Stover, Andrew (August 11, 2024). "U.S. Air Force Uses Contracted JSX-2 SubSonex Microjets to Simulate Cruise Missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24". The Aviationist. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Leone, Dario. "Contracted Subsonex JSX-2 microjets used by USAF to simulate cruise missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24". The Aviation Geek Club. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (August 14, 2024). "F-16s Team With JSX-2 Microjets To Replicate Complex Cruise Missile And Drone Attacks". The War Zone. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (August 9, 2024). "Tiny Jets Masquerading As Cruise Missiles Featured In Michigan Airpower Exercise". The War Zone. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "SubSonex Progress Update: October 7, 2011". Archived from the original on June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  19. ^ Grady, Mary (July 14, 2014). "Sonex Flies Single-Seat Jet". AVweb. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  20. ^ Sport Aviation: 14. April 2014. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ a b Thurber, Matt (September 1, 2014). "AirVenture Report: 2014". AINonline. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  22. ^ O'Connor, Kate (July 11, 2019). "Sonex To Offer Two-Place Jet Kit". AVweb. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  23. ^ Cook, Marc (January 15, 2020). "Two-Seat SubSonex Set to Debut at AirVenture 202". AVweb. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  24. ^ Prinsen, Jake. "EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 canceled due to coronavirus pandemic". Northwestern Media. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  25. ^ Phelps, Mark (April 26, 2022). "SubSonex-Based Unmanned Twin-Jet Revealed As Low-Cost Military UAV". AVweb. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "SubSonex Brochure" (PDF). Sonex Aircraft. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 17, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
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