Sonex Builder Community Regroups in Wake of Company Shutdown

Still stinging with disappointment and surprise, builders and owners of Sonex kitplanes are regrouping and hoping that reports of potential saviors are true, following the company’s abrupt announcement on March 27 that it was ceasing operations, effective immediately.

Discussions on sites and forums including SonexPilots.org and the Experimental Aircraft Channel’s Facebook page indicate builders are adapting to the shutdown by seeking to source parts directly from vendors and advising each other on how they might complete unfinished projects without factory support.

Mixed Feelings

There also appears to be a lot of sympathy and understanding toward Sonex owner and president Mark Schaible, who bought the company in 2022 after working there since 2003 and serving stints as general manager and CEO. Comments including, “Take a pause with us right now. PRAY for this man,” are common, with some discussion members pondering how individual donations might be used to save the company.

Posts on the Sonex Builders/pilots facebook page also reflected practical concerns such as, “I just ordered a set of plans last week. Do you think I’m out the $750?” and “I was very close to ordering a kit this week and putting 50% down. I guess I dodged that bullet.”

Experienced amateur aircraft builders are familiar with the potential economic hazards their suppliers face. Often, through regular interaction and word of mouth from fellow builders and pilots, they become aware of difficulties across the industry or specific to a single company or segment. However, I have yet to hear from anyone who saw the Sonex’s problems coming.

Caught By Surprise

“It was like a gut punch. I think most of us were surprised by the announcement,” said Michael Jackson, a longtime Sonex customer who completed his current aircraft, a Onex, more than a decade ago. “I always felt that Sonex ran their business the right way. They didn’t grow too quickly, and they kept their designs simple.”

Jackson, who is based at Blairstown Airport (1N7) in New Jersey, said he and others who have built their airplanes and are flying them regularly can usually find parts and technical support even without factory help. The story can be different for anyone with a garage full of parts and a partially built aircraft.

“The people I feel for most are those who are five years into a 10-year build,” Jackson said.

During an emotional announcement on the Sonex LLC YouTube channel, owner Schaible attributed the company’s situation to a “perfect storm of bank pressure, lack of sales, increasing costs, competition from our own aircraft in the used market, and cashflow realities.” He also said the Sonex’s difficulties came to a head quickly, forcing the immediate decision to shut down.

Seeking Investors

While Schaible’s announcement did not convey much hope, he did say that he and retired Sonex founder John Monnett are “very interested in finding someone willing to step up and support the worldwide Sonex fleet in some capacity. That includes completion of the work required to ship Sonex Highwing kits.”

The Highwing model, for which Sonex recently began shipping tail kits, was positioned as the next big thing for the company and had generated lots of excitement and preorders since its introduction at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024. The new model could play a major part in a possible recovery for Sonex.

Recent reports indicate several potential investors have expressed interest in the company or parts of its operations. The Aviation Consumer has reached out to Schaible and the company and will report on any responses.

This story originally appeared on The Aviation Consumer.com.