Range Map
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Payload vs. Range
Fuel on board
Cargo
nm
Range
Trip Preview
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We do not have a cruise speed on file for this aircraft, so there is no honest time or cost to give you for this leg.
En route
Fuel burned
Direct cost
Fuel cost
Tanks run dry about past before at this burn.
Mission Profile
Estimated Ownership Costs
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About the Sonerai II
Overview
The Monnett Sonerai II is a mid-wing, tandem two-seat experimental amateur-built aircraft designed by John Monnett and first flown in 1971, sold today as plans by Sonex Aircraft. Derived from a Formula V air racer, it pairs a welded 4130 steel-tube fuselage with a converted Volkswagen engine, commonly the 80 hp AeroVee 2180. It cruises around 122 knots on roughly 4 gallons per hour. Its wings fold back against the fuselage for road towing and garage storage, and it is stressed for limited aerobatics when flown solo.
The Sonerai II is for the budget-minded homebuilder who wants sporty, VW-cheap flying and is willing to build from plans rather than buy a kit. It is the ancestor of the modern Sonex line: against the newer kit-built Sonex it gives up matched pre-cut parts and a faster build for lower material cost and a classic tandem racer’s feel; against a certified two-seat trainer such as a Cessna 150 it concedes a type certificate, cabin width and resale liquidity but flies on a fraction of the fuel and stores in a garage. The decision usually comes down to build commitment and cockpit fit: a plans-built project measured in years, a narrow tandem cabin, and payload that tightens quickly with two adults aboard.
Key Features for GA Buyers
- Folding wings. The wings fold back against the fuselage, allowing garage storage and road towing and cutting hangar cost.
- VW-conversion economy. A converted Volkswagen engine burns roughly 4 gallons per hour, holding the Sonerai’s direct operating cost to about $44 per hour.
- Sporty handling. Light and responsive with a quick roll rate, the Sonerai is stressed for limited aerobatics when flown solo.
- Plans-built affordability. Sold as a serialized plans set rather than a kit, the Sonerai lets a builder fabricate parts from raw stock instead of buying pre-cut kit components, so material cost depends on the builder’s own sourcing.
Trade-offs
- Payload constraints. With two adults and fuel the Sonerai II is quickly near its gross weight, and baggage space is minimal.
- Narrow tandem cockpit. The tandem cabin is about 23 inches wide, cramped for larger pilots on long trips.
- Build quality varies. As a plans-built design its quality varies widely between examples; a thorough pre-buy of the 4130 steel frame and any fabric covering is essential.
- No published engine TBO. VW conversions carry no certified time between overhauls, so overhaul reserve is a planning judgment rather than a manufacturer figure.
See Also
- Sonex – the modern kit-built two-seat successor. Compare
- Onex – single-seat folding-wing Sonex. Compare
- Waiex – Y-tail two-seat Sonex. Compare
- Xenos – two-seat Sonex motorglider. Compare
Technical Specifications
Dimensions & Weights
- Height
- 5 ft
- Length
- 19 ft
- Parking area (ft²2)
- 683 ft²
- Max Takeoff Weight
- Source: manufacturer figure 950 lbs
- Max Landing Weight
- 950 lbs
- Useful Load
- Source: manufacturer figure 444 lbs
- Fuel Capacity
- 10 gal
Performance
- Cruise Speed
- Source: manufacturer figure 122 KTAS
- Never-Exceed (VNE)
- Source: manufacturer figure 174 KIAS
- Approach Speed
- 50 KIAS
- Stall, Clean (VS1)
- Source: manufacturer figure 38 KIAS
- Range
- 300 NM
- Service Ceiling
- 13,000 ft
- Rate of Climb
- 500 fpm
Engine
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Sources
Where the figures on this page come from. Sonerai II specifications are traced to published references; estimated values are flagged inline next to the figure.
Similar to the Sonerai II
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