Monnett Sonerai
Monnett · United States · first flew 1971 · light aircraft
The Sonerai is a small Volkswagen-powered homebuilt aircraft designed by John Monnett. It began as a single-seat Formula V racer.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Wings fold alongside the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Small mid-wing tailwheel monoplane powered by a Volkswagen engine
- Elliptical tail profile inspired by the Spitfire
- Wings fold alongside the fuselage
A small single-seat mid-wing racer with a Volkswagen engine and a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage.
Specifications
- The Monnett Sonerai has a length of 5.74 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.69 m (19 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 257 km/h (160 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Design and construction of the Sonerai I started in 1970, aiming for a flying aircraft to be demonstrated at the 1971 EAA airshow. An elliptical tail profile was included, inspired by the Spitfire.
Variants
The Sonerai soon led to the two-seat Sonerai II, and later versions included the low-wing Sonerai IIL, the tricycle-gear IILT and the stretched IILS and IILTS.
Where you'll see it
It is a popular design for builders seeking a low-cost experimental aircraft, and the airframe cost in 1974 was estimated at 2,500 dollars. The time to build is between 800 and 1,000 hours.
Related aircraft
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