Hangar13 Army Chinook Pilot Flys Sonex Aircraft - Dennis Crabtrey

Hangar13 Sonex Aircraft | Army Chinook Pilot Dennis Crabtrey talks with us about his purchase and flight home of his Sonex A VW powered Aircraft
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[@mhilderbrand7693]

The Sonex is by far one of the easiest tailwheel airplanes to control. I had the center control in my Sonex and many times I would straddle the control, then use the outside rudder pedals. Worked great as an extra large single seat airplane.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Nice! What do you think of the Center Control (center of the airplane) and flying with two people verses having dual sticks?

[@mhilderbrand7693]

@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel From my experience, the center stick was not a problem with two people onboard. Before TO I would demonstrate full controls, and most of the time I would touch their leg with full right. This provided an opportunity for me to politely ask them to move their leg a little 😄. I have not flown with dual sticks in the Sonex. Not sure if getting in and out would be easier or harder for two people? For single operation, probably not a factor.

[@LeftSeatAdventures]

Good looking plane Dennis, congrats on the purchase! 👍👍👍 I remember seeing this one posted. Love the lift strut on the canopy as well. Just remember, you'll never be done polishing. 😉 A legacy Sonex is a very roomy single seater when sitting in the middle, I enjoy it. For those wondering a Sonex is a very docile taildragger, "dance on the pedals" like Dennis said and she'll keep straight. 3 point landings are slow enough that a ground loop shouldn't be a concern. That being said, don't expect the same handling if the field's reporting 15G25.

[@MrWATCHthisWAY]

Great interview Bryan in your Hanger 13 format. Keep up the great work.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thanks! Will do! I appreciate your support John!

[@waynegilchrist1596]

Hey, keep up the good work. I'm seeing you more and more and I think it's going to really "take off" for you. Love this up front and personal with the pilot and his plane.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You. The "Goal" is to grow our Aviation Family and also Builders. We are all in... so let's hope it "Takes Off" and keep climbing to cool clean air!

[@lesb3481]

Great idea for a new addition to the channel! I'm going to be starting a BD-4C project in about a year from now, once my home build and relocation to just South of you in Franklin County is complete. I'm very interested to hear the experiences of other builders and owners.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You! This will probably only come about once per month or as pilots are able to fly in to visit... but I figured WHY NOT?! :-) Good luck on your build! I should be flying by the end of the year so I might have to take flight down to say hello.

[@foesfly3047]

Brother Bryan the rate at which you are producing content is impressive. This is a very interesting and enjoyable subject-format. Like meeting the interesting pilots/aircraft-owners around the airport.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You. We are trying to stick to a weekly upload schedule and mix it up a bit with a few different style series here and there. Thanks for your input! :-)

[@SteelTallon]

Watching this video, and realized I've seen this plane before. It's listed on Barnstormers for sale right now. I would like to try a sonex one day.

[@G_Money72]

Love it! Just started building a Waiex B myself. I’m really gonna like this new series.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You... I appreciate your feedback. Let's see how often we get visitors to keep this going. I would like to add more and more the Hangar/Studio if this becomes popular to gain a bit more production Value in the interviews.

[@spinnetti]

How's it coming? I'm thinking of building one also, probably with a Jab 3300. What motor?

[@johngood3163]

Finally got to this. We think this is really cool. We got a lot out of the interview (gutsy guy). We look forward to the next installment

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You! Always fun to try something new. Always fun to speak with Pilots! :-)

[@matthorseman2008]

That little plane looks like double the fun for the investment 🙂 I wonder if the v-tail jet version could be configured as a single seat like this? And what sonex would recommend for maximum airspeed & horsepower for the airframe because a dual jet engine set up to make the sonex look like a baby a-10 warthog would be badass

[@scottmiller4711]

Nice episode. I look forward to heading your way soon. Or you could come to Milton to see my CruZer...

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Yes... still wanting to get together.

[@ikay2102]

Microphone handle is awesome, love it 😀 Great idea to do series like that btw

[@LeftSeatAdventures]

It's an "Experimental" microphone handle... 🤣🤣🤣

[@ikay2102]

@@LeftSeatAdventures 😂😂😂😂 Good one lol

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Hey.... things happen and you have to pivot/adapt right? And... GripLockTies were close by so....! :-) Thanks for your support!

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

@@LeftSeatAdventures Right ON! :-)

[@builditright4666]

You are really good at this man Keep it up.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Hah! Thanks! We keep working at it at least! :-)

[@PermafrostBeards]

I think the best part of this is only one seat, so I don’t have to fly with Dennis again...😜😜 Great interview and cool airplane. I am still amazed you fit in it! I am watching a friend build one of those up here at PAFA too.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

That would be a very interesting episode for sure... fitting two over 6' tall guys into a Sonex and survived to talk about it. :-)

[@PermafrostBeards]

@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel ha. Yeah that would be great to see. Great video. Hope you have plenty of folks flying in to show off their machines.

[@mansouralanazi5639]

Did Dennis say his nice shiny plane got a folding wings as an Onex!! thanks for the video

[@wingslevel]

Cool Plane, Good interview!

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You! I appreciate your feedback!

[@golfbravowhiskey8669]

Love those little birds. I had one with a jabby 3300. That thing with scream. Just too much trouble out of that motor, I got rid of it about a year and a half ago. Waiting on a friend of mine to finish his he is talking about putting a Viking 130 on it. He will flood probably 50 hours and sell it so I’ve already got my bid in on it. He also does the single seat when he builds his.

[@tinolino58]

V130: what kind of prop diameter? What kind of weight and balance? Actually thats my intention as well but I have no good answer for the above questions. Any suggestions?

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

That sounds like a lot of fun. I know there have been several of the "CLEANEX" Sonex built with the Corvair and they perform very well. I know any option other than the VW is much heavier... so I am unsure how it all balances out in the end. But I will be looking into it as I have interest in building such a combination in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

@@tinolino58 I wonder (and with many other configurations) if you could simply extended the landing gear a few inches (or several) to be able to swing a larger prop and be set up for a gear reduction drive etc Good questions!

[@golfbravowhiskey8669]

@@tinolino58 I purchased mine already assembled I did not build it, nose whee. but it had a Sensenich composite That specifically made for the 3300 right out of sonex store. I don’t remember the dimensions but I think that prop is still available. Mine would cruise right around 160-165mph easily on about 6gh. Living here in east Tx heat was my worst nightmare in the jabby. I’ll never go down that road again.

[@spinnetti]

what probs with the jab? was it the 4th gen one?

[@flyguyeddy]

Love the single seat arrangement. If i build the kit i have it will be powered with a corvair engine

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

That sounds like an EXCELLENT idea! They sound AMAXING too!

[@HUDPilot]

Great episode... I like that it came out just in time to watch during lunch break lol...... If only you did a story on a guy who had a lancair.... hmmmmmm who do I know... oh wait.. ME! lol

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Hah! Thanks for the enthusiasm and feedback! Great to hear you are also an "EXPERIMENTER!"

[@HUDPilot]

@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel Multiple offender (Lancair, Midget Mustang, TEAM Minimax, RV's) .... end enjoy what you do!

[@hogey74]

Hey i wish you'd asking that guy what he's thinking of next and a bit about his aviation journey.

[@3-DtimeCosmology]

Cool cockpit 😎

[@richardfox6703]

Great addition to your channel! The question I would like to hear the answer to is what is he eyeballing for his next plane. Maybe I can get the answer? Thanks in advance!

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

I sent him message asking for you. He is considering something like a STOL Zenith CH750 at this moment. Thanks for saying hey!

[@doolittlegeorge]

Excellent instrumentation.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Right?! Simple yet modern. Thanks for chiming in today!

[@jsullivan05]

Wait you guys are from BLUNTs FL and DOPEn AL? lmao that's great.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Nothing like getting a new toy 👍

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@troymcgrew9822]

Is there a military accident database? I saw a marine corps chinook helicopter hit a huge light pole at KORL around 1996. Was there for the Clinton Campaign. I was walking across the ramp after thing down my aircraft and watched it chop the light pole and flip over. Can’t find anything about it.

[@scottmiller4711]

Was that a Zenith in the background when he was starting the plane?

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

That was a CH701. Just acquired it in the last 2 weeks. Powered by a 80HP Jab. He is my hangar neighbor. Looking forward to flying with him early next year.

[@ronhatcher7734]

neat

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Thank You Ron!

[@danieldrinkwalter2393]

...and it usually starts in 3 - 5 blades....of course it does, it's a VW engine....;-)

[@damnkids7192]

Did you quit doing the podcast?

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Great question! No.... I just have been focused on several other things early this year. Like FINALLY getting our WEBSITE up and running which took a lot of time out of the normal schedule. And a few other projects. Question for YOU... have you "listened" to them more or "watched" them on the sister channel?

[@damnkids7192]

@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel ok great. I listen to them while I'm driving. Keep up the good work.

[@rafaeltorres2886]

Doesn't sound like a very good plane to fly cross country it needs constant control locking your legs or dancing on the peddles can wear you out after a couple of hours.

[@saltydecimator]

Megadeth says hangar 18 lolz.

[@tomkelly3896]

Sounds like he dont really like that thing🤔🤔🤔

[@fly4fun07]

Yeah that whole type specific training thing is over rated.....until it's not.

[@ExperimentalAircraftChannel]

Never can have TOO MUCH training right? What all have you trained in and for over the years? Thanks for saying hello!