Stephen & Tyler Xenos 6-16-18

Too much wind for a normal training day, along with little to no ground crew for auto-tow. Stephen & Tyler did about 1.5 hours of flying in the Xenos instead. Both had a good time.

[@mrrv6apilot]

stephen - i am seriously thinking about building a xenos. i would like to hear more about how well it performs with the engine off. dodn't know if this plane is an el camino, lousy car, lousy truck. doesn't appear to be, but someone like you would have a legit opinion.

[@laytonsoaring3173]

Sonex publishes about a 24:1 glide ratio, and I think that is pretty accurate. I regularly flew a 1-26 and a 2-33 in our soaring club and would fly the Xenos as well. I think it preformed similarly, except at somewhat higher speeds. That means you can't thermal as tight as the 1-26 can, but it means that you have better glider performance. Soaring in southeastern NM, I found it an excellent glider (comparing to the aforementioned ones). I also found it to be a solid (though slow) airplane. When I sold (traded) it a few years ago, I flew it all the way to Baltimore, MD without issue. It is of course a compromise between airplane and glider, but that in itself is a pretty cool formula! Some days I would take it out, thinking I was going to fly somewhere, then I would hit a thermal and decide to just shut the engine down and soar instead. I was told it would cripple my cross-country soaring skills...but it had the opposite effect. I learned how far I could push rather than not chancing a landout (usually didn't have a crew to come get me), and the engine started every time I needed it...though you never count on it. I flew it for about 3 years, then traded for an RV-3. I now fly a Thorp T-18 regularly, and often wish that I could get my hands on another Xenos (in addition to my T-18). I absolutely loved that glider! I had a few people fly with me who didn't care much for it...but for the most part they weren't very good at flying it either...so it wasn't the fault of the aircraft. Like everyone else says, it depends on your mission. If you want to get in the sky for a while, so some soaring, go places slowly, save some money while doing it, then a Xenos is an excellent choice!

[@mrrv6apilot]

@@laytonsoaring3173 thank you. i'm believing this will be a good choice for me and what i plan to do, at least at this point. i was seriously looking at backcountry planes, they're the rage right now, but, i backpack and hike a lot, and the backcountry strips say in ID, rarely have anything to do once you get there, no water, power, hiking access. the ones that do, Smiley's, Johnson Creek, etc.... i can get to in my 6A, and it only takes 2 hrs of flying, vs double that in a backcountry plane, and they have showers, morning coffee, internet, free firewood, hot springs, white water kayaking, free bikes.... never flew a -3. word is they are the most fun [if you don't get stupid and put too much hp up front].

[@atommixz]

how far can I fly with the engine off from a height of 1 mile? What is the average speed with engine off? How fast does it lose altitude?

[@mrrv6apilot]

that info is all on the website if you can read graphs

[@michaelvanbuskirk5535]

Stephen-I am thinking seriously about buying a used Xenos (not the B model), and had one question that Sonex Sales could not answer. I am 6'4" and weigh about 210 lbs. Based on your experience, is it likely I would fit (hopefully) somewhat comfortably in a Xenos? Your feedback would be most appreciated! Many thanks, Mike in Tucson.

[@laytonsoaring3173]

Mike, I can't give you a good answer on that either. I am only 5'8" and 160 lbs, and I don't think I've had any passengers that tall yet either. You should ask that question on the Sonex Builders forum at www.sonexbuilders.net/. I wish I could help.

[@michaelvanbuskirk5535]

Steve, thanks for your reply. Don't want to be a pest, but thought of a crude way to check my height against the Xenos cockpit. Went to my truck, sat down, and measured from the lowest place my butt touched the seat to the top of my head. 33" If you could make that measurement, it would really help. Thanks, Mike in Tucson.

[@honeycomb8753]

The cockpit is the same as the older (non-B model) aircraft so .. if you can have a chance .. visit someone with a regular waiex or sonex to sit in. I'm looking at building a B-model in the near future.

[@jimruzicka8]

Stephan, I live near ABQ and soar out of Moriarty. I'm interested in the Xenos and wonder if I could come down and see yours at some point in the future. Let me know. Don't know how to get ahold of you so I'm leaving this message on your KZbin channel in hopes you find it. Best regards, Jim