Sun-n-Fun
 
 Here are some pictures I took at Sun-n-Fun 99. The weather was perfect. I did not get there until Tuesday and the crowds and most of the warbirds were gone. However, the homebuilt crowd  was still there in force.
   
Here is the Sonex Trailer. They had the 120 HP Sonex prototype on display and a lot of the pre-formed parts as well. They had a good location on the end of a row and always seemed to have a lot of lookers. 4/15/99
Here is a good shot of the original prototype. Looks like Jeremy must have spent some time polishing because the plane was shiner than I have ever seen it. 4/15/99
The cowling was off in this shot any you can see the six cylinder 120 HP Jabaru engine. 
Here is a close-up of the Jabaru engine. I got to talk to the Jabaru guys for a bit. It is an impressive engine and if I can round up the money by the time  I get ready for an engine, this will be the one. 4/15/99
They had changed the panel since I had last seen it. The rectangular instrument in the center of the panel is a engine analyzer. It functions as a tach, CHT, oil temp, EGT, carb temp, oil pressure and a bunch of other stuff. The best part is that it will beep at you if any thing goes out of norms. Pretty slick. 4/15/99
Here is a look into the baggage compartment. They had rigged up a nylon bag that snaps on to the back of the seat. After the flight you can unsnap it and take it with you. 4/15/99
Of course, I did not spend all of my time at the Sonex Booth. Here a Luscombe that was fitted with a turboprop engine. The engine puts out about 150 HP and weighs about 140 lbs.. I did not see any performance figures but I am thinking that it must climb nearly vertical. 4/15/99
Here is a look under the hood and yes that little thing in there is the engine. It is an auxiliary power unit from a Chinook helicopter. I would love to see how a Sonex would perform with an engine like this. One drawback is fuel consumption, 14 GPH cruse. That would suck a 16 gallon Sonex tank dry pretty fast. 4/15/99
Here is a Stewart S-51. It has a big block Chevy V8 running direct exhaust. Two of the pipes on each side are fakes. It sounds more like a dragster that a P-51.  4/15/99
Here is the Thunder Mustang with a 650 HP V12 Falconer engine. It has a great rummmmblllle to it and in flight it sounded like a stock car on the back oval at Daytona. If I only had 1/4 million dollars.... 4/15/99
I remember first seeing this plane on the cover of Sport Aviation in the '70s. It is the one of a kind Polen Special. For my money it is still the coolest airplane flying.  4/15/99
 
 
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