SubSonex Personal Jet Approved for Reno Air Races

 

Sonex Aircraft has announced a collaboration with High Performance Aircraft Group (HPAG) to showcase the SubSonex Personal Jet. HPAG demonstrated the SubSonex at the Pylon Racing Seminar (also known as “Rookie School”) last week, June 7-10 at Reno Stead airpor.t In preparation and training for the National Championship Air Races in September, the SubSonex was taken through various flight scenarios by three-time Reno Gold champion Pete Zaccagnino. The aircraft exceeded performance expectations.

 “The plane has been approved for racing, and now we have to get to work in preparation for training enough pilots to create a new race!” remarked Zaccagnino. “I believe we got eight flights in and everyone loved it. It was a blast on the course.”

During the four-day event, the SubSonex participated in formation flights, including fingertip, echelon, cross-unders, pitch out rejoins and recoveries. Very high winds prevented all flights on Saturday, so all time on the track had to be accomplished on Sunday.

 “I did three flights on the track and everyone loved the SubSonex,” said Zaccagnino, “It’s the first time in history for this jet design to make flights on the Reno race course!”

Flights during PRS were conducted on the Jet/Unlimited course, however, Sonex Aircraft and HPAG are hoping to gain approval for future testing and exhibition racing on the shorter courses, designed for aircraft closer to the SubSonex’s speed envelope and level of maneuverability.

 HPAG will showcase the SubSonex Personal Jet at a variety of aviation events throughout the season. Zaccagnino is flying SubSonex model JSX-2 factory prototype number 2, also known at the Sonex factory as “Sharkie,” for these racing and demonstration flights. JSX-2 factory prototype number 1 is on the airshow circuit for its third season performing day and night pyro aerobatic air shows piloted by Bob Carlton of Vertigo Airshows.

The SubSonex Personal Jet is offered to Sonex Aircraft customers as a quick build aircraft kit and is powered by the PBS TJ-100 turbojet engine. The airframe kit plus engine price is under $100,000 and complete costs to purchase and complete a SubSonex kit start at only $108,000.

HPAG, based in Park City, UT is headed by aeronautical engineer and 3-time world champion race pilot Peter Zaccagnino. Pete has flown throughout the world and performed specialized flight testing for various aircraft manufacturers in both civilian and military aircraft. He has over 22,000 flight hours in hundreds of aircraft types. HPAG specializes in flight testing, high performance aircraft training, global aircraft placement, aircraft management and acquisition. Zaccagnino will be racing in this year’s National Championship Air Races in the Jet Class and Sport Class.