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Sonex Aircraft Closes Doors Amid ‘Severe Drop-Off in Sales’

Owner Mark Schaible cites ‘perfect storm’ of debt and falling demand, ruling out 11th-hour rescue.

Monday, March 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

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Sonex, a metal kit aircraft company that has been around since 1998, shuts down operations. [Credit: Sonex Aircraft]

Key Takeaways:

Sonex Aircraft announced its immediate closure, citing a severe drop in sales, increasing costs, bank pressure, and competition from its own used aircraft market.
Owner Mark Schaible confirmed he and his wife will be filing for personal bankruptcy, describing the situation as a "perfect storm" that made continuation impossible.
The company is actively seeking someone to acquire and support the worldwide Sonex fleet, including potentially completing outstanding high-wing kits.
Founded in 1998, Sonex became a popular choice for home aircraft builders, with approximately 700 aircraft built and over 2,100 projects currently in progress.

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Sonex Aircraft announced Saturday it is closing its doors immediately. The shutdown was announced in a video message by owner Mark Schaible, who attributed the decision to a “severe drop-off in sales and our bank’s unwillingness to carry forward our debts.”

Sonex Aircraft was founded in 1998 by John Monnett in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The metal low-wing aircraft quickly became a favorite among home aircraft builders. Schaible joined the company in 2003 and became its owner in 2022.

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.