Sonex Builder Community Regroups in Wake of Company Shutdown

Online discussions reflect a mix of sympathy and serious concerns.

Jonathan Welsh

Tuesday, April 07, 2026 at 03:45 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Michael Jackson’s Onex on the ramp at Blairstown Airport [Credit: Michael Jackson]

Key Takeaways:

Sonex Aircraft abruptly ceased operations on March 27, surprising builders and owners due to a "perfect storm" of financial pressures including low sales, rising costs, and bank pressure.
The shutdown left customers, especially those with unfinished projects, in uncertainty; the community is now regrouping to source parts and provide mutual support while expressing sympathy for owner Mark Schaible.
Despite the closure, there is hope for a potential revival as Sonex's owner and founder are actively seeking investors to support the existing fleet and possibly resume operations, particularly for the promising new Highwing model.

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Still stinging with disappointment and surprise, builders and owners of Sonex kitplanes are regrouping and hoping that reports of potential saviors are true, following the company’s abrupt announcement on March 27 that it was ceasing operations, effective immediately.

Discussions on sites and forums including SonexPilots.org and the Experimental Aircraft Channel’s Facebook page indicate builders are adapting to the shutdown by seeking to source parts directly from vendors and advising each other on how they might complete unfinished projects without factory support.