Sonex Aircraft SubSonex Jet

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The SubSonex is an affordable, kit-built personal jet, costing around $140,000 for the quick-build kit, engine, and extras.
  • It is designed for accessibility, with kits intended to be easier to build even for novice builders.
  • The single-place jet offers a fast cruising speed of about 200 knots and a maximum range of 400 nautical miles.
  • While not practical for cross-country travel, its primary appeal is its "off the charts" cool factor as a personal fun jet.
See a mistake? Contact us.
Photo Courtesy of Subsonex

One of our favorite planes, period, the SubSonex embraces its mission, to be a fun jet that you don’t have to be rich to own. The cost of the kit, including the quick-build option, the PBS TJ-100 engine, and a bunch of bells and whistles still comes in at around $140,000. You do then indeed need to build the thing, but Sonex kits are from all accounts designed to make the job easier, even for newbies. It’s fast for a single-place jet, around 200 knots, and its max range at long-range cruise settings is around 400-nm. How practical a cross-country airplane is it? Not very. How cool a person jet is it? Off the charts. We’ll take two, please.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE