If you’re in the market for a private jet, you may have come across the Subsonics Jet by Sonics. This jet-powered aircraft is the least expensive way to get your hands on a private turbine-powered flying machine. While there may be some antique jets on the classified ads that cost less to acquire, the cost to get them off the ground and maintain them can quickly add up.

The Subsonics Jet is a very small, very simple jet-powered kit aircraft that is recommended for VFR flying. It has one seat, one engine, retractable gear, and enough fuel to run for about two hours. With a cost per mile of less than half of other single-engine jets, it’s affordable to operate and maintain. However, it’s important to note that this jet has more in common with a motorcycle than a serious Vision jet. If you’re interested in purchasing one, you’ll need to go directly to Sonics and invest around 500 hours of elbow grease to build it.

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Key Takeaways

The Subsonics Jet by Sonics is the least expensive way to get a private turbine-powered flying machine.
It’s a very small, simple jet-powered kit aircraft recommended for VFR flying with a cost per mile of less than half of other single-engine jets.
To purchase one, you’ll need to go directly to Sonics and invest around 500 hours of elbow grease to build it.

Understanding the Subsonics Jet

If you’re in the market for a private jet and don’t want to break the bank, the Subsonics Jet might be just what you need. This jet-powered aircraft is the least expensive way to get yourself into a private turbine-powered flying machine and keep it there.

The Subsonics Jet is a small, simple, and very fast jet-powered kit aircraft. It features retractable gear, VFR instruments, and enough fuel to run the engine for about two hours. It has one seat and one engine, making it more in common with a motorcycle than a serious Vision jet. However, it is a wonderful little airplane that is a tremendous amount of fun to fly.

To get your hands on a Subsonics Jet, you’ll need to go directly to Sonics. The second-hand market remains non-existent to date, and only a little over 50 kits have left the factory so far. Your only option to buy it is the quick build kit, which has a lead time of about nine months. When you receive it, you’ll have on average 500 hours worth of elbow grease left to invest. If pulling rivets isn’t your thing, there are a handful of third-party build assist companies out there.

The engine of the Subsonics Jet is a PBS TJ100 Turbojet built in the Czech Republic. It has been around for about 15 years and is quite modern. It is Theta controlled, so you just have one lever to worry about. Maintaining it between overhauls is limited to changing the oil. The overhaul situation is like this: TBO is 300 hours. When that time comes, you pop the engine off with a little pedestal, slap it in some bubble wrap, and drop it in a shoebox along with $30,000 of your USD dollars and send it home to the Czech Republic. They’ll return it with a fresh overhaul.

The Subsonics Jet has a cost per mile of less than half of other single-engine jets, such as the Cirrus Vision jet and the L-39 Albatross. It’s easy to handle and has minimal maintenance costs, making it an excellent option for those who love to fly but don’t want to spend a fortune doing so.

Cost Comparison with Other Jets

When it comes to private jet ownership, cost is always a factor to consider. The Sonics Subsonics jet is a great option for those looking for an affordable private jet experience. Compared to other jets, the Subsonics provides a cost-effective solution.

The cost per mile of the Subsonics is less than half of the least expensive turboprop, the Piper Meridian, covered on this channel. In fact, the Subsonics costs less than other single-engine jets like the Cirrus Vision jet and L-39 Albatross by a similar or wider margin.

While the Subsonics may not have the same features as the Cirrus Vision jet, it is a very small and simple jet-powered kit aircraft. It has one seat, one engine, and retractable gear. It also has VFR instruments and enough fuel to run the engine for about two hours.

To purchase a Subsonics, you will need to go directly to Sonics. The second-hand market remains non-existent, and only a little more than 50 kits have left the factory so far. If you opt for the quick build kit, lead time is about nine months, and you will have on average 500 hours worth of elbow grease left to invest.

Insurance premiums for the Subsonics can vary depending on your previous experience, but they aren’t great at around $140,000. The engine, a PBS TJ100 Turbojet, built in the Czech Republic, has an estimated lifespan of 900 hours.

Overall, the Subsonics sets the bar in affordable aviation. If you can afford a 30-year-old Cessna 182, then you can afford a brand new Sonics Subsonics jet-powered aircraft.

Features of the Subsonics Jet

The Subsonics Jet is a small, single-seat, jet-powered kit aircraft that is exceptionally fast for a jet. It has a retractable gear and VFR instruments. The recommended flight time is about two hours, and it’s suggested that you land before that time is up.

The engine of the Subsonics Jet is a PBS TJ100 turbojet built in the Czech Republic. It’s a modern engine that is throttle-controlled, so you have only one lever to worry about. The engine is overhauled after 300 hours of use, and the overhaul cost is around $30,000 USD. The estimated lifespan of the engine is 900 hours, and after that, it’s uncertain what happens to the engine.

The Subsonics Jet is a great option for those who want to fly a private turbine-powered flying machine without breaking the bank. It’s the least expensive way to get into a private turbine-powered flying machine and keep it there. The cost per mile of the Subsonics Jet is less than half of the cost of the least expensive turboprop covered on this channel, the Piper Meridian.

It’s important to note that the Subsonics Jet is a very small and simple aircraft, with one seat and no room for passengers. It’s more in common with a motorcycle than a serious Vision Jet. The quick build kit is the only option to buy, and the lead time is about nine months. When you receive the kit, you’ll have around 500 hours of elbow grease left to invest in building it.

Overall, the Subsonics Jet is a wonderful little airplane that is tremendous fun to fly. It’s a great option for those who want to experience the thrill of flying a jet-powered aircraft without spending a fortune.

Purchasing and Building Process

If you’re interested in buying a Sonics Subsonics jet, you’ll need to go directly to Sonics as the second-hand market remains non-existent to date. A little more than 50 kits have left the factory so far, and a little more than 20 have left the ground. Your only option to buy it is the quick build kit, and the lead time is about nine months. When you receive it, you’ll have on average 500 hours worth of elbow grease left to invest. However, there are a handful of third-party build assist companies out there if pulling rivets isn’t your thing, and that’s all you need to do to get one.

The Subsonics is a very small, very simple jet-powered kit aircraft that has one seat, one engine, retractable gear, and VFR instruments. Usually, it has enough fuel to run the engine for about two hours, and it’s recommended that you land before that time is up. For an airplane you build in your garage, it’s exceptionally fast for a jet, and it’s a wonderful little airplane that’s tremendous fun.

The engine of the Subsonics is a PBS TJ100 Turbojet built in the Czech Republic. It has been around for just about 15 years and is quite modern. It’s Theta controlled, so you just have one lever to worry about. Maintaining it between overhauls is limited to changing the oil. The overhaul situation is like this: TBO is 300 hours. When that time comes, you pop the engine off with a little pedestal, slap it in some bubble wrap, and drop it in a shoebox along with 30,000 of your USD dollars and send it home to the Czech Republic. They’ll return it with a fresh overhaul.

The cost of the Subsonics is unmatched in affordable aviation, and the price for performance is unmatched in their Sonics YX and 1X. If you can afford a 30-year-old Cessna 182, then you can afford a brand new Sonic Subsonics jet-powered aircraft. However, insurance premiums aren’t great and will depend heavily on your previous experience. Orthodontists who like expensive toys will receive a different insurance quote than retired F-16 pilots.

Underneath it all, the Subsonics is a classic old Sonics with nothing much to maintain, especially with no piston engine bolted on the front. Changing brakes and tires and cleaning off the bugs and drool of other pilots are the only maintenance required.

Insurance and Maintenance

As with any aircraft, insurance and maintenance are important considerations when purchasing a Sonics Subsonics jet.

Insurance premiums for the Subsonics can vary widely depending on your previous flying experience. Orthodontists who enjoy expensive toys will receive a different insurance quote than retired F-16 pilots.

The PBS TJ100 Turbojet engine is a modern, Theta-controlled engine that requires minimal maintenance between overhauls. The engine has a TBO of 300 hours, and when that time comes, you can send it back to the Czech Republic for a fresh overhaul at a cost of around $30,000. The estimated lifespan of the engine is 900 hours, but it remains to be seen whether it will need to be replaced after that time.

Other maintenance costs for the Subsonics are minimal, with nothing much to maintain underneath the classic old Sonics design. The price for performance is unmatched in the Sonics Subsonics, making it an affordable option for those who can afford a 30-year-old Cessna 182.

Engine Details and Lifespan

The Sonics Subsonics jet is powered by a PBS TJ100 turbojet engine, which is built in the Czech Republic. This engine is modern and has been around for about 15 years. It is theta controlled, so you only have to worry about one lever. Maintaining the engine between overhauls is limited to changing the oil.

The engine has a total lifespan of 900 hours, and its TBO is 300 hours. When the time comes, you can send the engine back to the Czech Republic for an overhaul, which costs around $30,000. After the overhaul, the engine is returned to you with a fresh overhaul.

It is not clear what happens after the engine reaches its estimated lifespan of 900 hours. However, new experimental airplane engines often start with lower TBOs and then increase over time as more data about maintaining them becomes available.

Apart from the engine, maintenance costs for the Subsonics are minimal. It is a classic old Sonics, and there is not much to maintain, especially with no piston engine bolted on the front.

Overall, the engine is reliable and modern, and with proper maintenance, it should last for many years.

Overall Performance and Affordability

The Sonics Subsonics jet is a cost-effective way to become a private turbine-powered flying machine owner. It is the least expensive way to do so, and it is recommended for those who want to keep their flying machine in the air. While there are other jets available on the market, most of them are expensive and require significant investment to maintain.

Compared to other single-engine jets, such as the Cirrus Vision jet and the l-39 albatross, the Subsonics is significantly less expensive. It has a cost per mile of less than half of the Piper Meridian, the least expensive turboprop covered on this channel.

The Subsonics is a very small, simple jet-powered kit aircraft with one seat, one engine, retractable gear, and VFR instruments. It is exceptionally fast for a jet and is a wonderful little airplane. However, it is important to note that this plane is more in common with a motorcycle than a serious Vision jet.

To purchase a Subsonics, you must go directly to Sonics as the second-hand market is non-existent. More than 50 kits have left the factory so far, and a little more than 20 have left the ground. The lead time for the quick build kit is about nine months, and when you receive it, you’ll have on average 500 hours worth of elbow grease left to invest.

The engine, a PBS Tj100 turbojet built in the Czech Republic, has been around for just about 15 years and is quite modern. It is Theta controlled, so you just have one lever to worry about. Maintaining it between overhauls is limited to changing the oil. The overhaul situation is like this: TBO is 300 hours, and when that time comes, you pop the engine off with little pedestal slap it in some bubble wrap and drop it in a shoebox along with 30,000 of your USD dollars and send it home to the Czech Republic. They’ll return it with a fresh overhaul.

The engine has an estimated lifespan of 900 hours, and outside of the engine maintenance, costs are very minimal. Underneath it all, it’s a classic old Sonics, nothing much to maintain, especially with no piston engine bolted on the front. Changing brakes and tires and cleaning off the bugs and drool of other pilots is all that is required.

In conclusion, the Sonics Subsonics sets the bar in affordable aviation. The price for performance is unmatched in their Sonics YX and 1X. If you can afford a 30-year-old Cessna 182, then you can afford a brand new Sonic Subsonics jet-powered aircraft.