Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
03-12-2012, 09:23 PM
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Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
I highly recommend the new Phoenix Sonic 25 low wing model. If anyone is looking for a home for a 40 size engine in a good flying sport model this new Sonic 25 low wing is a terrific little plane.
I have not had the previous model but the new GP/EP model is a little different than the description on Towers. It is now designed as a 2 piece wing with dual servos so note it requires 5 servos total for GP... at 52" I leave mine attached but can be taken apart for traveling if desired - it is a little tight for big fingers to get at wing screws but can be done, the motor mount is adjustable so I was able to test fit a OS 4OLA and a GP-42 - both fit fine without any modification or extra work as I have read was necessary with he previous model. The EP mount was also included. The 42 wasn't broken in yet so I tried out a 40 I had just laying around on the workbench and WOW what a surprise. Friends at the field asked "what do you have in that plane and when I told them it was a 40LA they couldn't believe it. At approx 4 lbs the 40 is more than adequate compared to the usual 5-6 lb trainers you usually find them in.
With the 40LA & 10x6 (baffle removed) the Sonic takes off in just a few feet in a very steep climb, great vertical, axial rolls, loves inverted and flies fairly fast compared to many of the sport planes in the sky at our field. I'm sure with a GP-42 or a hot little 40 it would be a screamer.
While not finished as nice as some of the other Phoenix models I have (Decathlon, Tucano and Extra) it is still well built. The hardware was good, build quick (no wing to glue), it's a good looking plane IMHO looks like a Tiger 2 (note covering is just sticky paper USE ONLY Alcohol for clean up - acetone will remove coloring), servo/radio compartment big and easy to move around to get best CG without extra weight, gear is strong, ground handling smooth and precise, easy to see in sky, a good flier, lands gently like a trainer - all in all a great sport flyer and good home for that old left over trainer 40 engine. Specs seem to be very similar to the Escapade but lighter build and a lb. less. After over a dozen flights over last 2 weekends everything is still like new. For $89 at Tower I give it a thumbs up
Tom
I have not had the previous model but the new GP/EP model is a little different than the description on Towers. It is now designed as a 2 piece wing with dual servos so note it requires 5 servos total for GP... at 52" I leave mine attached but can be taken apart for traveling if desired - it is a little tight for big fingers to get at wing screws but can be done, the motor mount is adjustable so I was able to test fit a OS 4OLA and a GP-42 - both fit fine without any modification or extra work as I have read was necessary with he previous model. The EP mount was also included. The 42 wasn't broken in yet so I tried out a 40 I had just laying around on the workbench and WOW what a surprise. Friends at the field asked "what do you have in that plane and when I told them it was a 40LA they couldn't believe it. At approx 4 lbs the 40 is more than adequate compared to the usual 5-6 lb trainers you usually find them in.
With the 40LA & 10x6 (baffle removed) the Sonic takes off in just a few feet in a very steep climb, great vertical, axial rolls, loves inverted and flies fairly fast compared to many of the sport planes in the sky at our field. I'm sure with a GP-42 or a hot little 40 it would be a screamer.
While not finished as nice as some of the other Phoenix models I have (Decathlon, Tucano and Extra) it is still well built. The hardware was good, build quick (no wing to glue), it's a good looking plane IMHO looks like a Tiger 2 (note covering is just sticky paper USE ONLY Alcohol for clean up - acetone will remove coloring), servo/radio compartment big and easy to move around to get best CG without extra weight, gear is strong, ground handling smooth and precise, easy to see in sky, a good flier, lands gently like a trainer - all in all a great sport flyer and good home for that old left over trainer 40 engine. Specs seem to be very similar to the Escapade but lighter build and a lb. less. After over a dozen flights over last 2 weekends everything is still like new. For $89 at Tower I give it a thumbs up
Tom
04-09-2012, 09:07 AM
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RE: Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
I can't wait for mine. It's coming this Wednesday and I also have a 46LA that was too weak and boring for my trainer Avistar.
It's great to have someone with the same engine and same plane. You mentioned 40LA, did you mean 46LA?
Is the Sonic pre-hinged like the other Phoenix models I have built?
Thanks,
It's great to have someone with the same engine and same plane. You mentioned 40LA, did you mean 46LA?
Is the Sonic pre-hinged like the other Phoenix models I have built?
Thanks,
04-10-2012, 04:48 PM
#4
RE: Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
What do you guys think about making it a cruiser. I have a 30fs engine on the shelf. Think that would fly it? I am not looking for a rocket, super speed plane but a cruiser to float around doing touch and goes.
Buzz.
Buzz.
04-20-2012, 07:31 AM
#6
RE: Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
Buzz, for your purpose I'm sure the 30 FS will do fine. I had a TT Lazy Tiger with an OS 26 FS and enjoyed it, but at 4 lbs 4 oz, it struggled sometimes in maneuvers. I crashed it inverted because the combination of flat bottom airfoil inverted and low power made it very marginal to fly that way.
But if you can keep your Sonic to 4 lbs, then with a little more power from your .30, and considering what you want it for, it should be perfect.
Jim
But if you can keep your Sonic to 4 lbs, then with a little more power from your .30, and considering what you want it for, it should be perfect.
Jim
04-20-2012, 07:50 AM
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Senior Member
RE: Phoenix Sonic 25 - The new one is a Great Little plane
Mine is built and tomorrow I am doing the maiden flight with my 46LA.
It balanced just fine without moving anything. I can't wait.
It's my 8th plane but it will be the first I will maiden myself.
Wish me luck
It balanced just fine without moving anything. I can't wait.
It's my 8th plane but it will be the first I will maiden myself.
Wish me luck
06-27-2017, 03:43 PM
#9
I think it will be a rocket, and may be nose heavy. If that's what you want it should be fine. You'll probably have to move the battery back behind the servos to balance.
Someone in our club had one with a GMS 32 and it was FAST. If you look at the first post, remember that a 40 LA is a much lighter and less powerful engine than an Evo 40. The TT 42 GP might have close to as much power as your Evo, but it is much lighter. The GMS 32 was probably between the 40 LA and the Evo 40 in power.
Jim
Someone in our club had one with a GMS 32 and it was FAST. If you look at the first post, remember that a 40 LA is a much lighter and less powerful engine than an Evo 40. The TT 42 GP might have close to as much power as your Evo, but it is much lighter. The GMS 32 was probably between the 40 LA and the Evo 40 in power.
Jim
10-28-2017, 09:13 AM
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Sounds good to me, CG is spot on with the battery under the tank. She's ready for maiden now. I'm gonna put in a little more stick time on my trainer before I take her up. Thanks for the reply.
02-24-2018, 03:30 PM
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02-24-2018, 06:15 PM
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Put on a movie (TopGun is a good choice) sit in front of the TV, and just rip it off.
Most of it comes off with little fight....it's self stick. A few areas, the factory added some additional adhesive to the wood to help problem areas from lifting. A heat gun, and modest warming, helps any stubborn areas release.....what also helps, is the hideous factory green checkerboard....that added the rest of the motivation necessary. In addition to the Arresting hook, I considered adding some speed brakes to the rear.....I might on my next one. lol.
I picked up 3 of these....as each complete airframe costs less than one servo in my Imac plane.
Might do a Thunderbird scheme on my next recover.........
Most of it comes off with little fight....it's self stick. A few areas, the factory added some additional adhesive to the wood to help problem areas from lifting. A heat gun, and modest warming, helps any stubborn areas release.....what also helps, is the hideous factory green checkerboard....that added the rest of the motivation necessary. In addition to the Arresting hook, I considered adding some speed brakes to the rear.....I might on my next one. lol.
I picked up 3 of these....as each complete airframe costs less than one servo in my Imac plane.
Might do a Thunderbird scheme on my next recover.........
02-24-2018, 06:19 PM
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While the airframe was bare, I also glassed the wing center section (as I intend to fly this hard......WFOT most of the time), and built a small transition belly fairing to smooth the fuselage to the wing leading edge.
02-24-2018, 06:43 PM
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There were a few other extra things I did.....the stock fuel tank was used, but I have a spare Sullivan pick up that looked better quality than the stock pick up, so I swapped that out. I found that a Toilet Fill Tube connector, screws over the fuel tank neck...so I reamed the opening to clear the fuel lines, and screwed the cap on. The hope is to add resistance to splitting the fuel tank neck....I could spend $7, and buy a Sullivan tank.....but I didn't.
I replaced the pushrod connectors with solder on Dubro clevis on one end (instead of a Z-Bend or L-Bend and plastic retainer) and Sullivan 2mm Clevis with 2mm jam-nut on the other end of the pushrod. Some of the control horn screws needed to be longer...2-56 machine screws from my parts bin worked.
I had to tweak the main landing gear to align the wheels and get the wing to sit level from side to side, and drill out the motor mount so the nose strut would sit low enough and get the fuselage level. The 2 piece motor mount needed to have the corners sanded to fit on the firewall, and the mounting holes elongated for the wider .40 engine.
Other than that...it's stock. (lol)
I replaced the pushrod connectors with solder on Dubro clevis on one end (instead of a Z-Bend or L-Bend and plastic retainer) and Sullivan 2mm Clevis with 2mm jam-nut on the other end of the pushrod. Some of the control horn screws needed to be longer...2-56 machine screws from my parts bin worked.
I had to tweak the main landing gear to align the wheels and get the wing to sit level from side to side, and drill out the motor mount so the nose strut would sit low enough and get the fuselage level. The 2 piece motor mount needed to have the corners sanded to fit on the firewall, and the mounting holes elongated for the wider .40 engine.
Other than that...it's stock. (lol)
02-25-2018, 06:26 PM
#25
It is heavy, but I found out it is quite tough. I had some stuff tip over on the plane last summer and it put a good dent in the covering, but no hole. I took a heat gun to it and it came right out after a few minutes of working it. I've come to like the covering, even though it reminds me of kitchen shelf paper!
