08/03/2026
𝓜𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓢𝓽𝓮𝓹𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓞𝓼𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓮
AirVenture 2026 was, by far, the most enjoyable week I have ever experienced in Oshkosh. The Sonex team brought incredible energy to the week. Our builders and pilots were excited, gracious, and eager to share their experiences. We also had the opportunity to meet thousands of prospective customers and new friends of Sonex.
I want to personally thank every person who stopped by our booth, attended one of our presentations, visited the factory, or simply took a few minutes to introduce yourself. I especially appreciated hearing your stories about building, flying, and being part of the Sonex community.
Although I have been flying for most of my life, I am still new to the business side of aviation. Taking ownership of Sonex came with a great deal of responsibility, and I knew we had a lot to prove. From the beginning, this community welcomed my family, our team, and me with open arms. That support has meant more than I can adequately put into words.
One of the most meaningful parts of the week involved my 15-year-old son, Charles. Until now, Charles had been opposed to flying and had very little interest in becoming a pilot. I had tried to encourage him, but it was not me who changed his mind. It was the Sonex community.
After spending the week around our builders, pilots, employees, and customers, Charles came away inspired. He has now set a goal to build his own Waiex-B and complete his first solo flight on his 16th birthday. As a father, that meant more to me than any sale, announcement, or milestone we could have achieved during the week. You helped him see aviation differently, and I will always be grateful for that.
The past several months have required a tremendous amount of work from our employees, vendors, builders, and supporters. AirVenture gave us the chance to step back for a moment and see why that work matters. Sonex is more than an aircraft company. It is a community of people who build, fly, teach, encourage, and believe in what these airplanes represent.
We are listening. We are learning. We are working hard to strengthen the company, support our existing builders and owners, and prepare Sonex for a strong future. We will not get everything perfect overnight, but we are committed to doing things the right way and earning your trust through our actions.
Thank you for believing in Sonex and for making our first AirVenture under new ownership a week my family and I will never forget. I am proud to be part of this community, and I am excited about what we are building together.
Stephen Osborne
Sonex Aviation
𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳, 𝘖𝘕 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭, 𝘐𝘯𝘤.
