Sorrell Aviation

Sorrell Aviation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Tenino, Washington, founded by Hobart C Sorrell and sons John, Mark and Tim in about 1958. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of light aircraft in the form of plans and kits for amateur construction including for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules.[1][2][3]

Sorrell Aviation
TypePrivately held company
IndustryAerospace
FateOut of business
Foundedcirca 1958
FounderHobart C Sorrell and sons John, Mark and Tim
Defunctcirca 1983
Headquarters
Tenino, Washington
,
United States
ProductsKit aircraft
Sorrell Hiperbipe
Sorrell Hiperlight

The company's first design was the Sorrell Dr.1, a single seat, 3/4 scale replica of the First World War Fokker Dr.1 triplane that was produced in 1957.[3]

Well known for designing negative-stagger cabin biplanes, the company produced the single seat homebuilt Sorrell Guppy, first flying in 1967. The aerobatic Sorrell Hiperbipe was introduced in 1973. A later design of the company was the 1983 single-seat Sorrell SNS-8 Hiperlight design for the US FAR 103 ultralight category. It was sold initially by Sunrise Aircraft of Sheridan, Oregon and was still in production by Thunderbird Aviation of Ray, Michigan in 2015.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

The company's final design was the 1985 two seat version of the SNS-8, the Sorrell SNS-9 Hiperlight, which also remained in production in 2015 by Thunderbird Aviation.[3][8]

Aircraft
Summary of aircraft built by Sorrell Aviation
Model name First flight Number built Type
Sorrell Dr.1 1957 1 Single seat homebuilt aircraft, 3/4 scale replica of the World War I Fokker Dr.1 triplane.
Sorrell DFG-1 1958 1 Single seat homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Nieuport 17 1961 1 Single seat homebuilt aircraft, 3/4 scale replica of the World War I Nieuport 17 biplane.
Sorrell Biggy Rat 1967 1 Single seat homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Golden Condor homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Intruder homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Guppy 1967 Single seat biplane homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell SNS-4 1970 1 Two seat biplane homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Robinson Wenoso 1970s 1 Single seat biplane homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell Hiperbipe 1973 Two seat biplane homebuilt aircraft
Sorrell SNS-8 Hiperlight 1982 603 (SNS-8, Dec 2011) Single seat biplane ultralight aircraft
Sorrell SNS-9 Hiperlight 1985 26 (SNS-9, Dec 2011) Two seat biplane homebuilt aircraft

References
  1. Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 153. Werner & Werner Corp, Santa Monica CA, 1977. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
  2. Cliche, Andre: Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide 8th Edition, page B-30 and B-83. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-9680628-1-4
  3. Eckland, KO (15 March 2015). "Sorrell Aviation". Aerofiles. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. Downey, Julia: 1999 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  5. Downey, Julia: 2002 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 69. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  6. Downey, Julia: 2008 Kit Aircraft Directory, Kitplanes, Volume 24, Number 12, December 2007, page 75. Primedia Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  7. Vandermeullen, Richard: 2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 72. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  8. Jones, Ron (2009). "Thunderbird Aviation". Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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