# Cotton Waiex **URL:** \ **Category:** Everything Else\ **Created:** [September 6, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033 "2025-09-06T15:19:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![SkippyDiesel](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@SkippyDiesel](https://sonexpilots.org/u/SkippyDiesel)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/121 "2026-05-30T23:19:07Z")
4 GPH (15L/hr) is a good figure but what does this actually mean. - Is this your average fuel consumed over an entire flight, including take-off & landing ? - Cruise fuel consumption only? - At what Cruise Speed? - With just pilot or + Pax & luggage? - Fuel type (ULP or AvGas)? šŸ˜ˆ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 11:25pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/122 "2026-05-30T23:25:39Z")
Average from engine start to shutdown. About 120 kts. Pilot and passenger or solo. 100LL. ---
**Author:** ![SkippyDiesel](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@SkippyDiesel](https://sonexpilots.org/u/SkippyDiesel)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/123 "2026-05-31T00:43:55Z")
Very nice - I find I have to allow slightly higher fuel consumption. when my Legacy/Rotax 912 ULS is carrying an adult passenger. I flight plan at 5000 rpm, 130 Knots True, 15L/hr, ULP. Depending on ā€œmissionā€ average fuel consumption can vary from 14L/hr - causally joy flight around the patch to 16 +L/hr. for a"sorti" involving higher speeds and or multiple climbs šŸ˜ˆ ---
**Author:** ![Bvolcko](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bvolcko](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bvolcko)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:36pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/124 "2026-05-31T12:36:36Z")
What is it? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/125 "2026-05-31T13:00:57Z")
A video of me making titanium brake rotors for my Sonex brakes. I thought the video would have been more popular. Perhaps itā€™s the auto generated image they use. ---
**Author:** ![dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/u/dreynol)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/126 "2026-05-31T16:03:59Z")
What sort of weight savings did you see? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:31pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/127 "2026-05-31T16:31:58Z")
0.7 lbs ---
**Author:** ![dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/u/dreynol)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/128 "2026-05-31T16:39:10Z")
Each or for the pair? Either way - nice! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/129 "2026-05-31T16:52:05Z")
> [@dreynol](#): > > Each or for the pair? For the pair ---
**Author:** ![ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/ddeford/32/855_2.png) [@ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/u/ddeford)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 9:25am UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/130 "2026-06-01T09:25:34Z")
> [@Bryan\_Cotton](#): > > video of me making titanium Just got a chance to watch it. That turned out really, really nice. Great job! Any concern with dissipating heat? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 1:28pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/131 "2026-06-01T13:28:13Z")
> [@ddeford](#): > > Any concern with dissipating heat? Do you mean for machining or braking? Surfacing the rotors is definitely a bear, Iā€™m not done with that yet. But, itā€™s an opportunity to buy more tools. Braking should be fine. I also think these rotors may last longer than the stainless ones. I cut both stainless and Ti blanks down to a 5" square using a 4.5" grinder with a cutoff wheel. Sort of the same process as braking but faster and more concentrated. I went through a lot of cutoff wheels on the titanium and it sucked! ---
**Author:** ![ampzapper](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/ampzapper/32/3313_2.png) [@ampzapper](https://sonexpilots.org/u/ampzapper)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/132 "2026-06-03T21:10:54Z")
With heat during braking, if you have an issue, I would think it would show up on the pads in the form of brake fade or excessive pad wear since theyā€™d be absorbing more heat. But if youā€™re not doing a ton of braking it may be perfectly fine. If pads are an issue, a different compound may solve it and you already can make them. Iā€™d probably do a few repeated test stops taxiing and measure temps rotor and caliper temps with an IR thermometer to make sure itā€™s not going to be an issue right away on landing. ---
**Author:** ![SonexSteve1472X](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@SonexSteve1472X](https://sonexpilots.org/u/SonexSteve1472X)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/133 "2026-06-04T14:14:23Z")
Hi Bryan, He at the airport that i work at in massachusettsā€¦ our 100LL is $ 7.35 a gallon and was $6.75 for many years. I love topping the Sonex and only needing 6 or 8 gallons. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/134 "2026-06-04T14:23:18Z")
Which airport in Massachusetts? I learned to fly at MMK in Connecticut and of course flew north a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![SonexSteve1472X](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@SonexSteve1472X](https://sonexpilots.org/u/SonexSteve1472X)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/135 "2026-06-04T15:03:06Z")
I work at KPYM , plymouth Massachusetts. We are non towered and can be quite busy in the pattern on nice flying days. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 3:14am UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/136 "2026-06-05T03:14:15Z")
I was not happy with the surface finish of my titanium rotors, especially the second one. The flycutter was getting scary, making big white hot titanium sparks and I was worried about fire. I killed a 1/2" endmill from the collection trying to finish facing the second rotor. Iā€™m not sure if Iā€™ve mentioned it before, but the purpose of the hobby is to buy tools. So, I bought this from eBay, $37. ![Screenshot_20260603-083358](https://sonexpilots.org/uploads/default/original/2X/0/045d28b8098dc8a8e45a00a0de076c52fa947535.jpeg) The cutting diameter is 1.25", just a little bigger than the width of the rotor. ![Screenshot_20260604-205942](https://sonexpilots.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e5ebba913ae352c21efc74258b43cfe8ab612d1a.jpeg) Surface finish came out great, rotor thicknesses are very consistent at 0.243". Itā€™s the right tool for the job. ![Screenshot_20260604-214229](https://sonexpilots.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e1f463a09e91804d4f05b8dd808d64fc79b638b2.jpeg) Plus they look cool with the spiral pattern. Iā€™m coming up on 120 hours on the current set of Chen Shin tires, and am just waiting for the first hint of cords before I change them. Thatā€™s when the rotors go on. I think 120 hours is a personal record. ---
**Author:** ![dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dreynol](https://sonexpilots.org/u/dreynol)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 5:50am UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/137 "2026-06-05T05:50:50Z")
Those look fantastic! ---
**Author:** ![ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/ddeford/32/855_2.png) [@ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/u/ddeford)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 12:32pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/138 "2026-06-05T12:32:39Z")
> [@Bryan\_Cotton](#): > > Do you mean for machining or braking? Yeah, I meant for braking. Titanium doesnā€™t dissipate heat quite as well as steel does. Iā€™m sure youā€™ll be fine with slowing basically once per flight. And this _IS_ experimental aviation after all. I wonder if drilling cooling holes would improve heat dissipation or make it worse on titanium ā€¦ šŸ¤” They look really nice, though. Great job on the machining. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/bryan_cotton/32/760_2.png) [@Bryan\_Cotton](https://sonexpilots.org/u/Bryan_Cotton)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 1:03pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/139 "2026-06-05T13:03:38Z")
> [@ddeford](#): > > Iā€™m sure youā€™ll be fine with slowing basically once per flight. As a former test engineer, Iā€™ll beat them up with pattern work and see how they do! Edit: I had considered drilling them, for both cooling and further weight reduction. But as the rotor is cantilevered between the wheel spokes, I wonder if that would be bad. ---
**Author:** ![ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/user_avatar/sonexpilots.org/ddeford/32/855_2.png) [@ddeford](https://sonexpilots.org/u/ddeford)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033/140 "2026-06-05T13:59:47Z")
Yeah, good call. I hadnā€™t even thought about that. [Previous page](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033.md?page=6) [Next page](https://sonexpilots.org/t/cotton-waiex/5033.md?page=8)