Aluminum supply chain issues
Welp my empennage kit shipment was scheduled for 2/23 then 2/27. Now it sounds like at least two more weeks perhaps more. Wonder if this will be the story of the start of building issues for the Highwing. I was hoping for an off and running start. Just have to avoid Barnstormers or might buy something else on accident. 
It took two months to get my Rotax engine mount. I wanted to blame you high wing customers, but I guess you can blame us Rotax people for your delay. 
I’m sure there will be some delays. Sonex is a great company that has always done right by me. But it’s a small one with tight profit margins. Look on the bright side - they aren’t having the issues that Van’s had a couple years ago. I know a guy that’s still waiting for replacements for his recalled RV parts. He moved out of the country for a couple of years and keeps telling them to put him at the end of the waiting list … but last time I talked with him, there’s still a list.
I’ve been a Sonex customer for 13 years. Over that time I’ve seen both long backorders and parts that showed up so quick that I was shocked - and everything inbetween. I agree with what Dan says about the small company with tight margins.
As I look back those 13 years, the long backorders is not what defines my project or my overall satisfaction.
airspeed, I forgot, what number reservation are you? I’ve been watching the RV-15 wing kit production and Sonex HW tail kit production going side by side and I think Sonex is outperforming Van’s. What Sonex is sending to customers are complete tail kits. Van’s hasn’t sent out a single complete RV-15 wing kit yet even though they have sent dozens out the door so far. That sounds expensive as many of the -15 backorders are spars. That doesnt make sense to me at all to ship without spars.
Yeah, some delays are inevitable, especially with new production kits. Once we all finish our tail kits we’ll be waiting on fuselage kits too, a little patience. I’d rather it be right and complete. I feel like Sonex is doing a good job with the number of employees they have, hours in the day and being at the mercy of vendors for many items. From what I understand Sonex is working to bring more vendor produced parts in house so I think things will only get better. They have a lot on their plate at the moment.
I think supply chain delays are inevitable especially with a company the size of Sonex where keeping a large stock of parts is not always smart or practical. One thing that makes Sonex stand out (in my opinion) is the communication from the warehouse team. When I ordered my B model conversion kit, I think I waited a total of five months (two months longer than quoted). The warehouse team was extremely responsive during the delay explaining what specifically they were waiting on. In one case, they let me pick up (I’m in driving distance) parts of the kit that weren’t back ordered. In my mind, the communication really makes a difference.
Just saw this article that referenced spars being backordered:
You’ve already said it, but shipping a wing kit without a spar feels crazy.
I’m sure you’d love to have your missing tail tips, but that feels like a reasonable thing to ship without for early kits
I have my tail tips now. It was communicated that if I picked up my tail kit on the day I was available to that the tail tips likely would not be in yet. I chose to pick up that kit and get started on it. I’ve also received communication responses within 24 hours max the few times I have sent a question to tech.
I’m sure glad the Sonex doesnt use 3 types of rivets that all need their own tools to install, or Cherry Max rivets that are rare as hen’s teeth since the rivet factory burnt down. I’m also glad that there are not a lot of different diameter rivets used by Sonex. All of the tail kit is 1/8”. I built the entire tail with 2 drill bits. Having experience with both Zenith and Sonex now in that regard, I really like the way Sonex simplifies things for the builder, both in parts and plans. I thought the RV-15 was going to be all pull rivets in the wings for customers, guess I was way off on that assumption.
Sure, things at Sonex are taking a little longer than anyone expected but they are making sure what goes out the door is correct and that you’ll have a good experience.