Tom Larkin – Mini Jet

The “star” of MINI JET AIRSHOWS is a modified SubSonex Jet, otherwise known as JSX003. The SubSonex is an Experimental Jet that comes as a kit from the Sonex factory in Oshkosh, WI. It weighs 500 lbs, goes up to 300 mph, and it is fully aerobatic. This particular aircraft was the first kit ever sold and flown, and it has been flying for approximately 3 years.

The jet is powered by the PBS TJ-100 engine from the Czech Republic, and at full throttle it is capable of producing 258 lbs of thrust while burning 40 gallons/hr of jet fuel. As beautiful as the jet is, there is no paint on it. It is completely wrapped in a vinyl covering, similar to a show car. The smoke system is now finished and putting out a tremendous smoke trail from start to finish, burning about 7 gallons of smoke oil per show.

MINI JET AIRSHOWS is a lifelong dream of the pilot Tom “Lark” Larkin. Having watched the BD-5J perform as a child at a local airshow, and then later becoming a fighter pilot, airline pilot, and aerobatic pilot; it was always his dream to do airshows in a “mini” jet.

What started off as a half partnership in an RV-6 with his brother Larry, eventually turned into time in a Christen Eagle, Panzl, Staudacher, and several other aerobatic aircraft…culminating in the once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase and perform in a SubSonex Jet.

Now it’s all about “high energy” airshows and interacting with kids.