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The JMB Aircraft VL-3 is an composite-construction, single-engined, low-wing aeroplane
with a bow-type retractable or fixed landing-gear and two side-by-side seats, manufactured by JMB Aircraft of Choceň
in the Czech Republic. JMB Aircraft is part of the Belgian JMB Aircraft Company. The VL-3 was designed by Vanessa Air
as a touring or recreational ultralight aircraft to comply with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight
rules. It features a cantilever low-wing a two-seats-in-side-by-side configuration enclosed cockpit, fixed or retractable
tricycle landing gear and a single engine in tractor configuration. The aircraft is made from composites. Its 8.44 m span
wing has a small wing area of 9.77 m2. The standard engine is the 100 hp Rotax 912ULS four-stroke powerplant. On 6 June 2004,
the Vanessa Air VL-3 Flamingo prototype s/n 001 OK-JUU-21 was flown first. On 19 October 2005, the world record in the two-seat
ultralight class was set by the VL-3. The crew of the VL-3A-1 s/n 001 OK-JUU-21 microlight aircraft reached at that time a speed
of 274.78 km/h on a straight 15/25 km course near Horovice, Czech Republic. In April 2006, the VL-3 aircraft with fixed composite
undercarriage, version VL-3B, was introduced. The VL-3 with fixed gear is cheaper and more useful for flight schools. The VL-3
plane was certified according to regulation UL-2 of the Amateur Aeronautical Association of the Czech Republic for a maximum
take-off weight (MTOW) of 450 kg. The VL 3 is also certified in the UL catagory for MTOW 450 kg and for MTOW 560 kg according
JAR - VLA. The VL-3 was produced first by Karel Klenor - KLN, Choceň (2004-2007) and Aveko spol. s r. o., Brno (2007-2011).
In 2012, the JMB Aviation company acquired the Aveko company and started to upgrade the aircraft. Notable changes to the design
were the elevator design in order to allow the aircraft to fly faster and an upgrade of the interior. The aircraft is supplied
as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. A fixed gear version with a larger wing span and area as well as a higher gross weight was
developed for the US light-sport aircraft category and is marketed as the Gobosh 800XP.
In 2019, the ultralight VL-3 Evolution
from JMB Aircraft has been certified by the DAeC for 600 kg of take-off mass. Existing aircraft from construction number 100 can
be charged. Already over 300 VL-3 aircraft have been delivered worlwide.
VL-3 aircraft versions built by Karel Klenor - KLN (2004-2007) and / or Aveko spol. s r. o. (2007-2011) are:
- VL-3A-1 Sprint - retractable landing gear, R912ULS (100hp) engine, variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3A-2 Sprint - retractable landing gear, R912UL (80hp)engine, variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3B-1 Sprint - fixed landing gear, R912ULS (100hp) engine, variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3B-2 Sprint - fixed landing gear, R912UL (80hp) engine, variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3C-1 - different wing, fixed landing gear, R912ULS (100hp) engine, variable pitch propeller: complies to LSA category
and marketed in the US as Gobosh 800XP;
- VL-3D-1 Sprint - fixed landing gear, R912ULS (100hp) engine, fixed pitch propeller:
- VL-3D-2 Sprint - fixed landing gear, R912UL (80hp) engine, fixed pitch propeller;
VL-3 aircraft versions built by JMB Aircraft (since 2012) are:
- VL-3E-1 Evolution - new horizontal tail, retractable landing gear, R912ULS (100hp engine), variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3E-2 Evolution - new horizontal tail, retractable landing gear, R912UL (80hp) engine, variable pitch propeller;
- VL-3F-1 Evolution - new horizontal tail, fixed landing gear, R912ULS (100hp) engine, variable pitch propeller, optional installation of sailplane towing hook;
- VL-3F-2 Evolution - new horizontal tail, fixed landing gear, R912UL (80hp) engine, variable pitch propeller; |
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