JMB VL3
No speed limit
That allows high speed, long range, and exceptional flight efficiency. These aircraft use an elegant combination of light and strong composite materials as well as retractable landing gear and constant-speed propellers that the U.S. light sport aircraft rules specifically prohibit.
JMB’s turbocharged Rotax 915-powered VLS is the company’s quickest model with has a top cruise speed of 199 KTAS at 18,000 feet. U.S. buyers must license VL3s in the experimental/exhibition category.
European regulators place strict limits on aircraft weight at 600 kilograms (1,320 pounds) for their “ultralight” category, and the FAA uses the same weight limit for the light sport aircraft category. But just like some stretches of the German autobahn, there’s no speed limit, and JMB—along with rivals Taerragon Aircraft, Shark Aero, and others—compete fiercely for every knot.
VL3s are offered in several different airframe/engine packages: a fixed-gear, light sport trainer with a 100-horsepower, normally aspirated Rotax 912; a retractable, non-LSA version with a 115-horsepower, turbocharged Rotax 914; and a retractable model with increased gross weight and a 142-horsepower Rotax 915; and a 160-horsepower retractable model with the Rotax 916.
JMB VL3
Specifications
Powerplant: Rotax 915 iS, 142 horsepower
Seats: 2
Length: 20 ft 6 in
Height: 6 ft 7 in
Wingspan: 27 ft 7 in
Empty weight: 862 lb
Max gross weight: 1,500 lb
Useful load: 638 lb
Range: 800+ nm
