JMB AIRCRAFT VL-3 EVOLUTION

Speed and small sexy bodies may be cute for supercars – but they can be a dangerous cocktail for inexperienced pilots. Beech had this problem with the V-tail Bonanza, Piper with its Malibu and Cirrus with the SR-22. The good news is that in time, all these problems were solved.

- Leitch With David Toma

NON TYPE CERTIFIED AIRCRAFT are tested to far lower standards than type certified aircraft and if a plane is just too fast for its own good – it is generally the unsuspecting pilot who will be the first to discover its limits. One of the most spectacular such events happened in South Africa in 2010 when a VL-3 broke up in flight – with fatal consequences.

It is a hopeful sign that the latest incarnation of the VL-3 is called the Evolution. Hopefully this glamorous little sportplane has evolved from its troubled progenitor.

The original Aveko VL-3 has a scary history in South Africa – and indeed around the world. A look at its accident stats shows 28 significant accidents (including such minor items as a nose gear failure in South Africa) yet with 30 fatalities. With more than one fatality per crash, some may consider it a dangerous little beast.

I have some personal experience – in 2010 I was flying the Presidents’ Trophy Air Race when competitors ahead reported a plane having gone down after breaking-up in flight.

The crew of a VL-3 had put the nose down to descend to a check point. The aircraft behind reported large bits falling off. The CAA accident report found that the published Vne had been exceeded, causing flutter.

This crash caused much controversy about the real nature of Vne – the Velocity to never exceed. Citing this tragedy, Peter Garrison wrote a seminal piece on Vne, which should be required reading for anyone who wants to fly a fast little plane – especially a non-type certified one. The title is telling: “Are you feeling lucky?” https://www.flyingmag.com/ technique-proficiency-technicalities-are-you-feeling-lucky/