BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 Jan 2023, 22:05

Interesting little plane. 190 knots at 15k burning 9.2 or 150 knots burning 5GPH. Good wing loading and 42 knot stall with 575 ft T/O and landing distance. Climbs at 2000 FPM at 85 knots or 1000 FPM at 125 knots IAS. BRS included.

You can travel 900 NM on 30 gallons of MOGAS giving you 30 NMPG.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 Jan 2023, 22:35

A friend of mine did, and is now building one at the factory in the Czech Republic, to be registered as an E-AB in the US

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 Jan 2023, 22:40

https://www.jmbaircraft.com/VL3

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 Jan 2023, 22:45

Username Protected wrote:

A friend of mine did, and is now building one at the factory in the Czech Republic, to be registered as an E-AB in the US

Could I possibly speak to him? Thinking of doing the same thing, but $300k+ seems high.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 23 Jan 2023, 18:38

I’ve looked at the VL3 and other similar planes. Useful load is the biggest problem I keep running into. Would be a great one person plane for traveling distances.

Tom

Username Protected · **Posted:** 23 Jan 2023, 19:04

Username Protected wrote:

I’ve looked at the VL3 and other similar planes. Useful load is the biggest problem I keep running into. Would be a great one person plane for traveling distances.

Tom

If you build it (EAB) you can set the MGW to whatever you want.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 23 Jan 2023, 19:23

Username Protected wrote:

I’ve looked at the VL3 and other similar planes. Useful load is the biggest problem I keep running into. Would be a great one person plane for traveling distances.

Tom

If you build it (EAB) you can set the MGW to whatever you want.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 23 Jan 2023, 19:29

Username Protected wrote:

Interesting little plane. 190 knots at 15k burning 9.2 or 150 knots burning 5GPH. Good wing loading and 42 knot stall with 575 ft T/O and landing distance. Climbs at 2000 FPM at 85 knots or 1000 FPM at 125 knots IAS. BRS included.

You can travel 900 NM on 30 gallons of MOGAS giving you 30 NMPG.

Those numbers seem pretty optimistic for 142 HP. It looks similar to a Lancair.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 23 Jan 2023, 19:52

There’s one at my airport now giving demos. Several years ago the guy who flew it over from Norway non stop for sun and fun left it in my hangar and said I could fly it as much as he wanted. I probably put 10 hours on it. This was the 912 version. It’s a very nice flying airplane, but has an extremely light wing loading, and you feel every single bump. I really like it it’s very well-made.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 Jan 2023, 12:23

I flew a VL3 with the 915 at KOSH last year. We only had 1/2 tank of gas, but the pilot with me was at least 190lbs (I'm 165). At 8k' it easily pulled 190KTS in level flight. I wrote a review of the flight on BT somewhere (maybe air Venture post). I don't know that the VL3 would be a great cross-country machine due to it's size, but the one i flew was very finished and had very good build quality. It was very easy to fly and land.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 Jan 2023, 20:54

Username Protected wrote:

I’ve looked at the VL3 and other similar planes. Useful load is the biggest problem I keep running into. Would be a great one person plane for traveling distances.

Tom

If you build it (EAB) you can set the MGW to whatever you want.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jan 2023, 02:54

Username Protected wrote:

A friend of mine did, and is now building one at the factory in the Czech Republic, to be registered as an E-AB in the US

Could I possibly speak to him? Thinking of doing the same thing, but $300k+ seems high.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jan 2023, 12:45

I want this plane (but I pretty much want every plane). I wish it did have some aerobatic capability. The conclusion that I come to when I think about this airplane, a T-34, or even the TF-51 in another thread- Van's aircraft has a model that will scratch the same itch for less money.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jan 2023, 21:54

My rv6 is right in the middle of the performance numbers given (we get around 165kts on <8gph). Including the cost of a new thunderbolt we just installed and iran’ed prop), we are well under half of cost of one of these, our maintenance costs are insignificant, we can also run mogas, and we are aerobatic (positive g). That said, I still like them (and the DarkAero even more).

Of currently available ships, I think a Glasair 3 or Lancair Legacy is really the next step up, giving you an honest 50 knots advantage for the extra AMU’s.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jan 2023, 21:56

Username Protected wrote:

My rv6 is right in the middle of the performance numbers given (we get around 165kts on <8gph, 170kts at 9gph and I usually pull it back to about 160kts at 7ish gph). Including the cost of a new thunderbolt we just installed and iran’ed prop) we are well under half of cost of one of these, our maintenance costs are insignificant, we can also run mogas, and we are aerobatic (positive g). That said, I still like them (and the DarkAero even more).

Of currently available ships, I think a Glasair 3 or Lancair Legacy is really the next step up, giving you an honest 50 knots advantage for the extra AMU’s.

Anyone fly the JMB VL3 915 is?