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.