In the run-up to AERO Friedrichshafen, set for April 27-30, 2022, we’re seeing a lot of “teaser” type announcements, including this one from Belgium-based JMB Aircraft about the first flight of the VL3 Turbine, a general aviation aircraft with a turbine engine.
Known as an ultralight in Europe, the VL3 had its first flight with the TurboTech turbine engine in France on April 4, 2022.
The company’s CEO, Jean-Baptiste Guisset, was test pilot for the first flight at Valenciennes airfield under the supervision of the designers of the French turbine and the designer of the VL3 evolution, Vanessa Air.
“The first tests are very promising indeed,” he said. “We are continuing the tests to validate the performance, but the advantages are already visible: No vibration, quieter than the VL3-915, higher reliability, and a TBO multiplied by two.”
He added the VL3 turbine is “easier to fly than a traditional piston aircraft, thanks to the electronic management of the FADEC and its unique lever.”
“We also noticed a major consumption gain, in comparison to the traditional turboprops, thanks to the heat exchanger,” said Jean-Marie Guisset, CEO of JMB Aircraft. “Kerosene price is also a good advantage compared to the fuel normally used.”
After six months of development, JMB Aircraft officials report that more than 50 hours of ground test have been performed, including 30 hours of full power testing.
“In the last eight days, we successfully carried out more than 20 flight hours, and simulated all possible failures,” officials said in a press release on April 13, 2022. “This was completed without any technical issues.”
A second aircraft will begin its test flights within the next two weeks, added officials, who promised more information about the new plane “soon.”
Mommy, Mommy that looks fast.