JMB Aircraft Jmb Vl-3 (VL3)
i
ICAO VL3 Small

JMB Aircraft Jmb Vl-3

Single Piston

The JMB Aircraft VL3 is a Czech-designed light sport aircraft that has become one of Europe's most popular high-performance LSA models since its introduction in 2007. Built by JMB Aircraft in the Czech Republic, the VL3 is a low-wing, side-by-side two-seater known for its sleek composite construction and impressive speed-to-efficiency ratio. It qualifies as both an ultralight in Europe and a Special Light-Sport Aircraft (S-LSA) in the United States, making it accessible to sport pilots while delivering performance that rivals certified aircraft costing significantly more. The VL3 is powered by a Rotax 912 series engine (typically the 100-hp 912 ULS or 115-hp 912 iS fuel-injected variant), driving a three-blade composite propeller. What sets the VL3 apart in the LSA category is its cruise speed, capable of 140 knots true airspeed at altitude while burning only 4-5 gallons per hour, combined with docile handling characteristics and a roomy cockpit with excellent visibility. The aircraft's carbon-fiber airframe keeps empty weight around 650 pounds, leaving useful load for two adults and baggage even within the 1,320-pound LSA limit. Its long, tapered wings and streamlined fuselage give it a distinctly modern appearance compared to tube-and-fabric ultralights. The VL3 has found particular favor among European private pilots, where the D-M registration prefix (German ultralight category) is common, though it's also flown in the U.S. and other markets. Optional features include retractable landing gear on some variants, further boosting cruise performance. SkyMeter has tracked 330 flights across 107 airframes and 17 operators, with JONES MATHEW the largest observed operator.

ACTIVE AIRFRAMES
107
last 7 days
🏢
OPERATORS
17
unique airlines
📊
FLIGHTS
330
tracked
AVG DURATION
57m
per flight
INCIDENT RATE
4.2%
14 flagged

Safety in context

The incident rate counts flights with ANY safety event detected by SkyMeter: go-arounds (a routine response, not a failure), unstable-approach gate flags (advisory thresholds), rejected takeoffs (the system working as designed), and runway events. It is NOT an accident rate or fatality rate. For accident statistics, refer to the NTSB Aviation Accident Database (USA) or the Aviation Safety Network. See methodology for what each event type measures.

Performance

Speed envelope & approach

Vref
55 kt
Vref range
Vmo
Mmo
Vne
165 kt
Vno
135 kt
Vs1 (clean)
43 kt
Vs0 (landing)
37 kt
Vfe
81 kt
Approach category
A

Dimensions

Airframe geometry

Wingspan
Length
Tail height
Wheelbase
Gear width
Wake category
Light

Weight & identification

Operating limits

MTOW
1,322 lb
MALW
Manufacturer model
JMB VL-3
FAA designator
VL3
Registered

Recent incidents

Flagged flights of VL3

20
08/29/2026
53m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/29/2026
1h 33m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/28/2026
21m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/27/2026
1h 16m
» Overspeed
08/25/2026
45m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/25/2026
1h 42m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/25/2026
1h 13m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/24/2026
1h 18m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/24/2026
1h 13m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/24/2026
32m
△ Low approach-stability score

Recent flights

Real flights of VL3 · airborne ≥ 20 min

30
08/29/2026
55m
No alerts
08/29/2026
2h 28m
No alerts
08/29/2026
2h 1m
No alerts
08/29/2026
53m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 0m
No alerts
08/29/2026
22m
No alerts
08/29/2026
36m
No alerts
08/29/2026
3h 18m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 53m
No alerts
08/29/2026
39m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 25m
No alerts
08/29/2026
25m
No alerts
08/29/2026
58m
No alerts
08/29/2026
34m
No alerts
08/29/2026
24m
No alerts
08/29/2026
21m
No alerts
08/29/2026
41m
No alerts
08/29/2026
55m
No alerts
08/29/2026
43m
No alerts
08/29/2026
53m
△ Low approach-stability score
08/29/2026
49m
No alerts
08/29/2026
50m
No alerts
08/29/2026
28m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 4m
No alerts
08/29/2026
40m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 45m
No alerts
08/29/2026
32m
No alerts
08/29/2026
42m
No alerts
08/29/2026
32m
No alerts
08/29/2026
1h 1m
No alerts
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© SkyMeter · All flight data subject to ODbL attribution · Tracking window: 7 days (free tier)