Jonker Sailplanes JS3 Rapture 50th Roll-Out and Test Flight
By Benie Henning
On Wednesday 13 March 2019 at 06h08 Potchefstroom based Jonker Sailplanes rolled-out their 50th JS3 Rapture Sailplane for its new owner Katrin Senne. Katrin came all the way from Germany to collect her glider personally. This commemorated just over 2 years of building the new JS3 Rapture after being launched for the first time to the world on 12 December 2016.
Katrin Senne with the Martini liveried Audi TT
Katrin Senne and the Jonker Sailplanes Management Team
Katrin's new JS3 glider was finished in a beautifully painted Martini livery edition. Accompanied by the glider was a similar liveried black Audi TT that completed the roll-out ceremony perfectly.
50th JS3 Rapture roll-out ceremony started
50th JS3 Rapture roll-out ceremony completed
Closer look at the new JS3
Celebrations with some alcohol-free champagne
Katrin Senne for the 1st time in her new JS3 glider
The test flight of the 50th JS3 Rapture took place directly afterward at 07h10 and the test flight was done by Uys Jonker as the test pilot and went without any problems. His feedback was very satisfactory to say the least. Katrin Senne was in the tug plane and took the first air-to-air photos of her new sailplane. She is a very dedicated glider pilot and aviation enthusiast.
Katrin Senne excited before the test flight
Uys Jonker at the controls for the test flight
Take-off behind the tug plane
Getting ready for the first fly-pass
Uys Jonker in close-up view
Roll-on to a stop after a successful landing
Jonker Sailplanes is a proudly South African company and its ground breaking JS3 Rapture has become the "must have" Sailplane in Sailplane competitions flying world-wide since early 2017 at the World Gliding Championships in Benalla, Australia. Many thanks to all involved for the opportunity to be present at the 50th JS3 roll-out ceremony making it another historic day in sailplane technology and design. Looking forward to the 100th JS3 roll-out ceremony in due course at Jonker Sailplanes.
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