Jonker JS-3 Rapture

The Jonker JS‑3 Rapture is a high‑performance 20‑metre class sailplane produced by South Africa’s Jonker Sailplanes, a company founded by brothers Johan and Piet Jonker in 2004. Development began in 2013, and the prototype made its first flight in March 2016, quickly gaining attention for its blend of cutting‑edge aerodynamics and modern composite construction. Built around a carbon‑fiber monocoque fuselage, the Rapture features a sleek laminar‑flow wing with interchangeable winglets, full‑span flaps, and a state‑of‑the‑art wing‑tip ballast system that optimises lift‑to‑drag ratios across a wide speed envelope. Its cockpit incorporates a digital flight‑instrument suite and ergonomically positioned controls, providing pilots with intuitive handling during both soaring and competition tasks.

Since entering service, the JS‑3 has secured numerous national and international competition victories, and it has been instrumental in setting several multi‑day distance records for the 20‑metre class. The aircraft’s reputation for exceptional glide performance, low sink rates, and responsive handling has cemented its status as a benchmark in contemporary sailplane design, influencing subsequent European and North‑American gliders and reinforcing Jonker Sailplanes’ position as a leading innovator in the sport of soaring.

Jonker Sailplanes

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