Celebrating 75 years…

Having missed a year due to the Covid pandemic, the Light Aircraft Association’s Rally made a triumphant return to deliver three great days of light aviation, attracting over 700 aircraft – and more than 3,000 visitors. A perfect way to celebrate its 75th anniversary! Ed Hicks captures some of the highlights

01 Twenty-somethings, Bruce Buglass, Ben Gilmore and Tom Beever flew their Taylor Monoplanes in from Sleap, proving that great fun is available for a tiny budget! 02 There were 113 Van’s Aircraft RV’s of various types on display, but for the first time in the UK there were two ‘first of the line’ RV-3s out of the three UK airworthy examples. Owned by Rob Hatwell and Ed Hicks, they proudly headed up the rest of the RV parking 03 A proud Rally debut for the prototype Beagle Pup 100, G-AVDF is testament to the supreme efforts of the team that have returned this unique piece of British aviation history to flight, while retaining it’s unique time-capsule cockpit just the way it was when testing finished in May 1969. ‘DF was in great company with the prototype Beagle Pup 150, G-AVLN - click for video 04 Ivan Shaw’s ISA180 Seeker has flown three times, and Ivan is currently chasing some cooling issues. More testing is planned. Watch our video for a full update 05 HM293 Flying Flea was flown to the PFA Sywell Rally in 1971 by builder Bill Cole. Following 30 years in storage the aircraft is now being restored to flying condition

There were 113 Van’s Aircraft RV’s of various types on display, but for the first time in the UK there were two ‘first of the line’ RV-3s out of the three UK airworthy examples. Owned by Rob Hatwell and Ed Hicks, they proudly headed up the rest of the RV parking

A proud Rally debut for the prototype Beagle Pup 100, G-AVDF is testament to the supreme efforts of the team that have returned this unique piece of British aviation history to flight, while retaining it’s unique time-capsule cockpit just the way it was when testing finished in May 1969. ‘DF was in great company with the prototype Beagle Pup 150, G-AVLN - click for video

Ivan Shaw’s ISA180 Seeker has flown three times, and Ivan is currently chasing some cooling issues. More testing is planned. Watch our video for a full update

HM293 Flying Flea was flown to the PFA Sywell Rally in 1971 by builder Bill Cole. Following 30 years in storage the aircraft is now being restored to flying condition

What’s new?

The Sling Aircraft Sling TSI is currently the most popular four-seat kit when we took a look at the last couple of year’s of new homebuilt project registrations made with the LAA. Sling UK agent and LAA Chairman Tim Hardy’s new demonstrator aircraft, G-OTSI is currently in flight test ahead of gaining a full UK approval for the type. Power is from a Rotax 915iS

Four Van’s Aircraft RV-14s are now flying in the UK, and the first of the type to make a Rally debut was Robbie Jones’ freshly tested, and appropriately registered, G-XIVA. This is Robbie’s second project, his first was an RV-9A.

The first KFA Safari to be completed and flown in the UK was displayed by UK agent Graham Smith of Sprite Aviation. Originally from South Africa, power is from a VZ Turbo Rotax conversion, that delivers 120hp.

Kitbuilt creations

John and Denise Brady worked for over 10 years to build their Van’s RV-8, G-RUVE. Their efforts were rewarded with the Andy Nowicki trophy for Best Van’s RV for this very crisply finished machine. The aircraft was also commended for best kitbuilt

Winner of the RAA Canada trophy for best Kitbuilt aircraft was this Kitfox Mk.7 built by Geoffrey Leedham. Geoffrey learned to rib stitch for the project, which was also painted in his garage at home

Dirk Verdonck flew his Onex to the 2018 Rally while still in primer, and returned this year fully painted. Dirk’s Onex is based at Moorsele (EBMO) and is the only example currently flying in Europe. Power is a 2180cc AeroConversions VW giving a cruise of 100kt

Alan Twigg started building his Europa Motorglider in January 2000, and despite come challenges like the bankruptcy of the company, and three years work to complete the motorglider wing installation (Alan is the first customer to finish and fly a Europa Motorglider) he’s enjoying the end result which won Best Europa

Plans built perfection

The Issacs Spitfire is a complex aircraft to homebuild, and that means it’s a very rare machine with just three examples completed and flown in the UK. Prolific builder Richard Teverson started the build of G-CLMC in November 2016, and the aircraft first flew in May this year. This flawless machine was awarded the Air Squadron Trophy for best plans-built aircraft. Check out the front cover to see two of these beautiful aircraft on display at the Rally – the other is a previous award winner from 2016, built by Alan James

CEO’s Choice is a new award, and was won by Barrie Towers Stolp Starlet. Barry built the aircraft from plans and modified the design to use a Rotax 912 engine

This replica Nieuport XI is also an single-seat deregulated microlight, and was built by Richard Vary. Richard was awarded the Albert Codling trophy for best part-complete homebuilt

Mike Dolphin spent 10 years plans building a Jodel DR1050-M, and fitted a Rotax 912ULS and glass panel to make this a very modern example of the type

Restorations

Glen Molloy won the Roy Mills Trophy for Best Classic aircraft with his restored Piper L18C, G-BJTP., which has been finished with authentic Italian Air Force colours

A truly amazing example of the art of restoration perfection, Frank Cox’s 1946 Fairchild 24R Argus, G-BCBL, received the John Randall Trophy for Best Vintage aircraft, and was crowned the overall Concours D’Elegance winner of the Prince Michael of Kent Trophy. The 25 year restoration also included the rebuilding of the aircraft’s 200hp Ranger engine

Gardan Minicab, G-AWEP, owned by Richard Thomas won the Sywell Trophy for Best Classic Homebuilt. The aircraft was originally built in 1968 by Frank Jackson and first flown by legendary test pilot Roland Beamont

Michael Greenland was commended in the Best Vintage category for his Piper L-4 Cub, G-LOCH, which has been family owned since 1984. The aircraft was restored by Matthew Boddington at Sywell, and has previously won the best Piper award at the Rally in 2019

And finally…

Formation walk to the fuel pumps for Taylor Monoplane pilots, Ben, Tom and Bruce

Alistair Lawrence, 22, was awarded the 2021 Liz Inwood Tailwheel Scholarship by VAC chair Anne Hughes

Retiring BMAA CEO Geoff Weighell (right) and new CEO Rob Hughes, share a smile!

Alex Krol (right) was the first PPL trained by Aerobility, and he flew the Grob 109B Able into the Rally with test pilot Guy Westgate

LOM M322 adaptor offers potential to use the Czech-built engine in Chipmunks and Tiger Moths

Need an aeroplane portrait? Jane Pearson can help with that…

Fresh in his new role as Engineering Director at the LAA, John Ratcliffe, was enjoying getting to know the world of LAA and meeting members

Sven-Erik Pira, left, was awarded Most Meritorious Flight for his trip from Sweden in his Ercoupe SE-BFX