Right at home…

Light Aviation is first and foremost a members’ magazine – your magazine. Many of you are building, restoring and flying a varied assortment of fabulous aircraft that make up the LAA fleet. So if you’ve got something you’d like to share, whether it’s some photos of your latest aeroplane, a building tip you think might benefit others, a restoration story, a flying adventure… then please drop me a line. We are all inspired by seeing what others in our fantastic sport are up to, and I for one will always be delighted to help share that via these pages.

For that reason, it’s been an honour to take over the Editor’s spot from Brian Hope. Brian’s was one of the names I remember seeing in Popular Flying magazine when I joined the Association in early 1992. One of the first magazines I received carried news in the Strutting Around section, written by Alan Lovejoy, that the Bristol Strut was having a fly-out to Truro Airfield. The page encouraged me to get in touch with my local strut, so I found the Strut co-ordinators details and wrote a letter…

When I think back about it, joining this Association and the people I’ve met because of it, has been key in influencing my career with light aircraft. I’m pretty sure that 16-year-old Ed would have thought it hard to believe that 30 years later, he’d be editing the Association’s magazine. He certainly would have been surprised if you told him that he’d have built and flown two of his own aeroplanes in that time! At the time I was still just building model aircraft!

The LAA provides access to some of the best light aircraft flying and ownership opportunities available to sport-flying pilots in the UK today, and I’m very proud to be playing my part in taking that forward.

I hope you enjoy this first issue of Light Aviation for 2022. You might notice a few tweaks here and there, including the re-introduction of a section for LAA Engineering (a big thank you to the Engineering team, particularly Jerry Parr, for helping with this). A few more changes are on the workbench for the future.

Otherwise, I hope you feel right at home. I know I do… ed.hicks@laa.uk.com

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and safe year ahead.

ANDAIR FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS COMBINE MODULAR DESIGN, SUPERB QUALITY AND THE FLEXIBILITY TO SUIT ANY AIRCRAFT BUILD PROJECT.

Having built a reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of light aircraft fuel system components within the amateur-build aircraft sector, Andair has now established a significant presence in the commercial aviation market as well. www.andair.co.uk

Features

12 PROJECT NEWS

An RV-6 import, getting a stalled Stolp Starduster finished, and a Long-Eze completed

16 FLIGHT TEST

The arrival of the first Yak-50 onto an LAA Permit to Fly gives Clive Davidson an opportunity to get reacquainted with an old friend

24 HOMEBUILDING

In part one of a two-part feature, Richard Vary talks about the trails and tribulations of building an SSDR Nieuport biplane

32 COACHING CORNER

No matter how much you prepare, unexpected failures will lurk, so get your basic priorities correct!

34 ENGINEERING MATTERS

EuroFOX nose leg issues, switches, VW pump corrosion and a Europa door mandatory mod

40 FLYING ADVENTURE

Mark Chambers and his pals make their annual pilgrimage from Northern Ireland to the LAA Rally

43 TECHNICAL

Ian Fraser takes a look at ways to help with cold starting of engines

48 MEET THE MEMBERS

For Sam Tomline, getting to work in the world of aircraft restoration and maintenance is a dream come true

Plenty more news is available on the LAA website at www.laa.uk.com check it out every day!