In full swing…

Well, I don’t know about you, but the spring weather, along with the lengthening daylight hours, has lead to a flourish of fun days flying around here. Most recently I headed to a fabulous Vintage Piper Fly-in at Goodwood organised by the Vintage Piper Aircraft Club. More than 50 Vintage Pipers covered the grass outside the beautiful Goodwood Flying Club building. The whole airfield was alive, with particular aerial punctuation provided by the resident two-seat Spitfires, which flew throughout the day to give a number of rides. Walking around, there were a number of beautifully restored and presented aircraft, and few caught my eye. An L4 in Eighth Airforce markings, an L21 painted to represent an NE1 that flew with Airship Squadron 32 – Cub vs. blimp, now there’s a race that the Cub should win! What really stole my heart though was a white and red Reed Clipped Wing J3 – just gorgeous. I have had a very long-term hankering for one, so it has lingered on in my mind since that sunny Saturday. Perhaps one day, I’ll find one to call my own… Permit time for the RV-3 rolled around. I broke off from editing this issue to de-panel and prepare it for my new Inspector after he managed to fit me into a busy schedule (Thanks Toby!). A bit like post-flight cleaning, I enjoy taking a look inside at those bits of less-often seen structure, and while I’m one for trying to keep up with the aircraft proactively throughout the year, it’s definitely an eye opener when something is spotted in a dim corner. Catching little jobs before they become big jobs is a mantra I think we can all agree on.

The following day, after a few hours of re-assembly, it was time for the Permit test flight. What had been a bit of a thermic day had begun to settle down a little – I’m always a little weary of bumps when the test schedule calls for going to VNE. At our strip, and maybe yours too, discussion of that bit of the test is always a good topic of pilot conversation over a cuppa… ed.hicks@laa.uk.com

All that remains is to transfer the figures from my knee-board to the Permit renewal form, and take advantage of the speedy service provided by Adèle, Fiona and the rest of the Engineering team.

As for other fly-ins, I’m hoping to head to the Devon Strut fly-in at Farway Common on 18 June, and Sleapkosh (at Sleap, where else?!) on July 9/10, so say hello if you spot me there!

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.

Features

13 SHOW REPORT

Highlights from the Popham Microlight Trade Fair

14 PROJECT NEWS

Making a custom oil tank for a Rotax 912 engine, Bücker BU133C Jungmeister, and Cleared to Fly…

18 FLIGHT TEST

Aeroplanes don’t come much smaller than the Smith Miniplane. Clive Davidson tries one on for size…

26 SHOW REPORT

AERO Friedrichshafen attracted many, many visitors – and aircraft. Ed Hicks reports on what he found at the show

34 COACHING CORNER

Head of Coaching David Cockburn says it pays to be alert when flying near gliding sites – for many reasons

36 ENGINEERING MATTERS

Jerry Parr looks at topics including duplicate inspections, paint vs powder coating and Kitfox fuel tanks…

40 ENGINEERING UPDATE

After nine months in post, Engineering Director John Ratcliffe explains the changes to LAA Engineering…

43 TECHNICAL

Ian Fraser takes a look at electronic ignition. Is it just a bright spark or does it offer a real benefit?

50 TYPE CLUB

Pete White looks back on 30 fabulous years of Aeronca friendship…

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

LAA’s first 600kg microlight approval moves forward

The LAA and Dragon Aviation, importers of the Ukrainian Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, are working together on CAA registration of the aircraft as a sub-600kg microlight in its kit version, and also introducing it as a factory-built sub-600kg microlight under the new regulations.

The Vixxen and its predecessor the Aeroprakt A22 Foxbat have been highly successful as LAA-overseen kit aircraft in the SEP and microlight categories, with

TLAC E-KUB flight

At the end of April, more than two years of hard work finally saw the E-KUB, built by The Light Aircraft Company, make its first flight this month. TLAC believe the flight was possibly the first ever of a totally British designed and built all-electric aeroplane, and a milestone in what’s been years of hard work.

Professor Guy Gratton from Cranfield University undertook the first flight test and gathered data along the way to help improve and fine-tune the design.

The E-KUB’s first flight was 39

AeroExpo cancelled

around 55 of the earlier model flying in the UK, as well as 13 A32 Vixxens which have flown since the type was approved in 2019.

“Based on our long working relationship with Dragon and Aeroprakt, it is logical that the LAA develops this for both homebuilding and factory building in the sub-600kg microlight category,” says LAA Engineering Director John Ratcliffe.

“We see the changeover of the existing minutes, including slow and fast taxying, low hops, and finally 10 minutes of continuous flight, followed by a second flight later that day of 34 minutes long, 22 minutes of which was airborne, and the aircraft reached 2,000ft and 80mph. kit version to a sub-600kg microlight as a fairly simple step which can be undertaken promptly using the existing processes. The factory-built version under the 600kg rules will be the first 600kg factory-built type that the LAA will bring onto the fleet, under the type approved route through the CAA and we assist Dragon Aviation in achieving the necessary A1 company approval.”

TLAC recognise the support of Innovate UK, EnabEl, (Enabling Aircraft Electrification) and Cranfield University for their role in making this project a success. The E-KUB will make more flights in the coming months as the team continues to expand the flight envelope.

The AeroExpo General Aviation exhibition planned for 16-18 June at Cotswold Airport has been cancelled for this year.

Organisers said the difficult decision to cancel AeroExpo/RotorTech UK for this year. was taken as they had unfortunately lost access to indoor exhibition (Hangar) space they had been allocated.

The team says the event will return for 2023.

Grass roots fly-in

Plans are moving forward with Popham Airfield for the LAA Grassroots Fly-In on 2, 3 and 4 September. It has given us the opportunity to go ‘back to our roots’ with a new event and new location for the traditional Rally date, and feedback from members and potential exhibitors has been strong with many looking forward to a fun, relaxed and social weekend, reflecting all that is best with the LAA. Watch out for more on the event in next month’s Light Aviation

There will be a homebuilder’s tent at the event, so if you have a project you’d like to share, and wish to be part of the event, please contact Dudley Pattison with your details at dudleypattison@gmail.com

LAA members win awards

LAA members gathered in London on May 18 at the RAF Club for the annual Royal Aero Club awards and received 13 awards ranging a variety of achievements – individual to collective effort and lifetime contribution. They brought together some of our youngest and oldest members – the Britannia Trophy for Travis Ludlow, for his round-the-world flight at the age of 18 (the youngest ever solo), and for his subsequent outreach activities, including LAA Strut and young peoples’ presentations, and the Old & Bold Trophy for 101 year old Ted Barrett. Ted has had a PPL since 1955 and passed his microlight GST at the age of 93. He still drives, and frequently flies from Hunsdon and Andrewsfield airfields in Essex.

A prestigious RAeC Diploma was presented to Francis Donaldson to recognise his 30 years of engineering service to light aviation and the LAA.

Well done to all!

New Look for LAA Aviation Art

Under the leadership of the Guild of Aviation Artists’ Phil Jackson, the LAA’s Aviation Art for young people has a new look this season. Caricatures and cartoons of vintage aircraft is the theme and from the very youngest up to teenagers, we provide a picture ready for colouring, featuring aircraft from Shuttleworth’s collection. Phil has designed the pictures and they prove popular at Old Warden’s airshows, where the art is now based. Older children are encouraged to use their skills in designing their own pictures, and a prize is awarded for the best after each airshow day. The caricatures are also available for Struts and Clubs to use at events. Please get in touch with the LAA office if you would like to be involved in supporting this very popular activity.

Anne Hughes

Hellos and goodbyes

We say hello to Marika Lacobucci (left) who joins LAA as our new bookkeeper, and Andy O’Dell (right) who joins as an Airworthiness Engineer. There’s also a farewell to Mike Roberts, who has left the Engineering Team to develop a new business – www.techflite.co.uk, providing bespoke services to the aircraft homebuilders, restorers and designers. Good luck, Mike!

Meet the LAA days

Don’t forget that there are a number of upcoming ‘Meet the LAA’ events taking place around the UK this year. The events give you a chance to meet LAA staff members from HQ, as well as members of the host Strut.

· 23 July Bodmin Meet the LAA with Cornwall Aero Club and VAC Fly-In.

· 6 August Rufforth East ‘We All Fly Day’ with Vale of York Strut

· 17 September Rougham Meet the LAA with North Weald Marshallers and Vintage Fly-In.

New CAA Safety Sense leaflet and podcast

The latest in the revised series of the CAA Safety Sense leaflets have been released. The guide is intended to help pilots think about safety when planning a flight to a strip for the first time and to provide general operational guidance. tinyurl.com/caastripsense

The CAA have also launched the first episode of their new General Aviation podcast. The first one covers interviews and discussions on their recent Virtual Voyage for Airworthiness, and the Carbon Monoxide Detector (CODE) Project. tinyurl.com/ caapodcast1

Queen’s Jubilee flypast flight restrictions

Extensive restrictions covering large areas of southern England will be in place on 2 June when a large formation of military aircraft will make a flypast over London to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen.

Mauve AIC 33/2022 has been issued detailing airspace restrictions in place for the flypast. tinyurl.com/queensjubileeflypast

LAA Members invited!

The Lancashire Aero Club (LAC) is its 100th anniversary this year and invites LAA members to join them on 11 and 12 June for a packed weekend event at City Airport Manchester (Barton). The event is open to all GA aircraft, including microlights and gyrocopters, with reduced landing fees, and visitors by air will be able to camp by their aircraft overnight.

On Saturday evening there will be a party for visitors who have flown in and Lancashire Aero Club Members and Guests. Please see www.lancsaeroclub.co.uk to request tickets for the Saturday Evening Event. On Sunday afternoon there will be awards and a flypast by an Avro Anson. Regular shuttle bus to local hotels and attractions will also be provided on Saturday and Sunday.