Hot kits…

From the look of the cover, you’ve probably twigged that there’s something a bit different in this issue. We’re covering the full spectrum of homebuilding this month, with everything from a run down of the most popular LAA kits, all the way to starting from scratch by designing your own aircraft to build from plans.

Our Hot Kit list looks at two years’ worth of new LAA kit project registrations, January 2020 to December 2021. The results offer up a pretty broad spectrum of types, from the Sling 4 TSi, the most modern four-seater with the latest technology Rotax engine, all the way through to the wind-in-your-hair Sherwood Ranger biplane. It’s a price range that stretches from £25k right up to just under £200k, and covers the full gamut of materials, but shows a real bias towards all-metal types and tube and fabric.

I remember sending off for a Kitfox brochure and video in 1990. The type was just beginning to make its presence known in the UK, and it really grabbed my attention as a model-aircraft building kid at the time. I pestered my dad about it and suggested we could build one, but it remained a dream. It’s good to see the Kitfox feature in our Hot Kit selection, and I have to admit having watched the latest Series 7 Speedster display at EAA Oshkosh a few years ago, I could still be mighty tempted to scratch that Kitfox itch…

Out of interest, I asked Engineering for a list of types so that I could compare our Hot Kits list to historical ‘hot’ kits. You may not be surprised to hear that the Europa sits at the top of the list with 367 (projects/completed aircraft), while the Van’s RV-7/7A with 204 is at number two. The RV-6/6A with 147, and RV-8/8A with 140 continue the metal theme, before there’s a shift to tube and fabric with 215 of the Rans S6 and all its variants. The good old Kitfox, with 131 of various models, but mostly the Mk1-3, is the only other type to post over the 100 mark. ed.hicks@laa.uk.com

Interestingly, if you’re curious what the most prolific plans built type is on the LAA books, it’s the Pietenpol Air Camper with 110 projects/completed aircraft… Talking of plans-built, I really hope you enjoy Mike Roberts’ feature about designing your own homebuilt. Read on, and I hope a few might agree that Mike might be on to something, thinking of a new low-cost, low-labour, built from plans aircraft.

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Features

14 PROJECT NEWS

A progress report on a beautiful scratchbuilt Super Emeraude, the first customerbuilt Sling TSi to fly, and a father and son team complete a Van’s RV-7

18 HOMEBUILDING

Curious about what’s a hot choice in the world of LAA kit-building? Then take a look at our review of what’s been popular with UK homebuilders in the last two years

28 TECHNICAL

Mike Roberts contemplates the design of a simple, affordable light aircraft, and the design principles involved

32 COACHING CORNER

We can all learn from reading about incidents and accidents, so it makes sense to make use of the reporting channels available to us

34 ENGINEERING MATTERS

This month looking at elevator trim tab control cable failure, multiple propeller issues, and the care and maintenance of flexible hoses

40 FLYING ADVENTURE

Neville Parton and his daughter Hannah take on a Pooleys Dawn to Dusk flying challenge remembering four generations of service with the RAF

48 MEET THE MEMBERS

We talk to Carol de Solla Atkin about her life in flight and a particular love for the DH Chipmunk