CEO THOUGHTS

Patience is a virtue

By Steve Slater

Many of us are finding it hard to lose the privilege that we have, namely to fly. However, things could be so much worse. I fear that many of us may have lost loved ones or fellow flyers. If you have, my heartfelt condolences. Here at LAA HQ, or to be more accurate my back bedroom, we are focusing on staying safe and planning for when we can safely get back into the air.

A significant amount of time in recent weeks has been spent in discussion with the Department for Transport and the CAA to enable extensions to licence validity and Medicals, meaning that pilots can continue flying as soon as possible after restrictions are lifted. We also worked with the CAA to legitimise essential maintenance and ‘engine health’ flights. However, we should not abuse that privilege. Just because someone can fly, it doesn’t necessarily mean they should.

At the time of writing, the Government position remains that leisure flying is not considered an essential activity and travel to an airfield should only be contemplated if it is absolutely necessary. A good question might be, do you really need to carry out this maintenance or flight immediately? It may be that by waiting a week or two, no real problem in the current benign ambient conditions, any flight, or even you travelling to the airfield, will become much less sensitive in terms of public opinion and COVID risk. Meantime, have a read in these pages and Technical Leaflet TL 2.32 (available via links from the LAA website and the LAA Facebook page), for information on precautions if further storage is contemplated, and advice on planning the eventual return to service of your aircraft.

Once the COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, there will undoubtedly be a number of aircraft waiting for their Permits to Fly to be revalidated. However we are planning to ensure sufficient LAA resources will be in place to handle this.

In the meantime, we’ve got a few new things to enjoy. Below is a great competition to have a go at and look out for the launch of a dedicated LAA YouTube channel, with videos, blogs and other items to keep us all occupied. Also, if you have bored, aviation-minded children or grandchildren, look on our website for the new LAA Aviation Art Competition, which runs until Tuesday 30 June.

A poster to print off to give you added inspiration can be found at https://tinyurl.com/art-poster.

Have fun. But most of all, stay safe. ■

Competition

Perma-Grit and Deluxe Materials invite ‘full-size’ kit builders to enter fun model competition

Perma-Grit Tools, specialist abrasive tools manufacturers, and specialist adhesive provider Deluxe Materials, have teamed up to run a competition to encourage the engineers of the future into model building, and are inviting ‘full-size’ kit enthusiasts to join in the fun too.

Four classes are open for entries and First Prize in each class is a voucher for £100 worth of Perma-Grit Tools and £50 worth of Deluxe Materials adhesives.

Class A: Experienced (so the rest of us know what to aim for). Class B: Have built, but not for years! Class C: First ever build (child or adult). Class D: Family build – everyone in the house (pets included) can stick together!

■ To enter: Post a photo of yourself and the model you are building, stating which class you wish to enter. Post on Facebook page @permagrit or email diytrace@gmail.com You may also wish to join the Perma-Grit builders Group. ■ Then post nine of your best photos and videos during the build, the last photo being of you and the completed (or nearly completed) project. ■ The competition will run until the 31 July 2020 but the last chance to join in the fun will be the 30 June 2020.

At the end of July, the best from each class will be selected and the prizes will be awarded: www.permagrit.com and www. deluxematerials.co.uk

The only stipulation is that no adhesive or abrasive tool product placement is permitted in photos or videos, other than those of Deluxe Materials or Perma-Grit. Please mention useful tips on building, and give advice and encouragement to others. Mention favourite products, kits, great shops, clubs, great people, events, and great tools. You don’t have to use PermaGrit tools to enter, hopefully someone might just, at a push, lend you theirs, but don’t bank on it!

Don’t forget to show your ‘oops, shouldn’t have done that’ moments! We all learn more by our own and others’ mistakes. Extra photos and videos are allowed for the ‘oops’ moments – we all need a good laugh at the moment.

Useful links:

British Model Flying Association – all information, clubs, teachers, flying fields, Educational easy build kits etc. https://bmfa.org/ Slec UK supplier of Balsa, Plywood, etc www.slecuk.com/balsa Specialist abrasive tools www.permagrit.com Specialist adhesives and resins www.deluxematerials.co.uk

For all display or commercial advertising enquiries please contact Neil Wilson: 07512 773532 neil.wilson@laa.uk.com

You can email your classified advertisement direct to the LAA at the following address: office@laa.uk.com

Deadline for booking and copy: 19 May 2020 If you would like to place an aircraft for sale advert please see details below:

MEMBERS’ ADVERTISEMENTS

Up to 30 words: £6; 31-50 words: £12 Up to 50 words with a coloured photo: £45

NON-MEMBERS’ADVERTISEMENTS

Up to 30 words: £22; 31-50 words: £44 Up to 50 words with a coloured photo: £60 www.laa.uk.com

LAA Engineering advice to buyers:

AIRCRAFT APPROVED? Members and readers should note that the inclusion of all advertisements in the commercial or classified sections of this magazine does not necessarily mean that the product or service is approved by the LAA. In particular, aircraft types, or examples of types advertised, may not, for a variety of reasons, be of a type or standard that is eligible for the issue of a LAA Permit to Fly. You should not assume that an aircraft type not currently on the LAA accepted type list will eventually be accepted. IMPORTED AIRCRAFT? Due to unfavourable experiences, the purchase and import of completed homebuilt aircraft from abroad is especially discouraged. TIME TO BUILD? When evaluating kits/designs, it should borne in mind that technical details, performance figures and handling characteristics are often quoted for a factory-produced aircraft flying under ideal conditions. It is wise, therefore, to seek the opinion of existing builders and owners of the type. You should also take your own skill and circumstances into consideration when calculating build times. The manufacturer’s build time should be taken as a guide only. AMATEUR BUILDING All LAA aircraft builders and potential builders are reminded that in order to qualify for a LAA Permit to Fly, homebuilt aircraft must be genuinely amateur built. For these purposes the CAA provide a definition of amateur built in their publication CAP 659, available from LAA. An extract from CAP 659 reads “The building and operation of the aircraft will be solely for the education and recreation of the amateur builder. This means that he would not be permitted to commission someone else to build his aircraft”. An aircraft built outside the CAA’s definition could result in an expensive garden ornament. AIRCRAFT FOR SALE GROUP FLYING

Beagle Pup 121 Srs 1. G-AWYO. Insured value £15,000. Airframe 4562 Hrs. Engine RR Continental O-200A, 1891 hrs, 117 hrs since major OH. Airworthiness Cert expires 19th SEPT 2020. One owner since 5th OCT 1977. Reason for sale owner 80 yrs old. Recent OH by Wiltshire Aircraft at Popham. ICOM ICA220 8.33 KHZ radio. Funkwerk TRT800 Mode S Transponder. Covers. Offers please to Barton Wild 01962-732209. Bartonwild@gmail.com

Fred 2 G-RONW complete with trailer ‘hanger’. Engine VW 1834 with 232 hours smoh. Provision for handheld radio installation. Permit run out. £3,500 ono. Contact William at malden@clara.co.uk

Flexible Aviation Finance* Specialist Lender

1/3 share for sale in a Perth based beautiful MTO3. Upgraded to 500kgs MTOW and RSll rotor head fitted by RotorSport UK. £12000 share, £88/month, £20/hr dry. Call or message Colin McLean on 07912 055739.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Man who Created the World`s Largest

Aircraft Manufacturing Enterprise Book for sale at £13 (incl P&P UK). Cheque to D.G.Scott, 21 Ellsworth Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2TU. Profits to Air Ambulance.

HOLIDAYS

France, Loire. Montrichard private airfield. Hangarage for two aircraft, four-person cottage. Package designed by flyers for flyers. £700 per week. www.lachaumine.co.uk Tel 07802 217855 or 01424-883474.

FOR ALL MEMBERS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES CONTACT SHEILA

We Finance:

Helicopters Light Aircraft Gyrocopters Microlights Gliders Hot Air Balloons Simulators Avionics Engines Upgrades Overhauls Maintenance

SHEILA.HADDEN@LAA.UK.COM WWW.LAA.UK.COM

TRANSPORTATION

Aircraft Transportati on Specialists

Specialist vehicles to move your aircraft safely

Contact: Jay Lucas Direct Tel: 01933 304789 Mob: 07341 866056 Email: jl@arklefi nance.co.uk Web: www.arklefi nance.co.uk

*Finance is subject to credit approval. Registered Address: 52-60 Sanders Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4BX Arkle Finance Limited is registered in England & Wales Company No. 3398034 Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority ©Arkle Finance Limited 2019 Telephone: 0121 327 8000 E-mail: info@ponsonby.co.uk Web: www.ponsonby.co.uk Contact us now for a quotati on