Roots Fly-In LAA Grass Roots Fly-In is go!

The final details are being planned for the LAA Grass Roots Fly-in, and a full update appears in this issue on pages 12-14. We are also delighted to announce that Light Aero Spares will be sponsoring the main exhibitor marquee.

Van’s Aircraft teased the homebuilding world by releasing photos and video of its RV-15 engineering prototype making its first flights. The aircraft, which the company confirmed it was working on during AirVenture 2021, is its first high-wing design, and is designed to be more backcountry capable than the low-wing aircraft in its range.

Van’s is keen to stress that this prototype is purely to demonstrate and test key elements of the new aircraft, before the design is finalised and a production prototype is built.

Examining the videos, it’s clear that the design uses a strut-braced, rather than cantilever wing, which is equipped with large manually actuated fowler flaps. The landing gear is internally dampened, while the cabin, which has two huge doors, appears extremely large for a two-seater.

Details suggest the aircraft is powered by the 210hp Lycoming IO-390 used in the RV-14.

Van’s promises to provide a full customer update at AirVenture 2022, where it will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary. tinyurl.com/RV-15reveal

New LAA Pilot Coaches sought

LAA National Coach, Chris Thompson, is currently seeking candidates to provide LAA Pilot Coaching coverage in South Wales (Swansea area), north-west Scotland and southern Scotland (Glasgow/ Edinburgh area).

Candidates must be an LAA Member and hold a current UK/EASA licence and relevant medical, with a current UK/EASA CRI, FI, FIE etc. rating, and at least 200 hours instruction experience. It’s also useful to also have a wide experience of flying and instructing on LAA/GA types, including, tailwheel, CS/ VP Prop and retractable. Please email Chris for further criteria and to apply crt@alternateair.co.uk

Team create GPS portrait of the Queen

Six aircraft and 12 crew members from the LAA Wessex Strut have completed a GPS portrait of Her Majesty the Queen in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.

More than 365 separate headings in six sections were flown across the South West of England by the team, code-named ‘Art Force 1’. Team leader, Amy Whitewick handed each team a secret GPS plotted path. “None of them had any idea what the final image would look like,” said Amy. “Each team was given a small, unrecognisable chunk which, when flown, recorded on SkyDemon and sent back would be stitched together digitally to form the

Young Historic Pilot Trophy to be awarded this year

The Historic Aircraft Association (HAA) is requesting nominations for the Colin Dodds Memorial Trophy for the Young Historic Pilot of The Year, an annual award for a young pilot aged 18-30 years old, flying historic aircraft types.

Squadron Leader Colin Dodds was a member of the HAA from its earliest formation, and served for more than three

Formal Notice: LAA AGM: 1100 Sunday 23 Oct 2022

The AGM of the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) is traditionally held in October each year. This year, it will be held at LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome NN13 5YD at 1100 on Sunday 23 October. We will also have Zoom hybrid meeting capabilities and electronic voting, allowing members to participate even if they are unable to, or wish to, attend the AGM in person.

In addition to Zoom and electronic voting, proxy votes and polling of those in the room will be used to fulfil the usual formalities of an AGM, meeting our mandatory requirements as a Limited Company. A link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to all members by email at the start of October and, along with a full list of Motions and an AGM Schedule, will be circulated with October’s LA and online.

final image.”

It took 10 hours to plot the full image of the Queen, carefully constructing it around surrounding airspace then cutting into six, manageable sections and assigning them to teams and their aircraft.

The portrait is believed to be the most complex GPS image ever drawn by air, as well as one of the first ever GPS images in aviation history to be drawn by multiple aircraft. www.artforceone.co.uk decades, eventually being appointed Vice President in 2019. He was Deputy Chairman from 1995 until 2018. Colin was keen to encourage future generations of pilots in the historic aviation world and following his death in 2020 his family donated the silver goblet trophy to the HAA in his memory as The Colin Dodds Young Historic Pilot Trophy.

The award will be presented at the HAA Symposium at the RAF Museum in October.

Nominations should be sent to Howard Cook of the HAA Management Committee petahoward@aol.com

Nominations for Board Directors and Notices of Motion of any kind for the AGM must be received at LAA HQ no later than Sunday 4 September 2022. Motions must be signed by both proposer and seconder and, if a proposal to elect a candidate, a signed statement of willingness to serve should also be provided.

In addition, once the formalities are complete we will allocate time to a Members’ Forum to allow as many members as possible to quiz Board members and LAA staff, and to discuss some proposals for the future. Prior to formal business, we will also present LAA service awards and any Fly-in awards to members. Refreshments will be served and lunch will be available from the Turweston Tower Cafe. Meantime, if you have any questions or comments for the AGM or the Members’ Forum, please get in touch with us via office@laa.uk.com

Loss of control and stall/spin awareness is examined in the latest of the revised CAA Safety Sense leaflets. tinyurl.com/SafetySenseLOC

More LAA training courses

No doubt many of us are eagerly awaiting the LAA Grass Roots Fly-in at Popham and the opportunity to witness the superb craftsmanship of our members. Starting a build or restoration, or even simply maintaining an aircraft can seem very daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. The LAA’s growing range of courses, most of which are taught by members, can take the mystery out of building and maintaining light aircraft, enabling you to gain the required skills and confidence. Our 2022/23 season of courses starts soon after Popham – the perfect time to take the opportunity to enhance your knowledge!

● Monday 19 September sees a hands-on fabric covering course by Polyfiber agents Aircraft Coverings.

● Saturday 24 September John Barrott hosts a course on the installation and operation of the fuel injected Rotax 912iS and 915iS engines.

● Tuesday 27 September Dudley Pattison presents a course on the skills of building with wood at his workshop near Swindon. Upcoming courses include building in aluminium, Rotax 912/914 operation and maintenance, looking after your DH Gipsy, fabric covering with Oratex, aircraft electrical wiring, ROCC air-to-ground radio operators courses and a number of other subjects. All are held at the LAA’s workshop / classrooms at Turweston, unless otherwise stated.

Check out the ‘Courses’ tab on the LAA website for more details, and book early to avoid disappointment.

Brian Hope

Obituary

Alan Ayles 1935 - 2022

Sadly, ‘Mr Tipsy Nipper’ passed away on 19 June, aged 86, after a long illness.

I first met Alan Ayles in April 1995 when I became the part owner of Tipsy Nipper G-ATBW and later G-ASXI both owned by the Stapleford Nipper Group. Alan was our PFA Inspector, and he helped us to maintain the Nippers and keep them flying for many years.

Alan was known to us as ‘Mr Tipsy Nipper’, owning his company Nipper Kits and Components. His knowledge about

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the aircraft was extraordinary. He faithfully supplied us and many other owners with drawings and parts for the type. He had extraordinary engineering skills and was able to make the parts not readily available to keep the aircraft flying.

Alan has been an PFA/LAA Inspector (No 194) since 1978, and up until about 2017, a total of 39 years. He had been overseeing about 20 Permit renewal inspections per year and regularly assisting owners with servicing their aircraft.

overseeing about 20 Permit renewal

A skilled electrical and electronics engineer, having been trained in the MOD, he worked closely with Adams Aviation designing, making, and repairing equipment for military and commercial aviation organisations.

Alan spent years at the Aquila research site in Bickley where he advanced his mischievous sense of humour by pointing out the real-world hazards for some of the military’s more esoteric designs. Alan’s own code, and the secretive nature of some of that work, meant that there were, inevitably, costly British and Allied military cockups avoided, which we will never know about.

Alan was a regular attender on PFA/ LAA inspector courses and seminars over the years. He kept so many PFA and later LAA aircraft in the air with his skill and determination. His enthusiasm extended to visits to numerous light aircraft shows including the PFA/LAA rallies and Friedrichshafen. He assisted me and a colleague build the first Titan T51 Mustang brought into the country, dedicating every Saturday for several years to the build. He witnessed the roll out of the completed aircraft and several engine tests. Unfortunately, due to illness, he was unable to witness the successful maiden flight of the Mustang in October 2021, flown by the LAA’s chief test pilot Dan Griffiths. It was a proud moment for all of us and one for which I will always be grateful for Alan’s skilled assistance and technical knowledge.

Alan sadly lost his wife Joan to cancer many years ago. He missed her greatly. He was reluctant to retire until illness confined him to home, later to a nursing home, where he peacefully passed away.

A warm, skilled, generous, kind man and a true gentleman, he leaves behind his elder brother George, nephew, niece, and great nephew, and of course many friends. He will be greatly missed.

Chris Firth