Get ready for this year’s big event!

Fly-in Chairman Eryl Smith offers a full update on this year’s LAA Grass Roots Fly-in event

The LAA’s Grass Roots Fly-in at Popham Aerodrome in Hampshire over the three days, Friday 2 to Sunday 4 September, is rapidly approaching. With Sywell unavailable, we have had to reimagine our traditional Rally. The Grass Roots Fly-In will, on one hand, take the Association back to its traditional roots, while continuing to offer the first chance to see some of the latest aircraft and products in the recreational aviation market.

Over the last few months we have been working closely with Popham Aerodrome to identify how best to develop the event, taking full advantage of Popham’s grass runways and the airfield’s famed rural ambience to create a more intimate event. The weekend will focus on the fly-in and social element, while still providing many of the elements of the traditional Rally, which has brought together members and flyers from around the UK and Europe to meet fellow enthusiasts.

Below left Expect to see a wide array of exhibitors, including our main exhibitor marquee sponsors, Light Aero Spares.

Below right A program of talks will take place in Speakers Corner.

We have received great support from Mike Pearson, Airfield Manager, and his team at Popham, many of whom have contributed to the success of past rallies at Sywell, most recently in standing up the core of the radio team who provided the Air Ground radio service for last year’s Rally. They will once again be providing the Air Ground radio service, and procedures will be kept as simple and straightforward as possible, adopting Popham’s standard procedures.

The weekend will be focused on the 03/21 runway with a large adjacent exhibition area, dedicated LAA air park, camp site and car park for those arriving by road. A full range of catering will be available as part of the exhibition site and arrangements are being made for evening catering with BBQ and hog roast and bar. Inevitably there will be some differences from the full rally. We have been challenged in securing marquees for the event and this will limit the extent of inside exhibition space. We are pleased to announce that Light Aero Spares will be sponsoring the main exhibitor marquee. We are currently finalising exhibitor bookings and a full list of exhibitors will be available via the LAA website prior to the event. Among the other regular attractions we will have a speakers programme covering a range of interesting talks on products, services, aspects of flight safety and other topical presentations. The ever-popular flea market will be available, so please dig out all those unwanted parts and kit that are no longer required – there is always someone out there ready to snap them up! As always the LAA HQ Engineering team will be on hand to answer questions and provide advice, and the LAA shop will offer a comprehensive range of merchandise for sale.

Above There will be opportunities to meet members of the LAA staff.

Below Buy and sell spares at the LAA Fleamarket.

Getting to the Fly-In

As always, flying into the event remains part of the experience. Arrangements for the operational procedures and marshalling remain the responsibility of Popham Airfield. In keeping with the Grass Roots theme Popham will be adopting its standard arrivals and departures procedures. These can be found in the usual publications and will be available on both the Popham and LAA websites. As previously mentioned, Popham will have an experienced Air Ground radio team on duty throughout the event, and the North Weald Marshalling team will be combining with Popham’s marshallers to co-ordinate the marshalling and parking activity. If you plan to fly-in, please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the arrangements, even if you have flown into Popham many times before.

Good airmanship remains key to a successful event and should be your number one priority!

Booking a slot

Popham will be managing an online slot booking system with pre-payment at the time of booking (using the Eventbrite platform). This will be based upon timed ‘windows’ rather than individual timed slots. Once again the slot booking will allow access to the event by road, should you be unable to fly for whatever reason. Full details of the slot booking arrangements are available via the LAA and Popham websites.

Arrivals by road

Popham Airfield is easily reached by road via the M3, A303 and A34 and the airfield entrance is clearly signposted from the A303 west and east bound slip roads at the Overton and Micheldever junction just west of the airfield. Upon entering the airfield gate please follow signage for car parking or camp site.

Trophies and awards

For this year we are reducing and simplifying the categories of Awards and Trophies to be judged. They will include Best in Show; Best Amateur Build, Best New Restoration, Best Vintage & Classic and Most Meritorous Arrival. Awards will be presented as usual at the AGM in October. Full details of the award categories and arrangements for registration will be available on the LAA website.

Camping

Camping facilities on site are limited, but there is ample flat up and running from Thursday afternoon and will close early on Monday morning.

This year there will be a single charge of £25 per unit (a unit being a tent, caravan or motorhome) irrespective of length of stay. Pre-booking a site can be done on line via the LAA shop https://services.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/ catalogue at the reduced cost of £20.

Opening times

Friday: 9.30am-5pm

Saturday: 9.30-5pm

Sunday: 9.30pm-4pm

Admission charges

Members of LAA, BMAA and BRA: £10 covers all three days and airside access and can be booked online via the Popham Eventbrite site. To take advantage of the reduced membership entrance fee please ensure that you bring your current membership card as you will be asked to show it at the pay booth entrance.

Non-Members: The daily entry charge for non-members is £10 with a three day entrance pass available for £20. This provides entrance to the event and exhibition site, but not the airside aircraft park.

Non-Member’s airside access: Airside access to the aircraft park will be available to non-members at £10 per day and can also be booked online when pre-booking and entrance ticket for the event.

Visiting aircraft: Landing fee, payable at the time of booking the arrivals slot is £12.50. This will admit the pilot and any accompanying passengers to the event for the duration of the time that the aircraft is at Popham. The pilot and accompanying passengers will be required to book in and obtain access wristbands as usual.

Further details of the event will be available via the LAA website as they become available. ■

Inspiring members to take on their own aircraft build or restoration project

Compiled by Mike Slaughter