< Back New LAA Inspector - Keith Troughton 4 Sept 2025 We are pleased to welcome Keith Troughton as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. With an active aviation interest from a very young age, he has been involved in certified, homebuilt, and microlight aircraft for over 40 years. He is currently operating within a C.A.O. General Aviation Facility as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer (L.A.E.). He is a CAA-approved maintenance manager within an approved Aircraft Maintenance Facility, with access to most of the necessary tooling for standard aircraft maintenance support, including facilities to weigh aircraft, if required. Next Previous

Over the years this has led to several commercially successful kitplanes (Europa, Streak Shadow, Sherwood Ranger), as well as designs that have been released for plans-building (Flitzer, Isaacs Fury, FRED) and a whole range of fascinating on-off personal aircraft – the Acro Advanced, Bonsall Mustang, Mickleburgh Sparrow to name just a few. There will always be LAA’ers keen on the ‘retro’ look, but with ever-increasing fuel costs we foresee a greater emphasis in future on aircraft exploring higher efficiency, alternative powerplants (electric?) and renewable materials. High hangarage fees mean that aircraft enthusiasts are more than ever interested in folding or de-riggable aircraft that can be kept at home. Using the information provided by clicking the links below, the LAA hopes to stimulate interest in light aircraft design, help potential designers through the process and encourage the development of high quality designs. With the decline in UK manufacturing over the recent decades, it seems more than ever important to keep alive a thread of creativity and enthusiasm for design and development. For some, the ability to bring a personal design from first concept to a flying prototype provides the ultimate source of satisfaction within the LAA scene. Designing Aircraft Since its formation in 1948, one of the stated aims of the LAA has been to encourage the designing and building of new types of light aircraft. For our own purposes, we in LAA Engineering have been producing a series of Excel spreadsheets to use as tools in the verification of calculations in the many aircraft design submissions we deal with. The spreadsheets have been designed to carry out the various calculations that are necessary during the design of light aircraft. Some of them have been written against specific paragraphs in the design code CS-VLA, whereas others, for example, cover areas related to the development of aircraft undergoing flight testing. In addition, simple spreadsheets for straightforward mathematical calculations have been written. It is for information and educational purposes that these spreadsheets are now available to LAA members on the LAA web site. Use the buttons below for more information on each design stage: Preliminary Design Detail Design Certification/Approval

< Back Grass Roots Fly-In Slots and Tickets now available! 26 Jul 2023 Not long to go now!! Details on slot bookings, entrance tickets, camping, exhibitor information, trophies and awards, opening times, other attractions etc are now available Fly-in details can be found here . Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Tom Bootyman 20 Jun 2024 We are pleased to welcome Tom Bootyman as an LAA Inspector. Tom attended an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of June. Tom is a serial aircraft builder/maintainer/repairer, also with several years’ experience as an engineer with a global aerobatic team. He has experience building and repairing Zenair and Vans RV types, along with working on many aerobatic aircraft. He is also an experienced aircraft painter. Tom has a love and devotion to all things aviation, so he is always open to requests for information, advice and Permit inspections. He is based at Netherthorpe (Sheffield), but willing to travel. Next Previous

< Back Engineering updates in October 11 Nov 2025 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during October. Continuing airworthiness information : Alert A-11-2025 - Eurostar control system rose joints Alert A-12-2025 - Aeroprakt windscreens TADS: Evektor Eurostar Vans RV-9/-9A Propeller type lists PTL/1 : Murphy Renegade 912 (new) Murphy Renegade Spirit (new) Vans RV-6 (up-issued) Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Andrew Williams 31 Mar 2025 We are pleased to welcome Andrew Williams as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Andrew has been involved with aircraft maintenance for approximately 36 years. Types he has worked on include Rolls-Royce Dart and Pratt & Whitney PT6-powered passenger and freighter aircraft, followed by working on short-to-medium range jet aircraft. For the last 10 years, Andrew has been involved with general aviation single and twin-engined aircraft, carrying out maintenance and certification. He holds a CAA approval to perform Airworthiness Reviews in order to issue Airworthiness Review Certificates. His qualifications include: CAA Part 66 Licence, inc. Full Group 3 and a BCAR Sec L Licence. In the LAA ‘world,’ Andrew has a share in a Jodel 1050. Congratulations Andrew. Welcome to the team! Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Ben Davis 27 Nov 2025 We are pleased to welcome Ben Davis as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Ben has been an aircraft owner for about twenty years and has become something of a fan of the (mighty) Alpi Pioneer series. He’s owned several and flown several more. Ben has also refurbished and upgraded a number of Pioneers with new avionics, autopilots, and instruments. Along the way, he has owned and improved a Europa and a few other types, but he always seems to find his way back to a Pioneer! Ben also enjoys staring out of the front window of little biz jets. With a background in electronics, moving into avionics was a natural step for him. Ben is a Rotax iRMT (Line & Heavy), a BMAA Inspector, and now also an LAA Inspector, combining his technical background with years of hands-on experience. Ben is based at Finmere, just a short hop from LAA HQ, and is always happy to help other owners with maintenance, upgrades, or just a good aviation chat. You can find him sharing projects and flying adventures on social media as @benfly79. Next Previous

< Back Engineering updates in January 5 Feb 2026 The following documents have been issued/updated in the Engineering 'Info Library' during January. Technical Leaflets : TL 3.29 Installation of changes approved by STC (new) Forms : LAA/FT-NEW Flight test schedule Continuing airworthiness information : MTD-05-2025 Eurofox rudder pedal cracking (issue 4) TADS: Bristell Next Previous

< Back Rally Entrance Tickets, Airside Passes and Camping Permits on Sale!! 18 Jul 2025 Entry Tickets and Airside Passes now on sale via the LAA Shop . Landing slots will be available soon. We have a special offer for non members - £50 for all 3 days including Airside. Available for purchase until 31st July 2025 Next Previous

Info Library Navigate the folders below for any document that you require, like you would on your computer. To search for a particular document, use the 'magnifying glass' symbol below on the right.

Permit Aircraft Electrics - Advanced Course Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Duration Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. < Back About the Course The Basics course covers simple DC theory and concentrates on the practical aspects of installing a basic permit aircraft electrical system. The course explains how to interpret a ‘typical’ permit aircraft electrical systems diagram and for every element, explains how to size, select and source components and then how to practically install them. This Advanced course builds on the Basics course by providing more detail about component selection and options and the use of integrated power management systems within permit aircraft. The course takes the simple systems design introduced in the Basics course and explores options for creating more complex electrical systems including the use of dual and essential system bus bars. The course introduces fault tolerant design considerations, thus allowing attendees to consider safety and fault analysis in their own designs. As a tool for understanding this aspect of the course, it will take an introductory look into the requirements of electrical systems for those wishing to fly their aircraft under IFR. What this course will try to do is: Explain power generation and distribution options in a light aircraft More advanced consisderations into component selection Discuss circuit protection devices and systems Explain failure modes and reliability issues Introduce interference and EMC issues Show correct grounding and screening techniques Provide you with the knowledge to plan an installation and create the necessary documentation Warn about the ‘gotcha’ areas and the things to look out for What the course will not do is: Turn you overnight into an expert Enable you to fault find on an undocumented aircraft installation Delve inside avionics boxes It will be useful, but not essential, for people to have previously attended the Basic course. In order to make the best of this course, if you have not attended the basics course, you will need to understand basic DC theory; Ohms Law and the Power Law. Please note that this course is primarily a classroom based course, as you will already have the practical skills you need, which are covered in the basics course. Your Instructor Mark Castle-Smith Dates Saturday 18 April 2026 Times Arrival 09:00. Finish 17:00. Duration One day course Venue LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome, NN13 5YD Price Member - £224, Non-Member - £244 (includes printed course material) Booking Pls call the LAA on 01280 846 786 to enquire/book or email [email protected] . *Please note that payment is required when booking, to confirm your place. NO place will be held without confirmed payment* **Please note that your booking payment is non-refundable unless we can fill your place timeously or there are exceptional circumstances**

< Back LAA 'Grass Roots Fly-In' returns 23 Apr 2023 The LAA is returning to the green grass of Popham Aerodrome in Hampshire for a repeat of its “Grass Roots Fly In” from 18th to 20th August 2023. The Fly-In will again on one hand take the Associate 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. What was particularly notable about the 2022 Popham event was its sociality. LAA members and exhibitors alike commented on its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with post-event comments such as “It’s a great reunion as well as a fly-in–cum trade show” and “super friendly, the event always had a good vibe”. A joint venture with Popham Aerodrome, the LAA Grass Roots Fly In will develop its strengths as a social event bringing flyers from around the UK and Europe to meet fellow enthusiasts. The grass runways at Popham and the airfield’s famed rural ambience will mean that the event will focus on the fly-in and social element as much as on a large exhibition campus. The earlier mid-August date will also mean longer evenings, allowing more scope for flyers from further afield and hopefully, milder conditions for those who choose to ‘camp under the wing’. Said LAA CEO designate Simon Tilling: “The LAA Grass Roots Fly In was a great success last year, with over 3,000 visitors, more than 30 exhibitors and a total of 350 visiting aircraft through the weekend. It is a different event to the past, larger scale LAA Rallies and we’re working on plans for the continuation of a larger scale LAA event in the future. For this year, we’re looking forward to another great, social and fun, LAA fly in”. Next Previous