LAA are proud to announce our Rally 2025 sponsors General Information Event Opening Hours 9.30am – 5.00pm each day (Fri & Sat) 9.30am – 4.00pm (Sun) Fly-In Instructions Up to date fly-in instructions will be displayed here in the run up to the event. Please check before you fly for the latest instructions. Camping Camping facilities providing basic amenities including hot showers will be available on site. There is ample ground for caravans and motorhomes. The site will be up and running from Thursday afternoon and will close early on Monday morning. Camping passes can be bought in advance via the LAA Shop . In addition to catering provision on the exhibition site, evening food and a bar will be available on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, provided by Leicestershire Aero Club. Parking Please follow the signs to the designated free Rally Car parks. Designated parking will be signed for Disabled and Exhibitor users. You must display a Blue Badge if using Disabled Parking areas - any car without a Blue Badge will be asked to move to the main parking area. All emergency access ways must be kept clear. Please ensure you are familiar with the routes and do not block with vehicles or stock. Please do not block emergency gates onto the airfield. You must ensure that you keep the roadway clear for all other users. Dogs We understand that many visitors wish to bring their dogs with them, we welcome dogs on site. However, as this is an operational airfield, all dogs MUST BE KEPT ON A LEAD when on any part of the site. Dogs are not allowed in the aircraft parking areas. Please ensure you pick up after your dog. Anyone caught allowing their dog to foul without picking up will be asked to remove the dog from site. All dogs must have an identity tag with contact tel no on. WiFi Should you require WiFi, then please bring your own supply. Please be aware that due to the remote location of the airfield, WiFi reception can be unreliable. Water TBC Waste We operate a clean site policy and therefore all exhibitors, visitors and traders should remove their own rubbish from their pitch. A skip will be provided on site for cardboard and general rubbish. No electrical or hazardous materials should be disposed of in the skip. Toilets & Shower Facilities Toilets will be provided in the exhibition site, in the aircraft park and on the campsite, together with hot shower facilities. First Aid First Aid cover is provided by an external third party for the duration of the event. In the event of an emergency, please contact them or a member of Leicester Airfield staff. Fire Fire Marshals will be in attendance and should be contacted in the unlikely event of fire. Please ensure all flammable materials are kept away from possible sources of ignition. Dispose of any rubbish in the skips provided. No naked flames are allowed on any exhibition stand or trading stand. Security Regular patrols are carried out by our contracted security staff. e-Scooters No e-Scooters are permitted on site.

The Annual General Meeting of the Light Aircraft Association Ltd Old Warden Aerodrome Airfield of The Shuttleworth Collection The Discovery Hub, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP 20th October 2024 Our AGM will take place at Old Warden which will be a hybrid meeting, face-to-face for those who wish to attend, and a virtual facility for those who wish to ‘attend’ remotely. The AGM is scheduled to commence at 12:00 hrs on Sunday 20th October. The programme for the day will be: 1100 - Tea/Coffee 1130 - Welcome from Eryl Smith, LAA Chairman. 1135 - Presentation of LAA Service Awards and LAA Rally Awards 1200 - AGM 1300 - CEO overview and Members Forum. An opportunity for members to discuss issues and ideas with the Board. 1400 - Thanks and closure of the meeting. AGM Documents 2024 LAA AGM Agenda 2023 LAA AGM Minutes Annual Report & Accounts Proxy Voting Form Proxy Voting Form Notes

Light Aviation Magazine 2019 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2019 January 2019 April 2019 Juky 2019 October 2019 February 2019 May 2019 August 2019 November 2019 March 2019 June 2019 September 2019 December 2019

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

Operating & Maintaining Aircraft This section is intended to cover everything that happens once the aircraft is in a flying state. From a technical point of view, the most import of these is keeping on top of the aircraft’s maintenance. This is critical in enabling an owner to meet his or her obligation to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TOTAL AVGAS UL91 ETHANOL-FREE MOGAS WEIGHT & BALANCE E5 MOGAS REVALIDATING A PERMIT TO FLY 97 OCTANE SUPER-UNLEADED E10 MOGAS - NOT APPROVED

Light Aviation Magazine 2024 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2024 January 2024 April 2024 July 2024 October 2024 February 2024 May 2024 August 2024 November 2024 March 2024 June 2024 September 2024 December 2024

Light Aviation Magazine 2015 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2015 January 2015 April 2015 July 2015 October 2015 February 2015 May 2015 August 2015 November 2015 March 2015 June 2015 September 2015 December 2015

Become an Inspector Are you interested in becoming an LAA Inspector? To understand the application process, read the 'LAA Inspector Application Notes' and 'Flow Chart' below. Please use the form below to apply and include as much detail as possible in your application. Complete applications can be emailed to the Head of Continuing Airworthiness & Inspection (Chief Inspector), Lucy Wootton at [email protected] . INSPECTOR APPLICATION NOTES INSPECTOR APPLICATION FLOW CHART INSPECTOR APPLICATION FORM INSPECTOR APPROVAL INFORMATION

Certification & Approval Having worked out a promising-looking layout, initial three-view and performance and weight specifications, now is the stage where the hard work begins of transforming concepts to working drawings. Essential decisions have to be made about types of material to be used, the structural arrangement, exact choice of powerplant and so on. You’ll probably need to make a cockpit mock-up to check the ergonomics and control system arrangements, and maybe build a flying radio controlled model of the design to give faith in the handling characteristics. With the basic geometry laid out, stress calculations and assembly drawings come next, then drawings of individual piece parts. Keep an up-to-date tally on weights. As the drawings get more detailed you must re-evaluate whether you are going to meet your original targets in terms of weight, strength and aerodynamic cleanliness, whether you need to re-visit your original assumptions or re-design from scratch. Is there a way that the part or assembly can be made more easily, more cheaply, lighter, stronger, more fatigue or corrosion resistant ? Fewer parts and fewer joints generally means fewer problems and less weight. Can you use off the shelf parts rather than having to make them specially ? Are there other aeroplanes around that have already solved a particular problem in a clever way ? Will the aircraft be easy to inspect in service, easy to repair if it gets damaged ? Can it be broken down for transportation ? If the handling isn’t quite right when the prototype is test flown, does the design make provision for ‘tweaks’ to put it right ? Does the design include reserves of strength to cope with weight growth in service and more powerful engines, or is everything pared down to the minimum ? Downloadable Spreadsheets Technical Leaflets Design Tutorials

We provide a system whereby members can build an aircraft in the comfort of their own home (or wherever they choose) from either a set of plans or from a kit of parts. Every year around 100 newly-constructed aircraft are added to the LAA fleet, with members generally taking around 1 to 4 years to complete their kit projects. A whole range of aircraft is available to build, from single-seaters to four-seaters, aerobatic to amphibian, and WWI replica triplanes to gyroplanes. The LAA is tasked with ensuring that the designs members build meet minimum airworthiness requirements, appropriate to the type. Proposals for accepting other designs of aircraft can be put to the LAA, and a number of such types are accepted each year following a review of their airworthiness, amongst other things. This requires a member to champion the type through the process, arranging for the necessary technical information to be passed to the Engineering department and to build and test the first example. Similarly, it is possible for a member to build an aircraft of their own design. LAA provides support for this (see the Designing aircraft section), but due to limited resources only the most promising/developed designs can be advanced through the system. Building Aircraft One of the founding principles of the LAA is to provide for members wishing to build their own aircraft, either for their own education or to enable them to own an affordable aircraft. Of course, whichever type you choose it is usually possible to customise it to your liking using the LAA’s modification system. So if it’s an elaborate avionics suite that takes your fancy or an automotive engine conversion, there’s a route to investigating whether it’s possible. If you like the idea of building, but feel you lack the skills, then there are courses on various aspects of aircraft building to help bring you up to speed. Your Inspector is also a fantastic mine of information and generally will be your first port of call for technical information. Of course, the LAA also has a pool of full-time engineers who can be contacted for advice. For further information, click the button below for Technical Leaflets covering the Build Process Click here for more information

What does the Pilot Coaching Scheme offer? Licence Revalidation & Renewals LAA Coaches can provide the “one hour with an Instructor ” flight at any time in the second year of your licence revalidation period, and then sign the revalidation if you have already flown the required hours. They all hold UK 'R' examiner privileges, so can also revalidate ratings on UK PPLs and NPPLs once all the requirements have been completed, even if they have not flown with you. All Coaches are allowed to do Renewal Training under the LAA DTO to assist pilots to prepare for their General Skills Test to get their lapsed licence back. Differences Training "Differences Training" requires the acquisition of additional knowledge and training on any appropriate device, or on an aircraft. It requires both ground and flight training and must be endorsed as having been completed by a suitably qualified Flight Instructor or Class Rating Instructor. Features which, when first experienced, require differences training are: Turbo-charged or Super-charged engines Variable pitch and constant speed propellers Tail wheel undercarriage Retractable undercarriage Cabin Pressurisation EFIS Single power lever control (SPLC) Microlights Additionally, for the UK National Private Pilot's Licence (NPPL) SSEA class rating, differences training is required for aircraft with a cruise speed in excess of 140 knots indicated airspeed. Familiarisation Training Before flying any type or variant of aircraft which you’ve not flown before, within the Single-Engine Piston (SEP) class, you must complete "Familiarisation Training". This is the correct modern terminology for what would previously be described as being "Checked Out" on a new type. "Familiarisation Training" requires the acquisition of additional knowledge by one of the following means: Self-study of appropriate material about the aircraft such as the Pilot Operating Handbook, Pilot’s notes, etc Training with a suitably qualified instructor A verbal brief from a pilot already familiar with the type , particularly in the case of a single seat aircraft, With multi seat aircraft, while it may be helpful to fly with another pilot already familiar with the type, pilots should note that only qualified instructors are authorised to provide training, including familiarisation training and this could lead to difficulties if an accident were to occur that was supervised by any pilot other than a qualified instructor. In addition, when first transitioning to flying types or variants of aircraft which include various specific more demanding or unusual features, that he or she has not previously experienced as pilot in command, a pilot must also have differences training with a qualified instructor to teach them to safely deal with the feature or features concerned. Whilst differences training with an instructor is mandatory, we also recommend you include ground and flight training with an instructor as part of your familiarisation training. Type Conversion If you're thinking of buying an aircraft, where do you go for a type conversion? The PCS has coaches who are experienced on a variety of modern and vintage types. Your coach will take you through your conversion until you are competent on type. Licence Migration The PCS can assist you to upgrade your licence to a different type and also add additional ratings e.g. NPPL(M) to NPPL(SSEA) etc. Miscellaneous Although we do offer specific courses, our coaches are available to fly with you for any flying training you may need in your aircraft. This can include revision of, for example: Practice Forced Landings; Circuits; Stalling; Navigation; R/T and more. Whilst we do not, at present, offer ab initio training, a number of our coaches are also fully qualified Flying Instructors and so may be able to assist with any training issues you may have.

Pilot Coaching Scheme LAA DTO The LAA is a CAA Declared Training Organisation (DTO). Our enjoyment of flying, and the ability to share that with others, carries with it a responsibility to maintain good standards of flying and airmanship. The Pilot Coaching Scheme (PCS) provides coaches to assist with specific courses and any general training need. COACHES The LAA has the Pilot Coaching Scheme - all Coaches are current CAA and Part 21-FCL certified Class Rating Instructors, Flight Instructors, or Flight Examiners. They’re also your trainer, confidante and mentor throughout the process of you learning to fly your aircraft. FIND A COACH Click on the button below to go to a map of all the LAA Coaches. You can find out their location, contact details, photograph and a short profile about them. Most coaches are happy to travel reasonable distances to accommodate your needs. WHY HAVE THE PCS? Statistics show that for LAA aircraft, the transition of a pilot onto a new aircraft type is a frequent source of accidents, more so than the aircraft's initial test flying phase. The same is true of the first flight of any unfamiliar aircraft, whether it is a home-built, vintage, or microlight. HOW IT WORKS Most LAA coaches have completed all differences themselves applicable to LAA types, so they can provide your differences or familiarisation training - though naturally, before doing so, they may need the opportunity to fly the aircraft sufficiently to acquaint themselves with the individual model concerned. WHAT DOES THE PCS OFFER? The PCS offers Licence Revalidation & Renewals, Differences Training, Familiarisation Training, Type Conversions, Licence Migrations and much more! Click the button below to find out what each of these means in detail. CLICK HERE TO FIND A COACH CLICK HERE FOR PCS DETAILS CLICK HERE FOR THE PILOT COACHING SCHEME DOCUMENTS (CSDs) CLICK HERE FOR PILOT COACHING SCHEME MAGAZINE ARTICLES