Show Report

LAA Grass Roots Fly-in

Some of the highlights from the Light Aircraft Association’s Grass Roots Fly-in held at Popham Airfield on 2-4 September 2022

Words and Photography: Ed Hicks

8 September 2022

LAA Grass Roots Fly-in 2022

Spitfire replica — As the show opened on Friday morning, Mark Shortman (right) from the Civil Aviation Authority and John Ratcliffe (left) from the Light Aircraft Association presented Steve Markham with his initial Permit-to-Fly for his homebuilt Spitfire Mk26

Sling Highwing — Having initially flown to Oshkosh, USA from South Africa, the new Sling Highwing is on its way back home. Making a temporary stop in the UK, it was flown into the show to make its UK debut by James Pittman from Sling Aircraft and UK agent Tim Hardy. Sling Aircraft UK will be seeking UK approval for the slingaircraft.uk

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Scroll and zoom to look around the four-seat cabin of the Sling Highwing

BA Swallow — Beautiful BA Swallow II, powered by a Pobjoy radial engine, was flown in by Charlie and Anna Huke

Ashok Thamarakshan Sling TSi — Famous as the 'Lockdown homebuilder' on national media a few months ago, Ashok Thamarakshan flew his Sling TSi to the show. Ashok has a new venture, seeking approval for Skyleader 600 and 400 aircraft in the UK as 600kg microlights

Dan Ruiters Popham — The FLYER team last saw Dan Ruiters and his RV-6 from Switzerland at the EAA AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh in July. He recently completed an epic 132 hour flying tour, travelling 19,449nm. Dan noted that on his travels, his lowest landing was at Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California @ -210ft, while his highest landing was at Leadville Lake, Colorado @ 9,934ft

Foxbat A32 Vixxen — Getting very close to approval as the LAA's first 600kg microlight type, the A32 Vixxen will soon be available to buy as a ready-to-fly type from UK agents Foxbat UK www.foxbataircraft.com

polished RV-8 — A slave to a bit of polishing, James Stringer imported his RV-8 from the USA. He had been thinking of repainting it, but says people's reactions to a polished RV were so popular he's going to keep it this way…

Tiger Moth DH82C — Not just another Tiger Moth but a DH82C Tiger Moth from Canada. Originally built with an enclosed cockpit, it was converted to open cockpit status and has recently been restored by Tony Palmer from Sussex

RV-8 pilot Hermann Schiele — Adventurous RV-8 pilot Hermann Schiele, has just completed an amazing sightseeing trip to Greenland. He produced the most amazing video of the flight… we've shared it below

Mack Rutherford Solo — Fresh from setting his two world records, for youngest person to fly around the world solo and youngest person to fly around the world in a microlight, Mack Rutherford paid a visit to Popham. He was returning to the UK ready to start school the following day!

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Scroll and zoom to look around the cockpit of the Macksolo Shark.

Mk.26 Spitfire — Martin Overall (right) was presented with the Prince Michael of Kent trophy for Concours d'Elegance, for his Mk.26 Spitfire. Martin won the Best Kitbuilt award for this aircraft at the LAA Rally in 2019

Steve Markham Steve Slater — Steve Markham was awarded the RAA Canada Trophy for Best Kitbuilt aircraft, for his Mk26 Spitfire. Steve told FLYER it took 16 years and more than 12,000 hours to build.

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Scroll and zoom to look around the cockpit of Steve Markham’s MK26 Spitfire.

Keith Griggs CP 301A Emeraude — The Malcolm Allen trophy for Most Meritorious Arrival was awarded to Keith Griggs. Keith flew in from East Fortune in Scotland in his CP 301A Emeraude. His route took in airfields including Compton Abbas, Wickenby, Lee on Solent, East Winch and Rochester, where he carried passengers in exchange for donations to Cancer Research UK. He is estimated to have generated over £1,500 for the charity

Ian Coates RV-7 — Ian Coates RV-7 was awarded the Andy Nowicki Trophy for Best Van's Aircraft RV.

uAvionix tailBeaconX — Following its approval by the FAA, EASA and the CAA, the uAvionix tailBeaconX 1090 MHz ADS-B transponder and AV-30 altitude encoder was announced as having received LAA approval as an accepted equipment combination for ADS-B OUT

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LAA light aircraft association Popham Airfield

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