Light Aircraft Association

Yes, indeed -- thanks to Brian for a job well done.

(And great news that his replacement is Ed Hicks!)

Compass fluid: I went to scrounge some from the local maintenance operation (because buying a bottle to do a single compass seemed excessive). The ever-helpful boss/mechanic handed me a large bottle labelled "Compass Fluid", looked me in the eye, and said "It's Jet A1, but don't tell anyone." And th...

Paul, you did spot, didn't you, that it says "You should only enter the first (alpha) part of the postcode (e.g. NN or B) without a number ." ? (my bold) If you do this, it works; if you took "the first part of the postcode" to what it normally means and put the number in as well, then it doesn't! T...

As I said, the latest version of Reader (Reader DC) does form filling (via the Fill & Sign menu). It's true that in the past you needed the full-blown Acrobat, but not any more. I have literally just opened (once again) a form from Engineering in Reader DC, filled in some fields, and saved it. And o...

If you start sending forms out in Word: (a) people will start amending the form itself and not the fields, opening up all sort of cans of worms, and (b) you're offering another route for viruses. The latest version of Acrobat Reader allows you to do a lot more than the older versions, so I suggest m...

TLAC is The Light Aircraft Company, who make the Sherwood Ranger. There used to be a list on the LAA website showing aircraft that had been submitted for approval, what stage this process had got to, etc., but I can't find it now! Maybe ask LAA Engineering if the Fisher R-80 is on the list. Getting ...

The Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth isn't an LAA-approved design, as far as I know, so you should probably cross that off your list. List of approved designs here (though I'm not sure it's completely up to date): http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/pdf/Engineering/Website%20Accepted%20Aircraft%20List.p...

I've just read Malcolm's last ever Safety Spot in the magazine, and wanted to say "thanks" to him for his work over the years in putting this feature together and making it so readable. I've always found it fascinating and informative (and occasionally alarming!) -- it's often the first thing I turn...

Thanks -- but yes, too late: we've just finished machining a custom insert -- seemed to work OK on the ground run this morning!

As a (very) general rule, a solid metal isn't going to poison you unless you work with them a lot/try very hard. Powders are bad -- you inhale them (so be careful sawing/filing). Vapours are bad -- you inhale them too (so welding is a hazard). Solutions are bad because the metals are in an ionic and...

We need to re-repair a spark plug hole in a VW head -- the hole was apparently Helicoiled in the past, but the insert has come loose and the threads cut for it are damaged. So we are looking at putting a larger 18mm diameter insert in. Has anyone got the Big-Sert kit for this that they could lend us?

Like this:

https://www.nexusmodels.co.uk/k-s-3-32- ... n-506.html

If not suitable, maybe the manufacturers mentioned, K&S Engineering, can help.

The new types progress chart on the website (http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co. ... Chart.html) says "Updated 5th March 2015". Any chance this might get updated one of these days...?

You could try Engine Machining Services, near Aylesbury: 01296 655885. (They refurbished our VW heads recently -- good job/fair price -- and I would think that there's not much they couldn't do headwise.)

With respect, Steve, I think you should at the very least have waited until the government releases details of the next phase at 2pm today. This morning the situation is indeed (officially) unchanged; this afternoon, who knows? If this afternoon it is announced that solo/household outdoor activities...