Light Aircraft Association

Francis is in a difficult position these days with new developments like the V-prop. Whether we like it or not the LAA has become a quasi-regulatory body. So the engineering function is much more of an approval body than an engineering resource to develop things. So it is now down to the developer o...

Well best of luck. The Wankel is a bit like the Holy Grail - it really should exist!. In the real world however it has proven to be highly inefficient and prone to wear and unpredictable failure modes Given that conventional recip engines have a huge track record and Wankels have a very limited trac...

Brian - the chronology of this is important - the XLs were grounded by the LAA, the CAA followed up directly with the MPD. The LAA grounded the aircraft first, but doubtless knowing that the CAA were going to act. Being 'grateful' has nothing to do with it. The LAA approved the design - had they wal...

If you have a backgound in this area then you should be aware that the best method of identifying the hazards is to use a team approach - proper risk assessments need a spread of ability and experience - so -you can be reasonably confident of the hazards - and more particularly the effectiveness of ...

Andrew I'm one of the 'lucky' owners of the zenith 601xls. I year and 1 week after being grounded I test flew my aircraft. My advice is that you need to do nothing to your aircraft which requires 'engineering input'. If you do - remember you have lost all control over any actions. Timescales will re...

I also check it once a day - but there is usually nothing much to say.

A small membership and somewhat hamfisted past moderation mean I tend to post elsewhere. Shame but sort of inevitable.

Anyone noticed that the CEO's blogs are less frequent than a 'blue moon'?

I'm guessing you have already had a look at the HSE's website and the 5 steps to risk assessment and their sample risk assessments? If not there is some good material. In theory your risk assessment should be aligned and common with other club risk assessments - if so then you will need to follow th...

There are none so blind as those who will not see! I own and fly a Zenith 601xl - subject to a number of accidents and compulsory LAA (and if you are elsewhere other mods). Far too much of Clive's reponse smacks of the ill - informed comment from zenith owners prior to the fairly major compulsory mo...

It reduces the tendency for flutter to occur by always ensuring that the airflow from the rear of the tab detaches in the same place. (FWIW the original Sierra had issues in crosswinds for exactly the same reason, the slipstream detached at different points depending what the crosswind was - giving ...

I had an Emeraude years ago and had to refurbish the brakes. From memory the slave cylinders were very easy to replace with Mini rear cylinders - minor fettling of the back plates. The masters were much more difficult, one of the local factors let me rummage through their stock until I found a sligh...

The other place to look is the edge connector in the back of the rack. My friends King seems to need it gently cleaned up at least once year. Usually it is only the transmit side of things that seems to go down.

Like all things it depends.... I'm presuming the strip is 'yours'? That is pretty critical to everything else that follows. What is the reason you are considering it? Want more visitors? Putting it on the chart will probably do that - whether they will get PPR and all those things is perhaps another...

I had a PDA with built-in GPS. I used the memory map landranger charts. Yes it worked. But everytime I started it, the settings had to be sorted. Once it was running it was quite good. But the screen was not really readable in sunlight and gtghe battery life was pretty short. I'm now experimenting w...

Nice one Brian - you hooked me! Given a C90 I tend to agree with you - there is little in the engine which is likely to make metal - unless there is a component failing. That is really where filter opening is concerned. But with a C90 there is not much likely to do that. As you note a Rotax is more ...

Actually Brian this is simply 'good maintenance' practice. The one thing that kills small Continentals is loos of oil pressure - usually from bearing wear. This is why there are so many after market filters for these engines. If the oil is properly filtered then the engines last a great deal longer....