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< Back Two new LAA Inspectors appointed 28 Sept 2023 Congratulations to our latest LAA Inspectors, Luke McMillan and Gareth Rutt. Luke and Gareth both came to LAA HQ at Turweston last Thursday for 'Induction, Examination and Interview Day' with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. We wish Luke and Gareth well as they start this exciting new chapter! Next Previous

< Back MTD-07-2026 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Attach Position - Issue 2 25 Aug 2026 MTD-07-2026 Issue 2 Horizontal Stabiliser Forward Attach Bolt Position - Van’s SB 00134 Revision-1 MTD-07-2026 has been upissued to Issue 2 in order to align with the re-issue of Vans SB 00134 at Revision 1 on 22.8.26. This revision of the SB, and MTD-07-2026 Issue 2, allow a slightly further reduced spanwise edge margin on the outboard bolt holes to the ends of F-710B, providing the outboard bolt hole falls entirely within the width of the longeron’s flange. MTD-07-2026 also provides additional guidance in the notes section about how to carry out the measurements without removing the bolts. The inspection is to be carried out in accordance with Van’s SB 00134 Revision 1, with the results recorded on the Appendix A table of MTD-07-2026 Issue 2. As this MTD is mandatory for applicable Van’s RV aircraft operating on an LAA Permit to Fly, the required inspection must be completed within the next 10 flying hours or 90 days from the effective date of the MTD, whichever occurs first. If all bolt-hole positions are within the acceptable limits, compliance can be certified and recorded in the aircraft logbook. If any bolt-hole position falls outside the permitted limits, the aircraft must not be flown and the results must be referred to Van’s Aircraft and LAA Engineering for further advice. For aircraft which have already been checked and found satisfactory in accordance with MTD-07-2026 Issue 1, no further action is required. Please refer to the MTD below for full applicability and compliance requirements. 20260825 - MTD-07-2026 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Attach Position Iss 2 .pdf Download PDF • 476KB SB 00134 - Horizontal Stabilizer Forward Attach Bolts - Rev 1 .pdf Download PDF • 1.57MB 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 New LAA Inspector - Robin Smith 2 Apr 2026 Robin enjoys every aspect of light aircraft whether it be flying or maintenance. Robin spent 15 years with REME attached to the Army Air Corps, was Aircraft Engineering Warrant Officer. He trained and experienced on helicopters, Skeeter, Bell 47 (Sioux), Alouette, Scout and Gazelle including their respective power units. He trained and experienced on fixed wing Auster 9 and Beaver including respective power units. He saw active service in Aden and Northern Ireland. He also flew in his early days as an observer. Robin has a UK PPL; he is a CRI and Fl(A). He currently instructs at Fowlmere with the British Aviation Academy and at Flying Made Easy at Old Buckenham airfield. He has aerobatic and aerobatic instructor rating and night rating. Differences training includes tailwheel and constant speed propellors. Robin has flown Robin HR200, Maule, Grob 115D, Cessna 140, Cessna 152, F24 Argus and PA28. He has owned a Robin HR200 a Maule MXT7 180A, Auster 6 and he currently owns a Grob115A C1 Aero which is fully aerobatic. He just loves turning himself upside down! He has worked with Modern Air Ltd at Fowlmere airfield doing annuals, inspections and repairs to Cessna 140, Cessna 152, Cessna 172, Cessna 177 Cardinal, Argus, Twin Cessna 310 and Extra aircraft. Currently he works with Touchdown Engineering at Old Buckenham on average some 2 days per week. He is also Safety Manager at Fowlmere and EASA approved. Robin has a small company Beagle Flight Consultancy Ltd which can provide several services which include Flight instruction via DTO/ATO, 2-year revalidations. Prebuy surveys, aircraft transport by road in UK and Europe. Import and export handling of light aircraft, inclusive of dismantle, containerisation, shipping, customs docus and assembly. Next Previous

< Back Replica De Havilland DH71 Tiger Moth Racer takes to the air 23 Dec 2024 Steve Jones’ replica DH71 Tiger Moth Racer made a highly successful maiden flight on 26th November, piloted by Steve himself. The immaculate monoplane, appropriately registered G-ECDX, is a full-size recreation of one of only two examples built by de Havilland in 1927. Of all wood construction, and fitted with a modified DH Gipsy 1 engine, the original DH71s were created to publicise their new Gipsy engine before releasing it onto the market to power their already successful DH60 Moth biplane. An exercise in light weight and streamlining to maximise speed, the DH71 was also significant in developing construction techniques that de Havilland used to good effect in later designs. The original DH71 achieved 186mph around a 65 mile closed circuit course, its Gipsy 1 engine souped-up from 85 to 130 horsepower for racing. The replica project was largely built by Ron Souch in the 1990s, under PFA supervision, using drawings produced by Ron’s friend Ben Price, a former aircraft draughtsman who put forward the idea as his retirement project. None of the original construction drawings had survived, so the design had to be recreated based on a three-view, photographs, press articles and intimate knowledge of de Havilland’s standard design techniques – and then checked against modern design code requirements. Most challenging part of the design were the details of the internally bungee-sprung wheels, as on the original. The project was paused for several years after issues came to light with the stressing of the wing spars and undercarriage. Steve Jones, looking for a hangar-mate for his scratch-built Comper Swift project, purchased the DH71 in 2016. Steve quickly got things moving again by commissioning re-designs of some of the original components, stripping off the fabric covering, re-sparring the wings and finishing the aircraft off to the same high standard as its original construction. The final examination of the assembled aircraft by LAA HQ’s design staff in November, when ground runs of the modified engine and its very coarse pitch Hercules propeller were demonstrated, took place over three decades after the project’s inception. When Steve’s replica DH71 first lifted off from Sywell’s grass runway, it was a sight not seen in Britain for 95 years. Big congratulations to all involved, especially to Ron and Ben for initiating it, and Steve’s perseverance and skill in finishing all the last details to such a high standard. Honourable mentions also to John Tempest for the re-design work and Ben Cox for inspecting it, this was truly a team effort. Sadly, Ron Souch is no longer with us to see the Racer fly. https://video.wixstatic.com/video/62c8d3_cf3ab2cf7a524a2d953fd5a8f08ed411/480p/mp4/file.mp4 Steve describes his aircraft experience as starting as an aircraft engineering apprentice at CSE Kidlington, in the late 1970s. He towed gliders at Husbands Bosworth, in Chipmunks, at age 19, and joined the Tiger Club in the late 1970s, becoming a flying instructor at Staverton 1981. As he describes it, he somehow (?) ended up flying BA 747s for 20 plus years. His remarkable flying career has involved air racing, aerobatic competition and display flying, Redbull competitions and record setting in the Rolls Royce electric powered ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft. Next Previous

< Back New LAA Inspector - Steve Hodge 4 Apr 2024 The LAA is pleased to welcome Steve Hodge as a new LAA Inspector. Steve came to an Assessment Day at LAA HQ at the start of March. Steve has been part of the aviation trade since 1997, when he joined Arrow Aviation Services as a trainee. He pretty much learnt his entire trade there and was very fortunate to have worked with a wide variety of components from engines and propellers, to wheels and brakes, with a lot of vintage aviation thrown in too. His is now as Owner and Accountable Manager of his own company, SOAR Aviation, a CAA Part 145 approved facility. He continues to provide the aviation industry with what he hopes is thought of as an honest, reliable, friendly and cost-effective service. He has always been involved with the LAA and enjoys serving the LAA community. Next Previous

< Back MTD-04-2025 upissued to Issue 2 - Rans Control Linkage Rod End Connector Safety Washers 18 Nov 2025 MTD-04-2025 Issue 2 - Rans Control Linkage Rod End Connector Safety Washers MTD-04-2025 Issue 1 was recently published to mandate the replacement of all plastic control linkage rod end connector washers with metal washers . It has become apparent that the washers specified in this MTD are not suitable to replace the plastic washers due to their dimensions. MTD-04-2025 Issue 2 has been raised in order to amend the specification of the metal washers that must used to replace plastic washers. Therefore, MTD-04-2025 Issue 2 supersedes Issue 1. Issue 1 of this MTD is now cancelled. Please refer to the attached MTD document for full details and compliance instructions, which can also be found on the LAA website HERE . MTD-04-2025 - Rans Rod End Washers - Issue 2 .pdf Download PDF • 293KB Next Previous

< Back LAA host British Young Pilots 19 Feb 2026 The LAA is happy to support British Young Pilot's Weekend Club at LAA HQ, Turweston Aerodrome. More details about these events can be found below: BYP .png Download PNG • 2.87MB Weekend Club Turweston .pdf Download PDF • 688KB Next Previous

< Back MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Forward Attach Bolt Position 24 Sept 2026 MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 & Van’s SB-00134 Revision 2.2 LAA has now issued MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 to reflect and approve the requirements contained within the revised service bulletin in their entirety, and to include a revised table in Appendix A which, used in conjunction with Van’s narrative and flowchart, helps clarify the requirements, as well as providing a means of recording the results. Please note, whilst compliance with Issue 1 of the MTD meant that compliance with Issue 2 was automatically achieved, the same is not true of Issue 3, since it introduces three extra requirements not present in the previous issues. These are: a requirement to contact Vans and the LAA if any of the four bolts concerned are anything but AN3 size a requirement to measure the extent of the relief notch in the HS-714 component to ensure that it is not too long a requirement to check that the relief notch in HS-714 does not contain any stress raisers. This means that it is mandatory to check your aircraft against Issue 3 of the MTD, even if it has already been shown compliant with issues 1 or 2. Next Steps 1. Have the aircraft inspected in accordance with MTD-07-2026 Issue 3 and SB-00134 Revision 2.2. If you have already made measurements following previous issues of the MTD, you should be able to copy them across to the table in Appendix A on the MTD at Issue 3. 2. Hopefully, your aircraft will be found to be free from cracks and compliant with the requirements of the MTD at Issue 3, either as currently configured or by following any corrective actions specified in the MTD under the supervision of your Inspector. 3. A suitable logbook entry, signed by your Inspector, will then enable the aircraft to be returned to flight. The logbook entry must describe the completion of the procedures required by the MTD at Issue 3, and where applicable, the results of any special inspections carried out, and amendments to the aircraft maintenance programme. 4. If, in order to comply with MTD-07-2026 at Issue 3, you need to instigate repetitive inspections or fit washer plates, please provide LAA Engineering with copies of: The signed logbook entry, including a description of carrying out the checks IAW the MTD Issue 3 and the results of any special inspections carried out as described in the MTD-07-2026 and the associated SB-00134 Revision 2.2. The completed Appendix A checklist from MTD-07-2026 Issue 3; and Where applicable, the revised maintenance schedule. 5. If, on the other hand, your Inspector determines that the aircraft does not comply with the requirements of MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, please contact us so that we can work with you and Van's Aircraft to identify a suitable solution. Please include a copy of the completed Appendix A checklist and, if not already provided, photographs of the relevant areas. In this case, the aircraft must not be flown until a solution is identified, approved by LAA HQ and implemented under your Inspector’s guidance. We are hopeful that, following the process outlined above and compliance with the new requirements contained within MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, your aircraft can either remain in service uninterrupted or otherwise, be promptly returned to flight. Please refer to the LAA MTD-07-2026 Issue 3, together with Van’s SB-00134 Revision 2.2, for full inspection guidance, identification requirements and compliance actions below: 20260924 - MTD-07-2026 - Vans Horizontal Stabiliser Iss 3 .pdf Download PDF • 529KB SB-00134-Horizontal-Stabilizer-Forward-Attach-Bolts-R2.2 1 .pdf Download PDF • 1.80MB Next Previous

< Back Alert A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts 25 Jul 2025 LAA Alert A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts On 11.4.25, Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd issued a new Service Bulletin, JSB 046, which applies to specific Jabiru 3300 engines and requires the replacement of the crankshafts on engines within certain serial number ranges, which they state were supplied between April 2017 and June 2024. Jabiru regards the Bulletin as mandatory. The Bulletin advises that Jabiru has identified that, as a result of an issue with heat treatment, crankshafts supplied with the affected engines are in some cases susceptible to failure. Jabiru have specified that the crankshaft must be replaced by a crankshaft of the later, improved design. Affected crankshafts must be replaced prior to 15th December 2026, or 150 hours total time in service (TTIS), whichever occurs later. A-08-2024 can be found HERE and is also shown below. A-08-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 3300 Engine Crankshafts .pdf Download PDF • 202KB Next Previous

< Back More new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt & Daniel Couzens 16 Jan 2024 It is time to introduce you to two new LAA Inspectors - Bryn Holt and Daniel Couzens, who both attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day in December, with our Chief Inspector, Lucy. Bryn is the Hangar Supervisor for Shenley Engineering at Headcorn Aerodrome. He has 20 years experience carrying out maintenance on a variety of fixed wing metal, composite and wooden airframes, supporting naturally aspirated and turbocharged Lycoming and Continental Engines, Gipsy Major and Renault 4P03 Engines. Daniel is an Aircraft Engineer based in Lincolnshire, as well as being a qualified CAA welder. The first aircraft he built was an Xair microlight. Congratulations to Bryn and Daniel! 🎊🎉 Next Previous

< Back REMINDER: Pilots currently using the 5 in 13 revalidation for SLMG/Microlight deadline 13 Oct 2026 Pilots currently utilising the exemption ORS4 1633 for revalidating their SLMG/Microlight ratings are reminded that they must transition to a 24 month validity by the 31st October 2026. Further information on how to transition can be found on the CAA’s 5 in 13 transition webpage. Next Previous