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  • Info Library | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Info Library Navigate the folders below for any document that you require, like you would on your computer. To search for a particular document, use the 'magnifying glass' symbol below on the right.

  • Light Aviation Magazine 2022 | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine 2022 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2022 January 2022 April 2022 July 2022 October 2022 February 2022 May 2022 August 2022 November 2022 March 2022 June 2022 September 2022 December 2022

  • Light Aviation Magazine 2023 | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine 2023 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2023 January 2023 April 2023 July 2023 October 2023 February 2023 May 2023 August 2023 November 2023 March 2023 June 2023 September 2023 December 2023

  • Light Aviation Magazine 2020 | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine 2020 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2020 January 2020 April 2020 July 2020 October 2020 February 2020 May 2020 August 2020 November 2020 March 2020 June 2020 September 2020 December 2020

  • Light Aviation Magazine 2017 | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine 2017 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2017 January 2017 April 2017 July 2017 October 2017 February 2017 May 2017 August 2017 November 2017 March 2017 June 2017 September 2017 December 2017

  • Preliminary Design | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Preliminary Design Preliminary Design is the stage where the design is sized and developed in outline, leading to a three view drawing, performance and weight predictions. To help with this, LAA has developed a number of spreadsheets. Spreadsheet 1 is used to develop the basic geometry of the proposed aircraft, size the wing, fuselage and tail surfaces and work out some of the key parameters used later. Spreadsheet 2 is used to estimate the performance of the aircraft based on the geometry, initial weight estimates, engine power and guestimates of the drag coefficient and prop efficiency, allowing you to see how the performance is affected by changing each parameter in turn. Spreadsheet 3 is used to work out the critical structural speeds, develop the flight envelope and predict the aerodynamic loads on the main surfaces which can be used to size the structure, and as the basis for a load test program. The weight and balance spreadsheet elsewhere on our website allows the designer to quickly evaluate the implications on weight and cg of different positions for the crew, fuel tanks and baggage bay, and work out what empty aircraft weight and cg he must aim for. Thanks to the simplicity of these programs it takes only minutes to study the implications of changing the aircraft’s specification, for example the effect of changing the wing aspect-ratio, the trade-off between extra weight and cleaning up the airframe drag, extra power etc. Downloadable Spreadsheets Worked Spreadsheet Examples Design Tutorials

  • Light Aviation Magazine 2016 | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine 2016 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2016 January 2016 April 2016 July 2016 October 2016 February 2016 May 2016 August 2016 November 2016 March 2016 June 2016 September 2016 December 2016

  • Light Aviation Magazine Archive | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Light Aviation Magazine Archive 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2022 2020 2021 2023 2024 2019

  • Pilot Coaching | Light Aircraft Assoc

    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

  • Association Documents | Light Aircraft Assoc

    Association Documents Memorandum of Association Click here... Articles of Association Click here... Directors' Code of Conduct Click here... Guidelines & Terms of Reference Click here... Rules of the LAA Click here... Strut Governance Documents Click here...

  • Operating & Maintaining Aircraft | Light Aircraft Assoc

    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 their obligation to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AVGAS UL91 & UL94 ETHANOL-FREE MOGAS WEIGHT & BALANCE E5 MOGAS REVALIDATING A PERMIT TO FLY 97 OCTANE SUPER-UNLEADED E10 MOGAS - NOT APPROVED

  • Designing Aircraft | Light Aircraft Assoc

    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

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