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Light Aviation Magazine 2011 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2011 January 2011 April 2011 Juky 2011 October 2011 February 2011 May 2011 August 2011 November 2011 March 2011 June 2011 September 2011 December 2011

< Back Alert A-03-2026 - Loose Propeller Bolts - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers 30 Jul 2026 Alert A-03-2026 - Loose Propeller Bolts - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers This Alert has been issued to raise awareness of the potential for a serious safety issue following several recent reports of propeller retaining bolts becoming loose on aircraft fitted with one-piece wooden propellers. In some cases, propellers have been damaged and, most seriously, accidents have either occurred or been narrowly averted. Because of the recent bout of extreme heatwaves, owners of aircraft operating under an LAA Permit to Fly with a one-piece wooden propeller are strongly recommended to check that their propeller retaining bolts are correctly torqued as a matter of urgency, whether or not the aircraft is due a scheduled check. Please refer to the Alert Alert A-03-2026 HERE or below for full details and recommended checks. 20260730 - A-03-2026 - Effect of Prolonged Heatwaves on Wooden Propellers .pdf Download PDF • 394KB Next Previous

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

< Back MTD-01-2026 Issue 1 Published - Shadow Aircraft Oratex Disbonding 15 Apr 2026 MTD-01-2026 - 'Oratex Disbonding' was issued today for Shadow aircraft. This MTD can be found HERE and is also attached below. This follows a reported incident in the UK in which Oratex covering on the upper surface of a Streak Shadow wing suffered a largescale disbond while in flight. No LAA Shadow aircraft with Oratex covering may fly after the effective date of this MTD unless you comply with this MTD. Please refer to the MTD-01-2026 document for full details of the mandatory requirements . For LAA Shadow aircraft not covered with Oratex, non-applicability of MTD-01-2026 should be recorded in the relevant logbook pink pages. 20260415 - MTD-01-2026 Issue 1 - Shadow Oratex Disbonding .pdf Download PDF • 259KB Next Previous

97 Octane Super Unleaded Since the replacement of regular E5 Mogas at the pumps by E10, for the time being at least, Mogas users have an alternative option in the form of 97 RON Super Unleaded fuels. 97 RON Super Unleaded fuel supplied by garage forecourts is NOT necessarily ethanol-free, but its ethanol content will be capped at a maximum of 5%. 97 RON E5 Super Unleaded fuel can be used under the LAA process for E5 Mogas, as before. There’s currently no legal requirement for ethanol to be present in super unleaded petrol and in fact, quite a few members have reported that their tests have shown Super Unleaded fuel to be ethanol-free in their areas. Esso reports that “Synergy Supreme+ 99 is actually ethanol free (except, due to technical supply reasons, in Devon, Cornwall, North Wales, North England and Scotland). Legislation requires us to place E5 labels on pumps that dispense unleaded petrol with ‘up to 5% ethanol’, including those that contain no ethanol, which is why we display them on our Synergy Supreme+ 99 pumps”. Shell, BP, Tesco and other fuel suppliers don’t commit to such detail, merely stating their fuels “may contain up to 5% ethanol”. Of course, many LAA members have been using Mogas of one sort or another for many years. For many airstrip users, the prospect of having to go to an airfield to fill up with Avgas would seem at best very off-putting, and at worst totally impractical for their style of operation. Hopefully Super Unleaded will continue to be an option using the LAA’s E5 procedure. Where 97 octane E5 super unleaded can be found that’s ethanol-free, it can be used in the broader range of LAA aircraft with engines eligible for use with E0 unleaded fuel. But it is important that Mogas users take on board the fact that unlike with aviation fuels, automotive fuel specifications generally only describe the properties of the fuel blend, in terms of octane rating and other characteristics, they don’t specify the chemical make-up of the fuel. Apart from specifying broad maxima and minima for those components that the powers-that-be wish to either encourage or discourage, the specifications leave to the fuel supplier the choice of how to blend the fuel to achieve the described properties. In some cases it’s the relatively small amounts of additives that cause compatibility issues, rather than the main components of the fuel that cause the problems – and the mix of additives may vary from one batch to the next. With Mogas of any type, what you get from the pump one week may be different to what you get the week after, or got the week before. The fact that your fuel system pump diaphragms, seals, composite tanks and so on might have been unaffected by Mogas up till now does not guarantee that they will be OK with the blend that the next tanker-load brings to your garage forecourt. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this, and the only way to mitigate this problem is by constant vigilance, and thoughtful adaption of your maintenance schedule to check for signs of problems developing before they create a safety issue – more frequent checking of filters, changing of fuel lines etc. Signs to watch out for are swelling of rubber components like diaphragms, fuel valve seals and O rings, fuel pipes hardening or developing surface cracks, fuel tank sealants wrinkling or detaching from the internal surfaces of fuel tanks. Varnishes on cork floats may go gummy, or plastic carburettor floats absorb fuel and lose buoyancy, causing a rich mixture and rough running. Watch out for discolouration of the fuel you take out as fuel samples, which may imply something dissolving somewhere in the system, and for corrosion in the bases of your carb float bowls and gascolator. Avoid letting Mogas go stale in your fuel system – drain it out before a long period of disuse. Don’t leave the tanks empty for a long period – better to fill them with Avgas which will reduce condensation, and also, particularly with plastic tanks, prevent the tank’s internals drying out which can cause problems with shrinkage, and in extreme cases, the tanks splitting open. O rings and other rubber parts are best kept submerged in fuel continuously. We’ve seen cases where composite aircraft skins have rippled apparently due to exposure to the vapours created by the break-down products in stale Mogas, after being left unattended over a single winter. Mogas is blended with the expectation that in a car it will be used within a few weeks of being supplied, so it doesn’t need to be as stable over a long period of time as an aviation fuel. If a composite or plastic fuel tank is built into your aircraft, consider carefully whether you want to run the risk of having to replace it should the tank deteriorate with Mogas exposure, with all that that implies. With an integral tank in a wet-wing Jabiru aircraft, the answer should be certainly not – but even with the embedded polyethylene fuel tank in a Europa’s fuselage, changing the fuel tank is not an operation for the faint-hearted, involving cutting out quite large parts of the fibreglass cockpit module to release the tank, and then scarfing them back again afterwards in-situ. The Europa kit was first produced in the era of four-star Mogas, a very different blend to what we find at the pumps today. Ethanol-proof rubber hoses are available. In particular SAE J30/R9 or the European equivalent DIN 7339 D3 are automotive hose standards that are widely available from auto factors, and should be used in preference to the older SAEJ30/R6 standard hose which is more permeable to fuel vapour and will more quickly harden and crack, particularly using fuel containing ethanol. The SAE spec J30/R14 is a lower pressure, more pliable version for carburettor systems. Watch out for cheap imitations – the real McCoy should come from a reputable manufacturer, be marked with the SAE number along its length and will likely cost at least £10 a metre. What can we do to help the situation ? It may be that off-the-shelf drop-in-the-tank additives can be used to mitigate some of the problems with mogas fuel, in particular, stabilisers and anti-corrosion products, just as they are routinely in the marine and race-car world. Not knowing what’s in them, we recommending steering clear of any additives that claim to boost the fuel’s octane. Definitely avoid additives that claim to actively enhance an engine’s power or fuel economy, other than just to restore proper performance by giving the carburettor jets and orifices an occasional clean-up. For most aircraft engines UL91 Avgas remains the ideal fuel, in that it is a tightly-controlled aviation-grade fuel of a guaranteed composition, blended for long-term stability and optimal volatility for aviation use. As it is in effect the familiar 100LL Avgas but supplied without its tetraethyl lead, any fuel system designed for 100LL Avgas will be unaffected by using UL91 fuel, or, if circumstances demand, by a mix of 100LL and UL91. Despite a pervasive mis-conception, UL91 fuel is NOT Mogas and suffers from none of the issues associated with Mogas use in aircraft. A list of engines suitable for use with UL91 fuel can be downloaded from the ‘operating and maintaining an LAA Aircraft’ page of the LAA’s new website. Moves are afoot to increase the number of airfields supplying UL91 fuel, with full LAA backing.

< Back New LAA Inspector - Mike Maddams 20 Mar 2026 We are pleased to welcome Mike Maddams as a new LAA Inspector, having attended an LAA Inspector Assessment Day at Turweston recently. Mike is a wood and fabric specialist with extensive experience on a wide range of LAA aircraft types. He owns and operates a 1942 Auster LB369 and is Director of Aero & Auto Ltd, Vintage Restorations. Next Previous

< Back LAA RALLY 2026! 3 Nov 2025 We’re thrilled to announce that our 2026 Rally is officially in the calendar! Mark your diaries and get ready for a special rally, celebrating the LAA 80th Anniversary. 📅 Date: 4/5/6 September 2026 📍 Location: Leicestershire Aero Club, Leicester Airport. More details will follow soon. Enquiries to [email protected] We can’t wait to see you all there! Next Previous

LAA Clubs & Struts FIND MY LOCAL CLUB/STRUT Local Clubs, or Struts, as many of them are called, look forward to welcoming you along as a friend and fellow LAA member. They are an excellent source of advice and help, whether building, buying, training or simply wanting to be involved in the local aviation scene. The Clubs and Struts also arrange a number of flying and social events throughout the year, and most hold monthly meetings. LAA TYPE CL UBS You can also find details of LAA-Type clubs by clicking the icon below. These clubs are associated to the LAA and are dedicated to a specific aircraft manufacturer or model. They can offer social activities and technical support for owners or those interested in a particular type.

< Back LAA appoints new CEO 22 Feb 2023 “This is my dream role and I can’t wait to get started!” Simon Tilling has been appointed as the new CEO of the Light Aircraft Association. He will start in his new role in mid-April. Simon brings to the Association a wealth of leadership, general management and customer service experience gained in the technology sector including ‘blue chip’ brands such as Dell and Sony, together with a passion for sport and recreational aviation. Simon is an experienced pilot who has owned various LAA types, including one of the UK’s oldest Taylorcraft Auster aircraft. He’s also a former British Air Racing champion and was from 2020 to 2022 the chairman of the Royal Aero Club ‘3Rs’ committee for races, records and rallies, during which time he regenerated the appeal of air racing to new participants. Eryl Smith, Chairman of the LAA said “I am delighted to announce Simon’s appointment as CEO of the LAA and look forward to working with him to further improve the performance and standing of the Association on behalf of our members.” Next Previous

Light Aviation Magazine 2014 Click on the links below to open each issue of Light Aviation Magazine from 2014 January 2014 April 2015 July 2015 October 2015 February 2015 May 2015 August 2015 November 2015 March 2015 June 2015 September 2015 December 2015

< Back LAA Alert published for Gen 4’ Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines 1 Mar 2025 LAA Alert A-03-2025 has been published on the LAA website (and is also attached), highlighting the recent service bulletin, JSP 051, published by Jabiru Aircraft Pty Ltd, which applies to specific Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines and requires the replacement of the pistons on engines within certain serial number ranges, which they state were supplied between April 2017 and August 2019. Jabiru regards the Bulletin as mandatory. The Bulletin advises that Jabiru has identified that pistons supplied with the affected engines were in some cases susceptible to failure, and have specified that the pistons must be replaced by pistons of the later, improved design at or before 200 hours running time, following the procedures shown in the engine overhaul book, including any necessary running-in provisions and choice of oils. A-03-2025 - Gen 4 Jabiru 2200 and 3300 engines .pdf Download PDF • 201KB Next Previous

< Back LAA Inspector Seminar 14 Feb 2024 Last Thursday, 16 Inspectors attended an Inspector Training Seminar at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, run by our Chief Inspector Lucy Wootton, with the assistance of our Head of Flight Test, Andy Draper and Airworthiness Engineer, Cris Fernandez. LAA Inspectors are required to attend training once every four years. We had a great day - lots of knowledge shared and interesting discussions. Next Previous