Popham Microlight Fair, report back.

[ZULU1]

Popham Microlight show, UK.

I do not enjoy going to “Mud Island”, however sometimes we are left with little choice in life. I went to help our UK assembly facility which is ideally situated for exports in to Europe. The pound is very weak against the Euro and also the Rand at present. They exhibited at Poham so I decided to “Vote with my feet”.

Popham is situated close to Basingstoke in Hampshire close to London, it’s the largest fly in Microlight/LAA/SSDR/Gyro show in the UK. Splash is the BMAA show which is based now at the NEC in Birmingham and held in November. (Sport Leisure and Aviation show) and an indoor affair. It used to be in Telford where I have attended previously.

We are all aware of the reliability of the UK weather, it could be a disaster, or it could be a huge affair. This year a estimated 550 microlights flew in !! Something amazing to hear and listen to with exceptional examples of airmanship. The flight line and parking area was packed to the brim. It was even warm and not a single whinge from anybody !! That is more amazing in the UK !!

Interesting exhibits

I learnt to fly with fix wings years ago and since have tended to lean towards trikes…I have been looking at Doodlebugs for a while. After my mate Bill bought a BiPlane that looks like the Lafayette Escadrille, I have been looking for something similar. I found this in the shape of a SSDR 95 Kg Fokker Eindecker.. Yep I have to have one. Its not finished yet but for a single seater that you sit on top of bicycle wheels and a Spandau machine gun. All ally construction with a small 35 hp engine and a wood prop.

Conair airsports were showing a “soft start module that prevents 912s engine mounts from breaking. It reduces the timing on a single cylinder and prevents “kick back” Apparently its only effective with a slipper clutch and Rotax approved. They were about £125. It is apparently a good investment. Barry with the new Quik R i would suggest they fit one at P & M, good reports all round.

The GT450 Quik R was in abundance, as were the other variants of the same Airframe, A very homesick Rob Hill had his on the BMAA stand, .

Rob Hill is a very good ambassador for South Africa. He was heaping nothing but praise on the MGL product range and this was evident with the number of the Enigma products installed. Well done Rainier and Rob.


The BMAA also displayed on the picture wall a very nice picture of Dave Jackson over the Inanda Dam,. I was there when that picture was taken !! The same picture is on Daves desk...

The Bantam was displayed and attracted a lot of attention I may add, with a nice array of pictures, yes all ZU registered and obviously sunny skies !!

A neat little SSDR trike is called the Dragonfly, like a flying enclosed deckchair..nice toy and the wheels fold up.

I have always liked the Rainbow Cheetah and the Skyranger, these I imagined were the only derivatives, a product is made in the UK, which I initially thought was a Cheetah called the SLA 100 executive. Nice finish and also straight tube construction. They are very competitively priced and a (new) used example was selling for £27k with a 912s.

Obviously the Skyranger was shown, the example I liked had the HKS 700e motor, this was due to be swopped for the HKS 700 turbo. A cut away version was on display That makes sense to me as it’s a heap lighter than the 912s, and being turbo intercooled with a dual efi will be a very sensible installation for the Reef. 80hp up to 10000ft.
Only trouble with the HKS is the price, such a shame as they are slightly cheaper than a 912 and as yet with a 500hr TBO. Quite disappointing.

There is one area which the Brits excel in and we have to look and learn…flying clothing. A very interesting company called “O” Zee make water heated undersuits, these are something different. Heated bar mitts, thermal anything, you name it these chaps have it !!

The UK Gyroplane association had a complete tent with video presentations, snacks which looked like the Moulin Rouge, Quite a stand and nudging people to Gyro activity. I would imagine a good idea due the wonderful weather they have to endure !! The new M16 sport in a burnt orange was flown every 5 mins. There are many single seat kits available. Gyro flying in the UK is expensive…

Transponders

As yet the UK is not mandated to use them. I received mixed signals from everybody.

We in Ballito have no choice in the next few months, so a secondary mission was to meet up and establish a “dealership” with Trigg avionics based in Scotland. The intention to obtain a reasonable pricing structure from the factory. The product is very neat, small and self contained. Problem is delivery, they are so busy. I will be placing the order in the next week. While the Pound is good against the Rand.

Low points about the show..

The food as usual is disgusting !! Petrol is now 99pence a litre and there is just so much regulation and paperwork in the UK. But they endure it..

See you at Splash in November….

Zulu1

[GregH]

Lol, you were lucky Zulu1, I tried to go last year in May (rained off and cancelled), then went in August when it rained too so the turnout was poor with probably 20 to 30 aircraft. With weather as it is in norfern yooorope you pays your money and takes your chances!

glad to see it was great, the reports for this year were amazing. Of course I couldn't go

[RV4ker (RIP)]

More pics.

PS
Wonder if the machine gun will actually rattle...

[Tumbleweed]

Nice report.

Only the poms could manage to fit into that tiny car seat.

Being considerate and coming from freezing Ballito, you no doubt struck up an agency for the heated clothing?