By : David Bremner

Those of you who have not read that incomparable volume, The Meaning of Liff, by John Llyd & Douglas Adams, are strongly recommended to do so. It is a collection of English place names with meanings ascribed to each one; some fully, others sublime.

Trike, tent, balloons, Rans - and atmosphere

My favourites include Pelutho : ‘A South American ball game. The balls are whacked against a brick wall with a stout wooden bat until the prisoner confesses’ and Hambledon: ‘The sound of a single engined aircraft flying by, heard while lying in a summer field in England, which somehow concentrates the silence and sense of space and timelessness and leaves one with a profound feeling of something or other’.

A line of trike and tents, but one trike is a little more travelled than the others...

Popham this year was blessed with that kind of weather, and an atmosphere to match. There was frustration in the BMAA tent, and among the manufacturers, about the lack of progress with 450 kg legislation, but the microlighting public wasn’t too bothered. This was the first weekend of the year with reasonable weather, and they were determined to enjoy themselves.

They came in droves on both days, many camping overnight, or picnicking on the slopes. In spite of the imminence of the 450 kg change in regulations, this was a weekend dedicated to having a good time, rather than seeking out never, faster technology.

Beautiful and very rare: French designed and British built, the Southdown Aerostructure Pipistrelle.

Of course, new technology was there to be seen, and very impressive it was. At the top end of the range was Jerry Davis’ Ban-bi. At only 22ft span, this new creation of Michel Colomban follows his principle of making the wing work as hard as possible (he is also the designer of the diminutive twin engined Cri-Cri).

Jerry’s version isn’t a microlight, and never will be, but there is a 26 ft span version which should meet the new definition, and both of them provide awesome performance (a claimed 150mph!) with Rotax 912 power. The aircraft was complete but unflown at the time of the show, but should by now be working through its test flight programme. This isn’t cheap microlighting the kit will set you back £28,000 plus VAT but for those who want the ultimate performance, this, if approved to the new Section S, will provide it.

Not many of these about : Mirage, predecessor of the famous Phantom.

At the other extreme is Ben Ashman’s Doodle Bug, which caused a considerable stir whenever he demonstrated it during Saturday. This foot launched powered hag glider harness uses the well tried power unit of the Mosquito to give more than adequate performance, but with a supine pilot position which is more comfortable than the prone position of the Mosquito.

Cruise speed will depend on the hang glider you use, but 25-40 mph should be possible. Cost is £2,400 for the basic version of £2,800 if you want the rear fairing as well, which may seem a little steep, but when you realise that there are no overheads, this is very economical flying.

The spirit of microlighting : MW6 minus one seat, plus everything you need for the weekend

It’s amazing to think that microlights now span such a huge span of sport aviation, from FLMs that require no permit, no licence, no hangarage and use 2.5 l/h to a £28,000 two seater that will get you from London to Edinburgh in not much over 2h.

Also catching the eye was the Thruster fitted with a Hirth 2706 and floats. Destined for Ireland, it will be offering conversion courses through Microlight Ireland and I want one.

Also on the Thruster stand was a taildragger fitted with a Rotax 912. Gordon Pill says the performance with the extra weight isn’t startling, but the real benefit is in the fuel consumption. Standard fit for the 450 kg rule is likely to be the well-tried Rotax 582, however, giving the well liked airframe added pep and longer legs.

Walking further down the line, Pegasus had on display the re-engineered HKS engine designed to provide improved reliability in pusher configurations. A ride with Bill Sherlock in the HKS demonstrator was sufficient to convince me that the engine isn’t gutless as some would have you believe, and if their claimed fuel consumption of 8 1/h is correct one should really be able to go places on a tankful.

Now an essential part of Popham scene, paramotors are here to stay

Moving on, Mainair’s Blade 912 was busy showing off its paces to eager punters. Designer Roger Pattrick says that plans for a new trike to take advantage of the 450 kg rule were delayed by their factory fire, but that ideas are fertilising and we will keep you posted on progress.

On a trailer at the back of the stand was an interesting development; a Flash IIA fitted with the three cylinder Honda outboard engine tried and rejected by Chris Draper at Medway a few years ago. This is a private modification by a Mainair client, but it will be interesting to see how it works out. Mainair clients seem to be keen on modifications we understand one I fitting a BMW R1000 motor cycle engine to his.

Talking of Medway, the Jabiru engined Eclipser was looking very glamorous in red and yellow, and was kept busy most of the weekend being put through its paces. I asked Managing Director Chris Draper how it should be pronounced : ‘Eclipser or Eclipse R, and the expressed no preference. The name apparently originates from a hacksaw blade…

Newcomer : the dyn'Aero Banbi offers remarkable performance in microlight or PPL A guise.

Medway’s feelings for Rotax engines were well illustrated by the sticker on the windscreen, and demonstrated by what could be a major development on the engine front a Hybred fitted with an American Two Stroke International 690L-70 engine.

This liquid cooled three cylinder two stroke delivers 70hp and is both lighter and cheaper than the Rotax 582. Well tried and tested in the USA, this could yet give Rotax a run for its money. We shall watch it with interest.

Beyond the Medway stand, the Jabiru UL was attracting lots of interest as always, its performance outstripping anything else on the UK microlight register. It’s sophisticated and remarkably quiet, and we plan to publish a flight test in the near future and for those who don’t want to build their own, a ready-to-fly option may soon be available for £30,000 - £35,000.

A Thruster on floats. One small problem : this is a grass strip

But this Popham was about ordinary microlighters and their aircraft. They came, they camped, they chatted and camping in with them was microlighting’s cause célébre and enfant terrible, Brian Milton, taking the opportunity on his first trip out since his Round the World flight to do like everyone else catch up with friends.

Also there was Phil Good, terribly injured at Toulouse in a runaway accident when Brian Milton and Keith Reynolds set out. Since we last reported Phil has made huge progress and is able to stand unaided and is beginning to walk. He was able to meet Brian Milton, and was taken for a short flight in a Balerit by BMAA vice Chairman Dave Simpson, who was first on the scene after the accident. I met up with him shortly afterwards, and his grin was threatening to undo the work done by his surgeon!

Banbi cockpit

Phil’s enthusiasm for microlighting is undiminished, and his elation at being back among his friends was inspirational. Both he and his wife Heather were keen to emphasise the importance of the support received from fellow microlighters to his recovery. In a fitting climax to his weekend, he was flown home in a Quasar piloted by Tim Chadfield, who himself has only one leg as he said, they couldn’t make one good one between them!

Incidentally, Tim asked me to say that he is able to get engineering work done, and is very interested in helping people to design and make modifications for disabled people. His phone number is 01582 883271, or Mobile 07899 926756.

Yes there is one left ! A Scout

Sure, there are worries about the delays in introducing 450 kg, but this was a serenely happy weekend of calm and sunny weather and lots of safe flying. BMAA Chief Executive Jim Bell will retire in July, and this was a fitting tribute to his stewardship.

(Reproduced from MF July-August 1999)