Blog Post

Just ten days to go and the LAA Grass Roots Fly In at Popham is go!

  • by Michael Pearson
  • 23 Aug, 2022

10, 9, 8…..POPHAM IS GO!

Just ten days to go and the LAA Grass Roots Fly In at Popham is go!

 The LAA’s annual event will open its doors to fly in and drive-in visitors on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September combining many of the traditional features with an exciting new location.

 

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITORS. All our spaces have been sold out! (A full list will be on the LAA website shortly).

 

The MAIN EXHIBITION MARQUEE is this year sponsored by LAS Aero, who will have a wide range of stock available at special show prices. They’d also like to remind customers that orders placed before 12pm Wednesday 31st August can be collected FOC from their stand at the fly-in.

 

LAA SPEAKERS CORNER, sponsored by Garmin, will be hosting a wide range of experts on Friday and Saturday, including the CAA, Skydemon, Garmin, GASCo and PilotAware, as well as presentations on New Types joining the LAA fleet, Continental Touring with Dave White and ‘Drawing the Queens Head’ by Amy Whitewick.

 

 FLYING IN. All pilots must book a slot to fly into the LAA's Grass Roots Fly-in. The slot system (run by Popham Airfield) is now live. You must read a copy of the Pilot Briefing Notes. Both documents can be found at https://bit.ly/3AFWWSj.

 

COMING IN BY ROAD. Popham Airfield is adjacent to the A303, between Basingstoke and Andover. Car parking is free and will be signposted from the airfield entrance. Address for sat navs is Popham Airfield, Coxford Down, Winchester, SO21 3BD. An on-site campsite is available, see the LAA website for booking information and more details.

 

 OTHER ATTRACTIONS. “THE APRON” AIRCRAFT PARK is set to accommodate up to 300 aircraft each day. Supported by the North Weald Marshallers and the Popham Marshalling Team. We will continued our tradition of offering AIRSIDE ACCESS - a unique opportunity to inspect the aircraft and chat with the owners.

 

Hands-on activities will include a GASCo PREFLIGHT MASTERCLASS, a chance to learn or practice fabric covering skills with AIRCRAFT COVERINGS, while the LAA FLEA MARKET will allow visitors to sell those unwanted parts or buy yourself a bargain! Our outside catering area will offer a selection of fast-food and beverage outlets and seating area, while an evening barbeque will be offered at the Spitfire Flying Club clubhouse.

 

Said LAA Chairman Eryl Smith: “The LAA Grass Roots Fly In” is all set to deliver our aims, delivering a great, fun, event and making the most of Popham’s grass runways and its reputation as one of the most friendly and enthusiastic airfields in the country. It will offer members and guests alike a great weekend at the start of September”.

 

 The UK Light Aircraft Association is Britain’s biggest powered sport flying organisation with over 7,800 members, who fly over 2,700 different aircraft ranging from vintage restorations to state-of-the-art homebuilt types. The Association’s motto is ‘Affordable Flying For Fun’.

 

For further information, please contact office@laa.uk.com

by Light Aircraft Association 08 Apr, 2023
LAA Grass Roots Fly-in returns to Popham Airfield
by Michael Pearson 30 Aug, 2022
New aircraft, including the exciting new Sling HW, flown in from South Africa via the USA will be on display at Popham this weekend, as well as new faces including the LAA’s newly appointed Chief Inspector Lucy Wootton and Mac Rutherford, the youngest-ever solo round-the-world pilot.
by Michael Pearson 27 Aug, 2022
@MackSolo stopped in to the Popham Model Show on his round the world solo flying challenge
by Michael Pearson 14 Jun, 2022

The biggest ever show at Popham is shaping up to be a huge event this August, two days of flying with more than 70 display pilots slated to perform on both days, Saturday and Sunday, 20/21st August  10am - 4pm. The flying will take place on the 900m runway closed to full size aircraft for the event. We will also be flying some vintage control line models and large models.

 

We are working on featuring FPV drone racing, although details are to be finalized in the next few weeks.

 

Supporting the flying will be static displays and in the main marquee there will be Model Railways and modelling demonstrations building scenery. We are expanding the event to all forms of modelling and Portsmouth Model Boat Club will be providing their 3500gallon portable lake for boat enthusiasts.

 

Southern Armor Group will be bringing along their spectacular model tanks and we are expecting model car racing details still to be finalized.

 

So far around 20 traders confirmed, these will be supporting the event and you can find full details of which traders are coming and where to buy tickets online on the Popham Website https://www.popham-airfield.co.uk/model-show-2022   

 

The airfield is supporting the event with a catering village. This is a bold commitment by the Popham Team and BMFA Southern Region this year promoting the 100year centenary for the club. The huge team of volunteers and participants want to make this the best annual model show in the south, a true family day out, something for everyone.

 

Mike Pearson – Airfield Manager


ENDS

by Michael Pearson 27 Jul, 2021
It's been a difficult 18 months for many industries but the aviation industry has been particularly hard hit.  After an absence in 2020,  Popham Airfield are delighted to be able to host the Microlight Trade Show once again.

Covid precautions remain in place across the site but we look forward to welcoming visitors and exhibitors from across the UK and beyond to this popular event.

A big thank you to all the exhibitors who have come back year after year and in particular to our sponsors CFS Aero & Rotax engines  http://www.cfsaero.com/


by Michael Pearson 15 Nov, 2020
Despite the second wave of lock down the team at Popham Airfield Cafe have been busy working to expand the cafe and increase social distancing measures.  The team are gearing up to reopen, when it is safe to do so and when we have government go ahead.  We look forward to welcome all customer, old and new back to Popham.
by Michael Pearson 02 Nov, 2020

Popham Airfield – Lockdown 2

Following the government announcement on Saturday of a national lockdown beginning midnight on the 4th November, we await final confirmation of the conditions affecting GA Flight at Popham. Although the lockdown is forecast only until early December, we are expecting this to be extended.

Beginning Thursday 5th November Popham Airfield will be closed to the general public.

Whilst we are all trying to work out what this new lockdown means for us, we are awaiting further guidance from the Department of Transport and the CAA. At present our interpretation is that although we are allowed to remain open, our customers would have to make a "non-essential" journey to the airfield in order to pursue an outdoor recreational activity, which would be breaking the rules. So ..make the most of the available weather before lockdown.

In the last lockdown the airfield was open (non-radio) for emergency flights, survey flights and maintenance flights specifically into Wiltshire Aircraft Maintenance. For this purpose we also maintained our pay at pump fuel service. These conditions will be re-imposed on Thursday morning.

 We are not expecting any members on site during this period. The main gates to the airfield will be closed only passable with a security code or card. The radio at Popham will be unmanned during this period anyone who makes an authorised flight during the period should make traffic calls, the signal square may not be maintained at intervals during the lockdown, make your intensions clear.

The recently opened café at Popham will be closed on Wednesday evening and re-open only when regulations permit.

We would ask you to bear with us and help the airfield remain compliant through this period. The site security will be maintained throughout the lockdown with the benefit of additional patrols.

I will update this home page as and when more information is available.

 

Mike Pearson 

Airfield Manager

by Michael Pearson 04 Oct, 2020
Find out what's on offer at our new cafe.
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