Popham Airfield, Winchester, Hampshire, UK 29-30 April 2023
Report by Peter and Kim Davison
This annual festival of lightweight aviation incorporates a compact trade event with lectures, talks and sales areas with a popular start to Britain’s shrinking airshow diary. Blessed with some of the best spring weather of the year, not only did it attract over two hundred microlight aircraft but also hundreds of enthusiasts keen to exercise their cameras and notebooks after a grey, damp winter and early spring.
The Popham organisers really understand their visitors. Once wrist-banded they recognise that today’s enthusiast may become tomorrows pilot and trust the visitors to get up close to the aircraft, engaging with owners, operators and designers to understand how accessible light aviation is through the world of microlights.
Although born from an era of hang gliders and flexwings the current generation has embraced modern materials such that recent types resemble the traditional Piper Cherokees and high wing Cessnas of the seventies though are much lighter and cheaper to operate. Simpler and lighter engines and digital instrumentation have opened the skies for the price of a high end motor car.
Another microlight type that attends in large numbers are the autogyros. Gone are the strung go-karts from the era of Wing Commander Wallis with streamlined fibre glass enclosed cockpits with creature comforts that would park elegantly beside the sports coupe in the family garage.
This year attracted a few lightweight visitors from central Europe that braved the Channel crossing taking advantage of the improving weather. These Skyleaders certainly lived up to their name.
What makes Popham general aviations so enjoyable is the relaxed but safety conscious atmosphere of mutual trust and cooperation. The safety marshalls, mostly volunteers, are often knowledgable enthusiasts themselves so understand the needs of visitors, customers and pilots. Adequate on site catering and parking within range of the M3 motorway avoids the traffic congestion associated with the larger shows. With good weather this is certainly a great day out for experts and families alike.
