Microlight Trade Fair 2026

Popham Airfield, Basingstoke, Hampshire UK, 2nd-3^rd May 2026.

Report by Peter Davison, Kim Davison and Colin Coulthard

This year’s gathering must add strength to the campaign to stop the housing development on the airfield. Excellent warm weather on Saturday attracted over a hundred visitors though a wet weather forecast for late afternoon saw many depart early and a definite slow down in the afternoon and a thinner attendance on Sunday. 

Being one of the first general aviation events of the year, plus the bank holiday, many enthusiasts and photographers joined the aviators, swapping stories of places far and wide across the world.

Over the last decade the term ‘microlight’ has brought a great variety of new materials and technology into play. Similarly the range of ‘gyroplanes’, so popular at Popham, has increased beyond the excitement of James Bond.

Here is the official definition of these lightweight types that take advantage of new plastic materials and digital instrumentation.

A microlight is an aeroplane which meets one of the following categories:

1. it is a non-Part 21 aircraft, other than an unmanned aircraft, that is designed to carry not more than two persons, which—
   1. has a stalling speed, or maximum steady flight speed in the landing configuration, at the maximum take-off mass not exceeding 35 knots calibrated airspeed; and
   1. has a maximum take-off mass not exceeding—
      1. 450kg for a two-seat landplane;
      1. 495kg for a two-seat amphibian or floatplane; or
      1. 475kg for a two-seat landplane equipped with an airframe mounted total recovery parachute system.
2. it is a non-Part 21 aircraft, other than an unmanned aircraft, that is designed to carry not more than two persons, which—
   1. is of an approved design;
   1. either has, or has been subsequently modified to have, a stalling speed, or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration, at the maximum take-off mass not exceeding 45 knots calibrated airspeed; and
   1. either has, or has been subsequently modified to have, a maximum take-off mass not exceeding—
      1. 600kg for a landplane; or
      1. 650kg for an amphibian or floatplane.
3. it is a single-seat deregulated aeroplane.
4. it is being flown, or is intended to be flown, for the purpose of a flight test to establish that it complies with the requirements of sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3).
5. For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(a), an “approved design” is a design which is approved by the CAA [or a person or organisation approved for that purpose] for the purposes of the issue of a permit to fly under article 40. In practice, this includes complying with a microlight aeroplane certification basis acceptable to the CAA.

All UK registered aeroplanes falling within these parameters are Microlight aeroplanes.

A gyroplane is defined as a rotorcraft with a non-power driven rotor rotating about an axis which is vertical, or nearly so, when the aircraft is in horizontal flight.

Gyroplanes in the UK are classified by their Maximum Take-off Weight (MTOW) and whether they are commercially manufactured aircraft or Amateur Built aircraft.

Commercially Manufactured Gyroplanes

Commercially manufactured gyroplanes with a MTOW above 560 kg are included within the Basic Regulation Type Certified in accordance with Part 21.

Commercially manufactured gyroplanes with a MTOW of 560 kg or below are excluded from the basic regulation so are Type Approved under the Air Navigation Order in accordance with BCAR Section T.

Amateur Built Gyroplanes

Amateur built gyroplanes are also excluded from the Basic Regulation and the CAA has delegated the initial airworthiness and approval of modifications to the Light Aircraft Association (LAA).  

It was interesting to see visitors from Europe, particularly the Czech Republic and Italy that made the long trek west. The Eastern Block nations continue to innovate on a budget and attract interest from the established western manufacturers.

Naturally, Popham’s predominantly fabric hangars and central southern location also attract conventional general aviation types from Piper, Cessna, Beagle etc that arrive to survey the lightweight competition or merely network with an array of new manufacturers.

A significant number of flexwings and gyrocopters added to the novelty on the day; with so much expertise based on the field it would be a great shame to see this friendly venue disappear under housing in an area poorly equipped with residential infrastructure.

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