Pilot September 2017

http://www.pilotweb.aero Pilot September 2017 | 43

pilots.” There are 7,622 members, 2,600
aircraft on LAA Permits, and 1,400 current
projects. “Plus there are something
approaching 2,000 aircraft on the
G-register with lapsed Permits, of which
we estimate three or four hundred are still
viable and could be flying again. That’s
one of the drives we have going at the
moment.” Stephen is keen to
emphasise, “My ultimate bosses are
the 7,622 members”.
I ask about his other ambitions
for the LAA. “One-third of members
are 65 or over,” he says, “and I’m
actively trying to bring in more
young people.”

We have reached the end of the interview

so I mention a couple of my own

concerns. My Currie Super Wot has a

cowling I made myself out of fibreglass;

it’s functional but it is rather obviously

home-made. Nevertheless, I’m proud of it

and also of having done all

the paint spraying (again

not very expertly). I’ve

heard rumours that the

LAA increasingly

expects a perfect

finish. “Not that I’ve

heard,” says Stephen,

“At least one of our

people has an aeroplane

that’s slightly tatty, but

much loved and

perfectly

serviceable−me!” Another concern is that

the homebuilding movement has been

hijacked by people spending eighty

thousand or more on ‘grand tourers’.

“Ah,” says Stephen, “But if you can get

Cirrus-type performance at half the price,

that’s got to be good, hasn’t it?” I tell him

he makes a good point.

We finish our meeting with a quick tour

of the house while I look for backgrounds

for photographs. There’s a garden shed

with engine bits in it, but a manually-

operated grinder because he hasn’t got

around to fitting a power supply. In the

study upstairs where he writes there are

more books – one he shows me is a

Haynes publication written by him:

De Havilland Tiger Moth Workshop

Manual−an insight into flying, owning

and maintaining the legendary British

training biplane. Also in the study is a

David Boddington tissue-and-balsa

model of a Luton Minor, and the

(aforementioned) broken Walter Mikron

crankshaft. Downstairs I photograph Jean

and Stephen in front of that remarkable

feature: the bookshelves by the front door.

Then it’s time to say goodbye.

I began this article by asking what type

of chap is now running the LAA. I’m

pleased to report that he’s very much my

kind of pilot. We’re in good hands.

Pilot profile | Stephen Slater

Above: Bookshelf in Steve’s study with — peeping over the edge among other things — the broken crankshaft from

his Tipsy Trainer that led to a successful forced landing

Left: Steve’s garden shed has engine bits in it Below: Tiger Moth Haynes Manual, written by Steve