to the formation of the Ultra-Light Aircraft Association, with the first meeting being held on 26 October 1946. The first priority of the association was to convince the government that light aircraft did not need a Certificate of Airworthiness. The government agreed that the association could issue a Permit to Fly for aircraft not exceeding 1,000lb in weight, maximum engine power of 40 hp and a landing speed of no more than 40mph. The supervision during construction and final inspection would need to be done by ULAA inspectors. The association took on the name Popular Flying Association in 1949. Initially, and still primarily, an engineering organisation for approving designs for homebuilding and regulating their construction and maintenance, it is now also active in encouraging sport and recreational flying and campaigning for a regulatory regime that will provide as little restriction as possible, consistent with safety, for the construction and operation of homebuilt aircraft and Classic and Vintage factory built aircraft that can no longer hold a full Certificate of Airworthiness. Membership in 2011 was around 8,000. It publishes a monthly full-colour member magazine, Light Aviation (formerly Popular Flying) and holds its annual Rally at Sywell Aerodrome on the first weekend in September, probably the largest gathering of light aircraft outside the USA. It has a network of Member Clubs (known as "Struts") throughout the UK, each providing a geographically centred social focus for LAA members, to which members of the public are warmly welcomed. There are also a number of Type Clubs, catering to members who are constructing or operating certain aircraft types. The Association changed its name to the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) on 1 January 2008, along with the magazine's name being changed to "Light Aviation" References External links Light Aircraft Association Aviation organisations based in the United Kingdom Aviation trade associations Aylesbury Vale Business organisations based in the United Kingdom 1946 establishments in the United Kingdom Organisations based in Buckinghamshire Organizations established in 1946