About Us Clearprop! Microlight School Clearprop! was established in 2007 by David Sollom and Angus Lacy-Hulbert, with the aim of providing top quality microlight tuition at a convenient location in the south of England.  We chose Redlands Airfield not only for its prime position near major routes, but also for the superb facilities it has, as well as the wonderful atmosphere on the airfield. There has been a microlight club and part-time school at Redlands since the early 1990’s, with the school part growing steadily over the past few years.  Now the school operates on a full-time basis, flying every day that the weather allows. At Redlands, we have an office and shop, briefing room and large indoor and outdoor seating areas.  There is coffee and tea available all the time, and even a small café for hot and cold snacks which is open at weekends. In 2010 Clearprop expanded with the opening of our second school based at Blackbushe Airport in Surrey. Here we offer exactly the same as at Redlands only in a very different environment. We still have great facilities with briefing rooms a café etc. but we are operating from an airport with a large tarmac runway and a tower to control our movements. Our students have loved the opportunity to experience both environments during their training meaning once qualified they leave us with the confidence to fly anywhere.

Clearprop! instructors

David Sollom

David first stuck an engine on his hang glider in about 1980; but gave up motorised flying soon afterwards when the engine kept stopping at the most inopportune moments, and he resumed free flying; both hang gliders and paragliders. During the 1990's he set up and ran ParAvion Paragliding School in Marlborough with the philosophy of being very professional, where most others were decidedly amateur. This is the extremely successful philosophy that he has brought to Clearprop! and the microlighting world.

After a stint in the British Paragliding Team, David resumed powered flying in 2000, when the manufacturers started to build microlight aeroplanes with big, four-stroke engines, rather than the two-stroke units of early days. He now has many hundreds of hours of flying and teaching experience, on both flexwing and fixed wing microlights. David is our Chief Flying Instructor and examiner in both fixed and flexwing aircraft.

Angus Lacy-Hulbert

Angus started flying in 2000 when he learnt to fly paragliders in the Bulgarian mountains. After several years of some fantastic flying he returned to the UK. With the flying opportunities on paragliders being not so great in the Uk he soon realised that if he was going to continue flying he would have to look at a more viable option and so decided to take up microligthing. He is now the owner of Clearprop! and, as well as the responsibilities brought by running a company, Angus teaches on both fixed wing and flexwing aircraft. Angus holds an examiner authority and examines the fixed wing students. He is a big fan of grass-roots, back to basics flying as well as old fashioned navigation. Of course he also enjoys teaching on the Ikarus C42.

Gary Cross

Gary's flying interest was ignited with model flying. With a large and varied collection of fixed wing models Gary could no longer resist the urge to fly himself. Starting in gliding he became a capable glider pilot completing solo out and return flights as well as flying in Australia where he emigrated, twice! However he never forgot where his roots were and returned to the UK. Having trained on both fixed and flexwing microlights and having owned and flown both types for several years Gary decided it was about time he made it his profession. He completed his rigorous instructor training and, after being offered a job by the instructor during his instructor training, Gary showed great loyalty and came to join Clearprop! at Blackbushe where he remains a valuable part of our team and is responsible for the bulk of the flexwing training. Gary also now spends a chunk of his week at Redlands teaching on the fixed wing aircraft, splitting the flexwing work with Angus at Blackbushe.

Richard Foster

Richard is working full time for us at Blackbushe where he is responsible for the fixed wing training. Against everyone's advice Richard gave up a promising career in the fire service to become a full time instructor. Once flying is in the veins it is very difficult to look back as Richard clearly demonstrates every day with his huge passion for flying. Richard learnt to fly light aircraft in the States before migrating over to microlights. He has flown many types from the grass roots Ax3 right up to the hot ship CT. When not in the air Richard, apart from moaning about not flying, does a bit of work putting up security cameras and automatic gates. This was his trade before the fire service and remains his rainy day entertainment. He also has a great bit of entrepreneurial spirit with a mind full of fun ideas. His latest little project is his Reliant Regal van which comes in complete Only Fools and Horses livery and is available for hire. Not just the livery but also the smoke, the backfire, the blow up doll and the in character driver. A true reflection of Richard's good humour. We are very lucky to have him on the team.