Frequently Asked Questions - All FAQs

Can I Have Trial Flight?  Yes.  If you are new to the hobby or are genuinely interested we recommend having a trial flight or two first before outlaying any money.  This is done noramlly on a Saturday by appointment. An instructor will take you up using a buddy-box system.  Two controllers but he has the master. Imagine dual control car!

Yes.  At the same time you can ask your instructor and other members for advice with regards to models.

Subscriptions run from 1st January to 31st December. 12 month period.

At present there are two levels of subscription discounts depending on the time of year you join. See menu Club Info/Subs/Fees

Yes.  The club has a number of instructors who will train you through to gaining your White Card.  The White Card signifies that you have achieves the minimum standard of control to be able to fly solo.  Instructors are volunteers and therefore this is a club member benefit but not a right.

This depends entirely on you.  You ability to control the aircraft in a safe manner and to pass the Club's basic test which includes knowledge of the Club's handbook.  Until then you will be using a Red Card and can only fly under supervision.

Normally on Saturdays, weather dependent. Once training is undertaken we recommend that members attend every available Saturday consecutively to shorten the time to solo flight.

Some Sundays depending on the instructors, although this is arranged within the Forum/Training section

We would say NO if you have never flown before. have a free trial flight first to get the feel of it. You may find it is not what you really want.

It is available all year round except Christmas Day. Flying times are 0800hrs to 2030hrs or dusk.  Sundays - No flying before 1000 hrs

Control of a model aircraft relies on vision and your ability to follow it's orientation.  As long as your eyesight is corrected for good to excellent vision there should be no problem.

 Recommend wearing polarised sunglasses too on any day except dull days.

At the AGM held in December 2016 it was confirmed that for 2017 the subscription for seniors is £85.00.

Juniors (under 18 years) £18.00. Non Flying £22.00.

Members who allow their subscription to run out will incur a £10.00 Rejoining Fee.

YES.  Model aircraft can cause serious damage to property and people possibly even death to the latter.

An earth bound model would be covered by your personal liability insurance which is usually associated with some other insurance, ie; house or motor.

All pilots of model aircraft should have BMFA (British Model Flying Association).  Although some park flyers don't that's their risk.

It is mandatory for club members to have BMFA insurance.  We arrange this at time of joining.

Not directly as such.  We assume that anyone taking up RC flight will be able to assemble a model and install hardware.  As a member you have access to the forums where help will available in getting your purchased model assembled and set up.  Once put together, you would bring it up the field where members will help you finalise the set up and check it out for you.

At present you can download an Application form from this website, found under Club Info/Documents/Membership Form, print it out, fill it in and along with the relevant fee in cheque form send to the Membeship Secretary. He will complete the formailites and shortly after you will be issued with a Membership Card and Club Handbook.

Depends on whether you intend to fly using an electric plane or glow engined.  Is it ready built (RTF)  or part built (ARF) ?

Both types require some necessary accessories.  You will need a transmitter, a receiver and if an ARF some servos and a battery pack.

Read the articles here: Gas or Glow?

This depends on your preference when starting out.  Electric is clean and fairly quiet but requires a battery normally a Lithium Polymer and a specialised charger.

Glow engines use fuel which has a small percentage of oil in the fuel which after a days flying will need wiping off the plane. You will also need a glow starter, fuel pump to lift fuel out of can into plane.

Read the following article and it's links: RC Flight Help

Not that simple as prices invariably rise over a year.  A typical glow high wing trainer in 2015

Initially we have to factor in a 6 channel transmitter, a 6 channel receiver, a 4.8volt battery pack, 4 analogue servos, a cheap 0.46 engine a high trainer ARF (part built)  Total around  £300 to £350

For glow models we also need glow starter, a fuel hand pump and fuel.  Approx £40

Yes they are and sometimes more.  Brushless motors (the magnets rotate around the windings) are quite efficient and with the relatively new LiPo ( [[Lithium Polymer]] )  battery packs they can develop outstanding torque in an instant unlike glow or petrol engines. A small 50mm diameter motor powered by a 22volt (6 cell) Lipo battery could produce 2 to 3 hp.

Yes.  Safety above all else is top priority within our club and should be within any other club too.

Regarding just the model itself and it's power train, whether electric or internal combustion (glow or petrol).  Keep objects, loose clothing and body parts away from the rotating propellor.  Do not stay in front of it and including all spectators stay behind the model.

When connecting a main battery in electric models assume that the model is "live" and treat it as you would an ic powered model. On contact with objects, etc, motors do not stall and stop like an engine would.

All models must be restrained before starting or connecting a battery.