Learning to Fly

Introduction
If you never flown a radio control aircraft before or an experienced pilot, all are welcome at Plymouth Model Flying Club. We fly all types of fixed wing aircraft which can be powered by IC engines, electric motors, jet engines or gliders.

Learning to Fly
If you are a newcomer to the hobby the best way to learn how to fly a radio control aircraft is to join a club.

We have instructors and experienced pilots who are able to teach novices using a buddy system. The buddy system consists of two transmitters connected together, this allows the instructor to take control of the aircraft if necessary.

Our instructors will teach you all aspects of flight, from pre-flight checks, take-off, landing & manoeuvring the aircraft.

The flying tuition will culminate with the novice taking their BMFA A Certificate which will allow the novice to fly without supervision.

Getting Started
We strongly suggest you try and visit the site as many times as possible before you buy a model. Ask members as many questions as you want particularly the types of trainer available.

Please don’t turn up with the latest spitfire and expect someone to teach you fly using that, I assure you that will be the quickest way of
reducing your lovely new model into balsa scrap. The best thing to do with that is hang it up in your shed until you have been flying for at least a year.

Please don’t expect to be able to fly solo within the first 10mins of turning up at the field. Learning to fly requires an incredible
amount of concentration and coordination and practice, practice, practice.

At this moment in time we do not have set training days, learning to fly depends on a club member having free time to able to teach you. Once you have paired up with an instructor you can arrange between you suitable days which suit you both. If your instructor is not available most members are willing to stand in and give you tuition but to avoid disappointment please contact other members before you turn up at field to ensure someone will be there.

How long will it take me to get my A certificate?

There is no set time limit, this can depend on many factors ranging from the individuals ability, the weather, the time you have available. Every person is going to be different so patience is a virtue.

Experienced Flyers with an A/B certificate.
Before flying takes place all flyers and visiting flyers are expected to familiarise themselves with the club rules and in the interests of
all concerned will be expected to comply with them.

In the interests of safety and maintaining the goodwill of our neighbours before you can fly on our site a committee member or the senior
club member present will brief you on the relevant safety points in relation to our clubs rules and will also advise you of the out of
bound areas. All flying is controlled by the peg system and all models prior to starting must be restrained.

Remember our club exits on the goodwill of our neighbours.

Fees & Membership
Club & BMFA fees are listed in the table below. All fees are per annum and are renewable on the 31st December.

Membership Application

To download an application for membership right click on the above icon & select 'Save Target As...' from the menu. You will require Adobe Reader to view the file which can be downloaded from http://www.adobe.co.uk/

If you have any queries about membership please contact us by e-mail at the following address: pmfc@blueyonder.co.uk
Or by telephone on the following numbers:

Insurance & Safety
All members of the club must also be members of the BMFA (British Model Flying Association). The BMFA is the organisation responsible for all model flying in the United Kingdom. To find out more click below:

If you are not a member of the BMFA the club can arrange this for you. All members of the BMFA are covered by their insurance policy.

All novices’ models will be checked over by an instructor to ensure that the model has been constructed/assembled correctly and that it does not exceed the noise requirements of the club.

The BMFA's safety guidelines, club rules & safety policy are mandatory and must be followed at all times.

Click the above image to read the clubs rules	Click the above image to read the clubs safety policy

Click the link below to the BMFA website were a copy of their handbook can be downloaded. It includes information on aspects of the hobby:

http://www.bmfa.org/handbook/index.html

Examination
When you think you have gained enough experience you may apply to take the test for the 'A Certificate'. The 'A Certificate' will allow you to fly solo fixed wing radio control aircraft up to a weight of 7kg.

The 'A Certificate' test consists of the following:

Advanced pilots may take the test for the 'B Certificate'. The 'B Certificate' will allow the pilot to fly at public displays and fly aircraft which weigh in excess of 7kg up to a maximum weight of 20kg.