Welcome

Welcome to Reading and District Model Aircraft Club.

Last update 9th February 2023

 The Reading & District Model Aircraft Club, has existed in its present form for more than 30 years, although its origins date back to 1931. The club is affiliated to the BMFA (British Model Flying Association), the national body controlling model flying in the UK, and is run by a committee selected by its membership at an Annual General Meeting held each year in December.

The club welcomes new members who wish to take up aero modelling as a hobby and membership is open to all persons irrespective of ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs; or of age, sex or disability except as a necessary consequence of the requirements of aero model flying as a particular sport.

The aim of the Club is to provide facilities for, and promote participation in, the safe and responsible sport of aero modelling and flying and we are a friendly and approachable group of model fliers, with a number of experienced members, willing to assist others in the pursuit of the sport.

The main activity of the club is flying. Outdoor flying takes place all year-round at our flying site adjacent to the River Thames, see the Flying Sites page. During the winter months we also hold indoor flying sessions at a local sports centre, see the Indoor Flying page.

Prospective new members need to be aware the club maintains a standard for flying competency via the BMFA Power Achievement Scheme and we will encourage and help you to gain your basic ‘A’ certificate for fixed wing competence via the provision of tuition on an informal basis. The club has a number of volunteer instructors who try to be available most Saturdays to assist beginners via buddy boxes, which are provided by the club. No formal training for helicopters or drones is currently available but we do provide a hovering patch where beginners can develop their skills. The club has examiners who can test candidates for fixed wing, rotary or drone.

If you are considering joining the club you need to consider the following rules as they may affect your decision to join the club, particularly Flying Field rule 11 which states that:

‘Radio flyers must not fly models without the supervision of an experienced pilot until they have passed the BMFA “A” test. Flying is not permitted unless the pilot is accompanied by at least one other responsible person, who should act as observer.’

For any potential junior member, the following policy and policy guide needs to be considered by the relevant parent or guardian:

If you are still interested in the club, if the weather looks good we suggest that you come down to the flying strip on a Wednesday or Saturday morning for a chat with club members. Members will be happy to talk to you and, if you are a beginner, recommend suitable equipment, radio and models and answer any questions you have – don’t go and part with your hard earned cash until you have had some free advice!

New members are welcome to join the club during the year at the Membership Secretaries discretion. For Membership fees and further information please see the Membership page. Upon joining the club, every member is automatically enrolled as a member of the BMFA as insurance by the British Model Flying Association is a condition of club membership. The cost of BMFA membership is included in the annual club subscription.

We look forward to introducing more flyers to this exhilarating sport.