Welcome!!
If you are interested in flying and hopefully building! radio controlled model aircraft, then membership of a club is in reality the only way that this can be achieved. Any attempt to fly without proper instruction will inevitably end in costly failure and in all likelihood danger to yourself and others. Although the advent of Almost Ready to Fly trainers has made the beginners life less complicated, a considerable commitment in terms of time and money is still required.
Before spending any money, why not come along to the club field and have a chat with the existing members. We have no time restrictions on our site and although most activity takes place at weekends there are often members present during weekday afternoons and evenings.
The normal route for beginners nowadays is to purchase a purpose designed trainer model with an electric power setup or the increasingly less popular ic engine fitted. The main structural components will be already build for you, hopefully to a high standard, leaving just the fitting out with radio gear and engine to be done. Again a club member or the staff of a good model shop will advise you in detail what is required.
Do not under any circumstances be tempted to start your modelling career with a scale Spitfire or Mustang! You have been warned. Much could be written about this aspect of model flying but there is really no substitute for hands on instruction from an experienced model flyer.
One matter which cannot be stressed enough is that of safety. Model aircrafts are potentially dangerous and can cause death or serious injury. You will be required to obtain insurance cover before being allowed to fly at our site. The good news is that substantial insurance cover is included with membership of the Scottish Aeromodellers Association with which we are affiliated and can be provided at the same time you join.
Still interested? Then don’t delay,for any information feel free to contact the club secretary .
If you would like to learn a bit more while you are learning how to fly, then why don’t you check out the following guides:
1. Getting Started (courtesy of BMFA).
2. Model Flying Types (coutesy of BMFA).
3. Choose a model, know about gliders, choose and know your engine (doc) or (pdf) .
4. Scottish Aeromollers Association Membership Details (courtesy of SAA)
5. British Model Flying Association Membership Details (courtesy of BMFA)