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Comment by imdsm | Hacker News Reader

I'd love to get involved in R/C planes but in the UK it seems there's nowhere to do it, and with the law due to drones, it feels impossible to get started even just with starter kit

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There's a model aircraft club near to where I live (UK). They have a runway and people use it most days. In the summer they have a two day festival where people come and camp and do model plane stuff. Presumably it's the Glastonbury of model aircraft. It's quite fun to watch them fly around for a couple of hours.

Anyway, my point is that if I didn't live just around the corner, I would never have known it existed. I'd imagine there are similar setups around the country. You do need quite a big space and a runway is presumably helpful, so it probably makes sense for them to be collectively run.

Thanks. I'd love a runway to build & test experimental aircraft. This and the other comments below are great, and found an area I can fly near me (council controlled), just need paperwork first. A new project!

I remember in the 80's and 90's in the US, my dad and I launched Estes model rockets several hundred feet into the air from the field of a local middle school. R/C airplanes and helicopters were expensive but weren't very common and there weren't many legal regulations from flying them as there are now.

RC aircraft flying is very much alive and well in the UK:

https://bmfa.club/

There are also some model rocketry clubs. However model rocketry is a relatively small scene in the UK, compared to RC planes.

Thanks, seen a lot at airshows and it's great, but hoping to mix R/C aircraft with technology, and hoping I can find somewhere without too much pressure (old boys with old ways etc)

Found some local spots where the council have designated it for non-quad flying which is great!

Thank you

Have a look at the BMFA - http://https://bmfa.club. They have a directory of clubs and pointers for learning.

You will need insurance and CAA flyer/operator IDs. This can be arranged through club, or directly via the BMFA above.

Some of the clubs can be rather .... err ... clubby - older members whose hobby has become running the club the way see fit, vs. flying planes.

I've seen people flying RC plains at disused airfields in Suffolk. Even some RC jets.

I'd contact your local RC club and they'll help you get into it.

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