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This looks good, I am looking forward to a day out there.What does the primary and secondary activity mean.? If i brough a small free flight model would I be able to fly it at any time ?
When can we expect some live cameras from the site?
So anyone actually flown there, is the runway/sun position good all day or just mornings etc. How is the approach to runway -treeless or a few obstacles.Much more important than posing on a camera feed !
As I no longer have a viable sitefor anything decent, I am green with envyMike
The main runway is 300m long by 40m
Why no tarmac strip?
Have you any idea what 12000 square metres of tarmac costs, not to mention foundations & prep....
To say that I would be ashamed to take an International visitor along to our 'national flying site ' is a fair description.
Thats a bit harsh considering what has been achieved in a relatively short time frame and with limited resources. The clubs you visited weren't gifted their runways and buildings for free, those facilities were funded by affluent members of prosperous clubs. The vast majority of UK aeromodellers are on little more than state pension. Its a chalk and cheese comparison imho.
Recently I spent a couple of years touring the USA and Canada in a RV naturally one of the lockers contained a couple of models and I visited quite a few clubs. The average club had a paved runway paved pits with model restraints simple roofed areas providing shade with seats and tables. These two pics are typical of 80% of the clubs I visited.To say that I would be ashamed to take an International visitor along to our 'national flying site ' is a fair description.
In my opinion your comment is an insult to a hard-working band of enthusiasts who are right at the start of a major project, doing their best for us all with what they have, and making a good fist of it to boot.Gordon
Well the AMA the US equivalent to the BMFA has a 1000 acre site at MuncieRadio Control facilities include a large improved grass area for Soaring activities, four runways (3 asphalt, 1 grass), and helicopter specific grass areas. Pylon and Aerobatics courses/boxes are permanently, and accurately marked. Free Flight activities enjoy the use of the entire site. Grass is kept manicured to facilitate model recovery and roads are developed to aid in model retrieval. Specially prepared areas for Control Line Aerobatics, Racing, Speed, and Combat feature eight asphalt circles and nine grass circles. The Speed/Racing complex has permanent speed pylons and safety netting surrounding the area. Speed pylons may be checked out by AMA members from the AMA Headquarters. Any AMA member can fly there for free as I did. I parked my RV at a site on site with water and electricity for I think 10 $ a night. It was hot and we need ed the AC to sleep. The AMA actively assists member clubs to obtain and retain flying sites they even have a 20k $ fund to assist clubs who have had there sites trashed by a natural disaster. At least the BMFA has finally made a start on a national flying site. Perhaps a mighty oak tree will develop but at the moment it is an acorn with a slender sprout.Somebody asked how much did it cost to join a typical club well I joined two while I was in the USA I stayed in Texas for the winter one year and paid $50 as a winter Texan to join. The other club I joined was in Albuquerque and I got a deal there as a wrinkly for $20 a year. I was careful not to knock anyone but just pointed out that the BMFA with their long awaited National flying site have a way to to match the facilities on offer at a typical US small town club.