If only I could get there
Mike 

I am hoping tocome along for the fly-in.

Gonna drag along a few club members as well

Charlie C

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 ?

Pretty much. Basically the primary activity will take priority with the secondary activities fitting in around it. There will be some days where sport free flight is the primary activity, the site is big enough for some free flight to take place at the same time as some RC so you shouldn't have a problem on most days, check the status box before leaving though.

When can we expect some live cameras from the site?

Its not high on the list of priorities.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Live cameras is actually quite an interesting idea, but the costs need to be considered. If you want to “raise it up the priorities” you could get together with like-minded individuals and sponsor the development/installation. A few of us in my area did just that recently with another idea for something we would like to see at the NFC.

I guess the big issue with live cameras might be getting permission from those being filmed and “published on the internet”, and also copyright for any resultant images. Worth thinking about though.

Dick

I also assume there will be security cameras there anyway.

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 !

The main runway is 300m long by 40m and near enough east-west. Pilots will be facing north so the sun isn't an issue. Approach is treeless, a hedge at the boundary of the land but that is way beyond each end of the runway so no obstacles at all.


looking west from centre of strip


Looking north across the strip


Looking east from centre of strip

As I no longer have a viable sitefor anything decent, I am green with envy
Mike

Unlike the main runway at Buckminster, which is desperate for a good period of rain.

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....   

Have you any idea what 12000 square metres of tarmac costs, not to mention foundations & prep....   

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.

A tarmac or concrete runway has not been ruled out for the future.  The priority for the "phase 1" of development has been to deliver a useable flying site with basic facilities (including a sewerage processing plant), plus the reception area and indoor "events facility" and improvements to the entrance and access road.  This has been achieved - in expected timescales and within budget.  The last part of this will be a secure entrance gate.

Future developments will be dependant on finance - can you imagine the outcry if we spent ALL of the BMFA's accumulated reserves on delivering as many as possible of the "nice to haves" right at the start?

Other possible future developments, in order of priority, include:
 - tarmac control line circle (needed for Speed and Team-Race)
 - better toilets, possibly including showers
 - basic "bunk rooms"
 - refurbishment of the large barn such that it can house a visitor centre and museum (estimated at up to £1million due to the current condition)

Good usage levels will generate income.  Donations and sponsorship more so.

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.

That's a bit harsh Phil, I am sure that he will be at the front of the queue when they ask for personal donations towards the tarmac.

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 Muncie

Radio 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. 

Well the AMA the US equivalent to the BMFA  has a 1000 acre site at Muncie

Radio 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.

Oh I knew all that.  The Muncie site is well established and not just starting up.  We don't need you to whinge that the BMFA has a long way to go with the site as we already accept that anyway.  It seems to me that rather than being careful not to knock any one person, you were careful to knock everyone concerned all at once.

Gordon

The silent flight Nationals will be taking place at BMFA Buckminster over the August Bank Holiday weekend too.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

My first visit to the new National centre yesterday to fly in the F5B competition at Radioglide.
The grass is growing well after the period of rain then sun, so the permanent runways are starting to look good. Not that we needed the runways for our gliders, and in fact we kept clear of them to avoid damaging the new grass before it is properly established.

The F5B competition was held at the western end of the site and I think it was Open/100s at the eastern end. I am not aware of any problems with 2 comps on the site simultaneously, so the Silent Flight Nationals later in the year should be OK.

Quite a few people are camping/caravanning on site for the weekend, and that seems to be working OK as well. I must say that it is nice to be on a site with proper flush toilets and hot running water available (portaloos were also available closer to the comp flight lines).

I have to say congratulations to all involved in getting this facility up and running. It’s not finished yet, but a fantastic start.

Dick