Where to fly your new RC Model Airplane

RC Model Airplane Flying Locations Choosing a safe location to fly model airplanes is important. There are a lot of possibilities depending on what kind of airplane(s) you have and particularly the laws in your country and any regulations relating to local facilities. Taking these into account, you can check out your local RC flying club, the park down the street, a vacant lot, or even a public sports complex. For varying reasons, not all of these environments are safe for flying your model airplanes. Most RC airplane pilots that are serious about the hobby get a membership at their local flying club. The cost involved with joining a club varies from one club to the next, but the dues at most clubs are reasonable and the best reason for doing this is to gain the advantage of the insurance cover available. Many clubs have strict safety rules that govern the way you can operate your RC models. It is not uncommon to have the "pit" area completely separated from the landing strip, and often times there is space set aside just for pilots to stand while their model airplanes are in the air. With this total separation of the flying field, accidents to bystanders and spectators from crashing planes are greatly minimized. Some RC enthusiasts find that flying model airplanes at the RC flying club site is too time consuming. They want to go flying in their spare time without having to pack up a bunch of equipment and drive to a remote location. Electric "Park Flyer" model airplanes can easily be flow in any mid sized park that has relatively few trees or obstructions. Most airplanes in this class are fairly slow, and weigh much less than a glow powered model. Since parks usually have people in them, it is a good idea to either wait till the park is sparsely populated or find yourself a corner of the park where your flying activities will not endanger anyone else. In any case, you need to check on the local regulations and make sure your personal insurance covers any risks as you are unlikely to be covered by any club insurance. One location for flying RC model airplanes that is often overlooked is the parking lot at the local mall. This environment is best suited for small electric powered aircraft, and only at night when the lot is empty of vehicles. Most parking lots of this nature have light posts that keep the area fully lit, 24 hours a day. Since smaller RC model airplanes can safely fly under 40 feet, even while doing tricks and aerobatics, a bit of midnight flying at the mall is something every pilot should try at least once. Many cities have large public sports complexes that can be great for flying small to mid-sized RC model airplanes. The best time of day to check out a sports complex for a possible flying location is the middle of the day when most children are in school and not using the sports areas. Local regulations may prohibit you from flying any gas powered aircraft here, but there are usually no restrictions for electric powered models. Since it is not safe practice to fly model aircraft over a crowd of bystanders, it's best to wait till there are no sports activities going on before taking to the skies. No matter where you choose to fly your RC model airplane, always be wary of others around you and check out the local regulations.