Further to our statement last week, it is clear that the COVID-19 situation has developed very rapidly in the UK and we must now update our advice to reflect this.  Members should continue to keep themselves updated on current government and NHS advice.  Please see  https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response for the latest information. Members are advised to follow the precautions provided by the NHS at all times details of which you can find here:...

2020 FREE FLIGHT FORUM REPORT The new 2020 Free Flight Forum Report has just been published and once again it contains papers on a wide range of free-flight topics. Look at this lot. How can you resist? Warps - Right way? Wrong way? What way? - Mike Woodhouse; Moment Arm - A Novel Stability and Control Arrangement - George Seyfang; How Big Should I Build My Next Coupe? - Alan Brocklehurst; Scale Matters - Ivan Taylor; Evgeny Verbitski - An Appreciation - by Mike Fantham, Ken Faux and Peter Wat...

2020 BMFA SCALE RADIO & FREE FLIGHT COMPETITIONS UPDATE  As a result of the Corona Virus, Covid 19, the BMFA Scale Technical Committee has taken the action to cancel all outdoor Radio Control and Free Flight competitions.  It is to comply with the Government guide lines and the following actions have been agreed by the STC. All regular monthly Scale RC competitions are cancelled. All Scale Free Flight competitions are cancelled. A decision regarding the Indoor Scale Nationals is pending...

Free Flight Corona Virus Actions As a result of the Corona Virus the FFTC are obliged to take action to re-organise the Free Flight contest calendar. It is a fast-moving situation and things could and will change. Based upon what we know at the moment, and to fit with the Government guide lines, the following actions have been agreed by the FFTC.

We have been monitoring the current situation carefully and have been awaiting clear guidance from the Government before making decisions relating to general model flying and BMFA Model flying events, contests and roadshows. It is clear that the COVID-19 situation is developing rapidly in the UK and members should keep themselves updated on current government and NHS advice.  Please see  https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response  for the latest inf...

National Centre News Release - Corona Virus Measures   We have been monitoring the current situation carefully and have been awaiting clear guidance from the Government before making decisions relating to the activity at the National Centre. It is clear that the Coronavirus situation is developing rapidly in the UK. General Flying In general terms model flying represents a low risk activity due to the predominantly outdoor nature of the activity and the opportunity to maintain separation. ...

Earlier in the week we reported that the CAA expected BMFA members to receive their Operator I.D. numbers by the end of the week. However, as of Friday afternoon, only 4000 BMFA members I.D. numbers had been processed due to a technical problem with their system.  The DMARES guys have informed us that they will be working over the weekend to process the remaining records.  They anticipate that all members (who provided an email address) will be in receipt of their Operator I.D's by Monday morni...

Mike Evatt started his career in competitive free flight in 1957 when he won the Golden Wings contest for under 16s organised by Aeromodeller magazine. He was a member of the Northampton Club then. Along with people like Jaguar designer Ted Evans, Bert Revell and one time Aeromodeller editor and F1C team member Martyn Cowley. Trevor Payne recalls that he and Mike first joined the Northampton MAC when they were 16; the club had a basement meeting room in Kingsthorpe Hall which was in Thorntons Pa...

If you are one of the 18,500 members who registered with the CAA as an Operator via the BMFA prior to the 10th February, then you should be receiving your operator number within the next few days.  The automated email sent to the first 2000 BMFA members uploaded by the CAA earlier this week included reference to the requirement for a Flyer I.D. (which members are exempted from in accordance with CAA General Exemption E 4972).  This has now been amended to reduce confusion. The purpose of the or...

Following the recent update  and issue of the latest exemption from the CAA we have had correspondence from members asking for clarification on the matter. The BMFA's CEO has been in communication with the CAA over the matter with the hope of bringing a clearer picture and concrete guidance for BMFA members. With the social media rumour mill doing its best to muddy the waters, can we ask that our members please sit tight for 24 hours whilst whilst the CEO works hard for a clearer resolution....