The Science and Technology Parliamentary Select Committee will today publish their report into ‘commercial and recreational drone use in the UK'. The BMFA provided several written inputs to the Committee on behalf of the UK model flying associations and BMFA CEO Dave Phipps appeared before the committee on the 9th July to provide oral evidence. We are pleased to report that the Committee have incorporated many of the comments we provided as well as a number of comments submitted directly by m...

Further to our previous update of 11th September (https://bmfa.org/News/News-Page/ArticleID/2610/An-update-on-the-UK-regulations-for-model-flyers-a-bit-of-good-news-at-last ). There is no real change to the situation as published.  All parties are currently awaiting the outcome of the Secretary of State’s deliberations on the matter and there is little we can add until we receive this. What we can confirm however is that the DRES scheme will not be rolled out on the 1st October (it seems unli...

It is with great sadness that we hear of the passing of Peter Rabjohn in the early hours of Saturday 21st September 2019. Peter had been receiving treatment for a heart condition for many years, but a recent deterioration finally beat him.  He was a keen Control Line Model Flyer and member of both Chiltern Flyers CLMC and the Milton Keynes Modellers club. He will be especially remembered by many for competing in various racing classes, aerobatics competitions, and vintage speed events.  Only a...

On Thursday 19th of September Les Ormrod, a long time member of our club, died after a short  stay in hospital. Les  was a very friendly person who easily got along with everyone. Les had varied interests, but his main passion was aircraft of which he had a large collection. I  don't think  there was an aircraft  built  that he didn't  like! Les was often accompanied to the field by his wife, Betty, who also took a keen interest in his pursuits. Les was liked by everyone, and will be keenly miss...

I published an update on the BMFA website on 23rd August (https://bmfa.org/News/News-Page/ArticleID/2608/An-update-on-the-UK-regulations-for-model-flyers ) which provided a summary of our position at that time. This was also going to be the basis of my article for the forthcoming issue of the BMFA NEWS. However, the very next day I received a telephone call to tell me that the new Secretary of State for Transport (the Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP) had picked up the case for us and would ‘be in touch...

Mike Knapp, Chairman of the Beaufort Model Flying Club, passed away on 11th August 2019 aged 84 after a short illness. The Beaufort MFC was formed in the early 70s and steadily expanded to become one of the largest in the Western Area. Mike joined the club in the early 80s and, with his son Ivor, flew a wide range of models. Mike and Ivor were early ‘Bishops’ and flew exciting fast IC powered models in duo routines. Mike was a skilful model builder and an early and enthusiastic convert to elec...

We would like to record our thanks to all those members who responded to our ‘Call to Action’ in response to CAP1775, the CAA’s consultation of the Drone Registration and Education Scheme (DRES) for which they are expecting our members to contribute a significant element of the annual £2.8 million running costs. The response from our members was fantastic, with the CAA receiving over 11,000 responses to the consultation – the biggest ever response they have ever received to anything.  Despi...

The British F3C team started off well with Steve Roberts and Mark Christy making it through the Preliminary Round to the Finals Rounds.

A terrific medal haul for the British team in the F3N (Freestyle Helicopter) at the World Championships in Ballenstedt, Germany that finished today.

MIKE BILLINTON, FSMAE, 12/3/1932- 5/7/2019 Mike Billinton was a unique person, a self-taught engineer, engine builder and tester, author and control line speed multiple winner - being the first person in Europe to break the 200mph record for the 10cc class. This was at Barkston Heath at the Nationals in the early 1980s; the OS engine manufacturers from Japan were there on the day with Ron Irvine from Irvine Engines and the record caused quite a stir and atmosphere on the day. He competed in con...