What do you mean, Indoor Scale?
You might be surprised to find out that flying scale model aircraft indoors has become a very popular aeromodelling discipline, with both Free-Flight, (FF), and Radio Control, (RC), models being flown in sports halls or gyms, (the bigger and the higher the ceiling the better!), up and down the country.
Traditionally, Scale Indoor flying tends to take place in the autumn/winter when the weather conditions often make it impractical to fly outdoors. This however is not set in stone and many aeromodellers will fly indoors the whole year round.

The Diversity of Scale Indoor Model Aircraft.
Whilst flying model aircraft indoors has been popular for several years it was in the 1970s/1980s that flying Scale Model Aircraft indoors began to grow in popularity. There are lots of different ways aeromodellers can enjoy flying scale models indoors.
Round-the-pole flying (RTP) was very popular in this period as means for flying Scale models indoors, RTP involves the model being attached via a line from its wingtip or fuselage to a central support structure. Control signals can be passed to the model via wires alongside or integral with the attachment line. The operator can control the aircraft using a control console, situated outside the flying circle of the aircraft.
Whilst not as popular as it was during its 1970s/1980s heyday, Scale RTP still has a committed core of aero-modellers enjoying this form of indoor scale model aircraft flying.
Scale Indoor Free Flight brings its own challenges as the walls of your local sports hall tend to be very unforgiving if your model hits them. The one advantage of flying Indoors is that the weather can’t spoil your flying session!
Scale Indoor FF models are rubber, CO2 or electric powered. Scale gliders can also be flown indoors.
The traditional stick and tissue types of scale free flight models can be successfully flown indoors, particularly if lightly built. The “Kit Scale” competition class is illegible for commercially kitted designs, built either from the actual kit or plan using the modeller’s own materials.
At the other end of the spectrum, some modellers will build scale models from scratch, using pictures and scale drawings as their inspiration. This approach provides the aero-modeller with an unlimited portfolio of prototypes to choose from.
Peanut scale models with a wingspan 13 inches and Pistachio scale models with a wingspan of 8 eight inches are popular classes of scale indoor, rubber-powered, FF models.
No-cal, or “no calorie” models have a profile fuselage and a maximum wingspan of sixteen inches. The name refers to how thin the profile fuselage is compared to other models.
Aren’t Scale RC Models too big to be flown indoors?
The answer to this question is yes; a traditional Scale RC Model, powered by an IC or Electric Motor, is far too big to be flown safely indoors.
However, with micro-RC equipment becoming more readily available and less expensive, flying a Scale RC model indoors has become a much more practical, (and affordable), proposition.
Scale Indoor RC models tend to be smaller and lighter than their outdoor counterparts, being built from traditional aeromodelling materials such as balsa wood, as well as more modern materials such a carbon, depron foam and vector board.
The traditional types of FF kit scale types of models are also very easily converted to RC.
Likewise, some models will design and build their models from scratch using existing photographs and three-view drawings as their inspiration.
There are also lots of ready to fly Scale RC models available to buy either brand new or second hand, with many of them being supplied with their own transmitter. Simply charge the battery and fly!
Getting started in Indoor Scale doesn’t have to be expensive; free flight models built to be flown outdoors can be reconfigured, (“trimmed”), to flight indoors. For Scale Indoor RC equipment used outdoors, (such as a transmitter), can also be used indoors.
A simple laser-cut kit suitable to be flown indoors as a free flight model or converted to RC can be purchased brand new for around £35.00 or considerably cheaper if purchased from a well-known internet auction site or at a swap meet second hand. Suitable plans can also be sourced and downloaded online for free, to be built by the modeller using their own materials.
Join a Club
Many model flying clubs will often hold indoor flying sessions for their members during the autumn/winter months. Some clubs will allow non-members to join and fly at their indoor flying sessions upon paying the requisite fee and providing proof of BMFA Membership.
Joining a club is a great way of getting the support and encouragement needed when starting out in indoor scale aeromodelling.
The BMFA Scale Technical Committee are also here to promote scale aeromodelling in all its disciplines and are more than happy to answer questions or offer advice. You can contact them at enquiriesbmfascale@yahoo.comn
Competitions
The BMFA hold their annual Indoor Scale Nationals Competition at its established home of Wolverhampton University Sports Hall in Walsall in the West Midlands. The, “indoor Scale Nats”, attracts the best scale indoor flyers from the U.K. and Europe who compete for the honour of being crowned BMFA National Champion!
The Nationals take place over a weekend towards the end of April; Saturday being traditionally set aside for Scale Indoor RC and Sunday seeing the Scale Indoor Free Flight Nationals taking place. Spectators are also welcomed to come along and watch the flying taking place, hopefully being inspired to participate in the future!
The following YouTube video provides an overview of the 2024 Scale Indoor Nationals: https://youtu.be/qUoX1fA-DV8
Local clubs will also arrange and run their own competitions which can be a great deal of fun as well as a great social activity.
Links
BMFA Scale Technical Committee Website - https://scale.bmfa.org/
FAI Scale Pages - https://www.fai.org/page/f4-scale-models