.: about us

The Club was first established in 1965 and brings together members young and old both from local community and further afield. Our membership average is in excess of 100 year on year.

As well as our own clubroom we have locations to support Radio Controlled and Free Flight flying, Radio Controlled Glider Slope Soaring and Radio Controlled Boating ( Yachts and Electric Powered craft only).

Our own clubroom was built in 1989 on land rented from the local authority and is located on Crossfield Drive off Thorpe Road in Melton Mowbray, (OPPOSITE TESCO). The Club building is used all year for various activities but with more taking place during the winter months, when it is not practical to use the flying field in the evenings.

We are funded entirely by subscription. Anyone who shares our interest in modelling in general, building and flying model aircraft, building and sailing boats or racing slot cars can join us. Model Aircraft form the major part of our clubs' activities, but there is also a strong slot car section with a sophisticated and modern race track occupying a large part of the club house. We have computers with flight simulator software enabling members to train safely and to try out new flying techniques or design concepts. We also have training aircraft which our qualified instructors and trainees use at the flying field. Membership is regardless of gender or age, race or religion. Our sporting hobby can be enjoyed by all. It can and does include individuals with physical handicap. Access to the club house includes a ramp.

NOTE!!! NO VALUABLE CLUB EQUIPMENT IS EVER LEFT IN THE CLUBHOUSE OVERNIGHT.

Our flying field is in the open countryside near Whissendine which we use with the kind permission of the farmer. We mow a central runway strip and he grazes animals in the remainder of the field. From here we fly radio control model aircraft within a set of safety rules and disciplines. The club also pays an annual fee for a licence to fly slope soaring gliders from Burrough Hill. All flyers are required to be qualified for solo flying and to have third party insurance through our national body BMFA, (British Model Flying Association). We have an arrangement with The Melton Mowbray Sailing Club which enables us to sail yachts and electric powered craft on their lake near Asfordby. 

2. Entry - Entry to the field is by a hand gate with a combination padlock.
The last person leaving the field must ensure the gate is locked.
Always keep the gate shut to prevent any of the farmer's animals from escaping.

3. Your Membership Car(Key Fob) is your authority to fly at this site. 
Hook it against your chosen vacant frequency number on the peg board.

4. All pilots must adhere to the designated flying zones as shown on the site plan.
Always fly in front of you at all times.
Do not fly beyond the pylons to your left or over the road to your right

5. NO FLYING WHATSOEVER IN THE RED NO FLY ZONE.

6. When Flying ALL pilots must stand in the pilot' box on the flight line.

7. Only four power flyers to be in the air at one time.

8. Start your engines in the pits area with your propeller facing outwards towards the field.

9. Where possible always carry your aircraft to and from the mown take off and landing area along the
mown pathway.

10. Failsafe - All power models (when fitted with a receiver with a failsafe function) must be set to a     minimum of throttle to idle on the loss of the radio link, regardless of the model's weight. Models over 7kg   must have a working and set failsafe.

11. Read, Learn and Follow the safety rules and the BMFA Codes of Practice for Model Flying.

12. No Mobile Phones to be used in the pits area.

13. Please take all litter home.

14. All engines must be adequately and sensibly silenced.

15. Members are not allowed to fly alone unless they have passed their BMFA "A" test.

16. A First Aid Box is located inside the mower shed.

Model Glider Flying  Rules (Burrough Hill)

1.      The licence only applies to bona fide paid up members of the Club and such members will produce a valid membership card when requested to do so by the Ranger or other duly authorised officers of the Leicestershire County Council.

2.      All members using the car park at Burrough Hill shall pay the current parking charge and display a valid car park ticket.

3.      No gliders are to be allowed to land on adjoining land not leased to the County Council

4.      Under no circumstances is any interference whatsoever to be caused to members of the general public visiting Burrough Hill or to licensees of or tenants of the County Council.

5.      Club members are at all times to comply with any reasonable request made by the County Councils Ranger regarding the flying of gliders.

6.      Club members agree to comply with the byelaws of Burrough Hill Country Park.

7.      Club members must abide by the condition of the Licence.

8.      Club members must show consideration and respect to other users of the flying site at all times.

9.      Club members must fly safely and within the safety standards as required by the B.M.F.A.

Affiliation and Insurance Details

The following are extracts from BMFA Club and Members Insurance cover.

Melton & District Model Club are affiliated to the BMFA and insurance cover commences from the moment a new member pays the BMFA element of the club joining fee to the nominated Club official. They do not have to wait for receipt of their BMFA membership details. The most important factor is that they have paid the fee and have been formally registered as a paid up member of the club. Liability insurance is normally extended to cover first time visitors to a BMFA Affiliated Club who have no previous experience of model flying but are seeking to try it out prior to joining. However, in this case cover will only be in place when the flights are being personally supervised by a nominated Club member approved by the Club Committee. Cover will only be in place for a maximum of 3 days for any one first time flyer. After this initial 3 day period the first time flyer must arrange his/her own third party public liability insurance cover, by joining the BMFA, prior to undertaking any further flying activity at a club site.

Members are covered for 3rd party Public and Products Liability in the sum of up to £5,000,000 for any one accident, subject to a £20 property damage excess. This covers the whole of the UK and elsewhere in the world, although BMFA must be informed if you intend to fly in USA or Canada on BMFA insurance.

Clubs affiliated to the BMFA are insured for Public Liability and Employers Liability Insurance.

If anyone is uncertain about any aspect of their insurance they should contact BMFA.