25.10.2019: A very good turn out from members for our AGM. As always thanks to Gary, out examiner for our recent A and B tests for coming along to our certificate presentation. Jealous members will be practicing harder for next year.

9.10.2019: The club's AGM will be in the evening on Friday 25th October. A brief meeting is planned to be followed by presentations of certificates to our sucessful test candidates. Location will be The Owl. If you are able to get along then let Graham know so he can confirm to the pub how many there will be, and if you want to eat then get there before 7:30pm.

5.10.2019: A & B tests were flown today. David, Jason and Steli all flew successful fixed wing A tests. Steli followed on to fly a successful fixed wing B test. Dave flew a successful helicoper A test and also followed it with a successful fixed wing B test. Many congratulations to them all and also to the Harlow examiners Gary Peacock and Eugene Anker for taking the time to visit us.

1.10.2019: A & B Tests are still planned for Saturday 5th October. The weather looks a little more promising but a definitive decision on if it will be good enough to fly will be made on Thursday. Any members not taking a test who wish to fly on Saturday shouldn't go to the strip until they have confirmation that the tests are over, unless someone being tested has requested their help.

16.9.2019: A reminder for those taking part that our indoor flying season will start on Friday 20th September. 7pm to 9pm at the school sports hall. All details on WhatsApp.

14.9.2019: Our annual Fun Fly day is on 22nd September, 10:30 to dusk. We are allowed a maximum of 6 vehicles on site so we should be able to have lots of planes out on show. As usual our club trainers will be offering test flights to members of the public so maybe we'll get some new people into the club.

9.9.2019: There will be a meet-up around 7pm at The Old Hall Tavern on Thursday 12th September. Purely social and all are welcome. For anyone who doesn't know, it is located next to the roundabout where Hall Lane meets Waltham Way.

19.8.2019: A number of members have applied to Graham to take Powered Fixed Wing A & B Tests and the Helicopter A Test in October.

Below are links to some diagram reference guides to help familiarise you with the manoeuvres required. Please note that they are intended for simple visual reference only. They do not contain the detailed descriptions of how best to perform the manoeuvres, which can be found on the BMFA website (https://achievements.bmfa.org/the-tests). Also note that the BMFA have now produced some YouTube videos to help you with the tests. For A Test candidates go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYBbgPlKPVA

Click links below to view diagram guides for the manoeuvres.

6.6.2019: Update, not too much to tell, the club has sent letters to the CAA, the Air Minister and Ian Duncan Smith, our local MP. You may have received an email from the BMFA which confirms many others have also contacted the CAA though they still remain uncommunicative on much of the detail of their proposal. Anyone who would like to contact them individually please do so.

20.5.2019: Due to the sudden announcement by the CAA of a proposed registration scheme we are considering how to voice our our concerns. After an informal members meeting views were offered and we've now written to the CAA, the Government's Air Minister, and to our local MP. Any member who woud like copies can request them via the email address above.

HobbyKing Warehouse Open Day 11 May 2019

For anyone interested, please check the Whats App group to see who might be car sharing. There already seems to be a good take-up of members intending to make the trek.

HobbyKing's location is Elmsett Airfield. From the M25, Take the A12, junction 28 and head towards Ipswich.

2.11.2018: A club social evening is announced at The Owl for Friday 23rd of November. Aside from the chance to share a few beers, the examiners who conducted our recent tests will be our guests and will be presenting certificates to those that passed. All members are welcome and please let Graham know if you are coming along. Partners are also invited. Remember if you want to eat they stop taking orders after 7:30pm. There will also be the opportunity to renew your membership fee which has now been reduced to £85!

1.10.2018: A & B tests took place yesterday. We were lucky with the weather. The sun was bright and a challenge for the flyers who went up first but the wind was light, the sky was blue and the cows kept their distance. Results were a little mixed due to a few out of character jitters from some usually excellent flyers but we had a good number of passes for the A Test so congratulations to Alex, Daniel, Hugh, Jake and Nigel. Thanks too to Graham and Maggie for organising refreshments.

A special thank you to Gary Peacock, Eddie Cross and Mick Broad our Harlow club examiners who gave up their time and were friendly and encouraging throughout the day.

26.9.2018: A & B Test update! Test date has had to been moved to Sunday 30th September. We are aiming to arrive at the Plains around 10am - there may be cattle to 'shoo' off the strip!

16.9.2018: The club AGM yesterday at The Owl was well attended with a good mix of members from both our flying sites. Principle news was that Ian Hulme was proposed and accepted to take over as club Chairman. Denis Hammond chose to step down as Membership Secretary and Mark Adolphus was voted in to take over the role. Treasurer Peter Harvey presented a concise report on the club accounts which neatly led to a discussion about Banks Lane. The concensus was that member usage had increased significantly over the last year with new members joining so would be worth continuing with if no great change in costs. A question was raised about the need for more precise guidance on flight restrictions at Banks Lane. A working party of Banks Lane flyers were approved to set new guidelines.These will then be added to the website so members can have a single access point for our flying rules and not rely on word of mouth.

29.9.2018: Date for the Achievement Tests has been confirmed at the Plains, with the following day reserved in case of bad weather. Examiners will be overseeing A and B Fixed-wing Certificate Tests. Be aware that A and B test cannot be combined, but both tests can be taken on the same day. You will be expected to provide an airworthy plane to suit conditions. Eg. Wot 4 foamie is not the tool for a really blustery day.

We have a club trainer available (balsa/electric) which will cope with higher winds than a foamie. If you think you might want to use this please arrange a time via our whatsap group to have a trial flight(s) before the Test day. There will not be time for practice on the day. Graham will need to register all tests prior to the event so please let him know if you want to have a go. Those who have already notified him need not do so again. Flying on the Plains on the 29th will be reserved for members doing their test. Other members are asked not to go to the Plains until they have confirmation that the tests are completed. Updates will be given via WhatsApp but provisionally it is suggested that members arrive around 10am.

For anyone who would like to review what the mandatory questions for the A and B test are, you can find them at https://achievements.bmfa.org/mandatory-questions. Don't forget you will also need to know your basic pre-flight and post flight routines.

31.7.2018: Our Fun Fly day is 2nd September when members of the public will be invited along to our club's open day. Anyone interested in flying a remote control aircraft can request a flying experience under the guidance of some of our senior members (depending on the number of interested people and weather of course). And, on this occasion, members will have the rare opportunity of driving across the plains to the strip so we expect to see some larger models in action! If you have a young neighbour, relative etc, please encourage them to come along.

11.7.2018: Normal service has been resumed, let's get back to those airplanes!

7.7.2018: England 2, Sweden 0, England progress to a World Cup semi final! Yes I know it's got nothing to do with flying small airplanes.

1.6.2018: Two diary dates for our members! First, a social evening at The Owl on Friday 15th of June at 7:30pm. Second, the club AMG will be on Friday 14th of September at 8pm.

20.5.2018: Epping & North Weald MFC Car Boot Bring & Buy Sale. Time: 10:00 - 14:00. Entry is £5 per car for buyers and sellers. Use the main gate entrance. Refreshments are available. There will most likely be a good contingent going from CMFC.

13.5.2018: The BMFA Workshop event had a good turnout from Chingford with Caner, Dave, Denis, Graham, Ian, Nigel and Saeid in attendance. Weather was changeable but didn't affect the day too much. Hot food and drink was plentiful and it was all very well organised by Chelmsford MFU who have been sent a well deserved thank you from our club. A lot of useful information was given in how to prepare for 'A' and 'B' tests with demonstration flights to show the standard expected of both tests. Chelmsford has an enviable site with a very large main strip and a wide open space to fly. There was a secondary patch for control line planes, benches were in abundance, and, most desirable of all, a portaloo!

12.5.2018: East Anglia Area Examiners Workshop. Members are invited to put their names forward to attend this event held by the East Anglia Area and hosted by Chelmsford MFA. It will be held at 10am Its purpose is to allow pilots, instructors and examiners to experience, share information and discuss the requirements of fixed wing 'A' and 'B' tests in a relaxed and informal environment. It should be an enjoyable day out. It will include a barbecue for which there will be a small charge and the opportunity to fly as well. Contact Graham if interested.

10.5.2018: In accordance with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation on the 25th of this month an email has been sent by the club secretary to all members to confirm the contact information we hold on our database about you, who is allowed access to it and how it is secured. Members are required to give us positive agreement that we can hold this information. Please read the email carefully and respond by the 25th. If there is anything that needs clarification, please ask!

1.5.2018: Banks Lane is available again for flying again.

22.4.18: Some much needed trimming of the strip at Chingford is planned for today, anyone with time and a set of shears are welcome to help. Meet for 11am at the car park.

17.2.2018: A social night is proposed at The Owl for the 20th of April, it will be a Friday as usual. If you are able to come along let Graham know via the App so he can book a table.

25.2.2018: Please note that our site at Banks Lane is, unsurprisingly currently waterlogged and flying there will not be possible until further notice.

2.2.2018: Saeidi has a large number of LiPo batteries available, different sizes. Anyone interested, contact him on Whats App for further information.

30.9.2017: Denis, Spike, Ian, Caner and Saeidi all successfully passed their 'A' tests today!