Once you can fly the options are limitless.
Okay, so you have got through your basic training and gone solo, well done. What comes next?
Well you should start to think about taking your BMFA "A" certificate. To gain this you have to carry out all the required pre-flight checks, take off, do a circuit and overfly the take off area. Fly a figure of eight, fly a rectangle and perform a landing. You then have to take off again and perform a landing without power. Finally complete the post-flight checks and answer some safety questions.
This is designed to show that you have control of the model. It is not a difficult standard to achieve and proves to yourself and others that you have mastered the basics of safe model flying.
The next target is the BMFA "B" certificate. This competence level could be a couple of years on from your "A" certificate. It involves more advanced flying, including aerobatics and stalls, and it is a useful target to aim for in the future.
So, pass your "A" certificate and enjoy yourself. With the confidence gained you should soon be progressing from trainers onto bigger models. Perhaps you will become interested in the precision of aerobatic flying, or the complexity and accuracy of scale models?.
You may fancy going into electric flight. This is becoming more popular as motors and batteries become more powerful. There are now many electric-powered sport, aerobatic and scale models available. Some very large scale electric models of multi-engined warbirds, including Avro Lancasters and Boeing Fortresses, can be seen at the various model shows and displays.
What about a helicopter? The club does not have many members who fly helicopters as we are all mainly fixed-wing flyers, so this would be something different. There are many helicopter kits on the market, both electric and engine-powered ... and there are even some with gas turbine engines! (Although for these you do need a great deal of experience and a really fat piggy-bank!).
Maybe that 72" span Spitfire you set your heart on when you first wanted to fly? You should probably think about that after passing your "B" certificate but there are several slightly smaller models of Spitfires and Hurricanes on the market that are less demanding to fly. A number of these are available, along with many other warbirds, as ARTF models. They may not be quite as complex or accurate as your dream 72" Spitfire, but they certainly capture the flavour of flying a minature full-size aeroplane.
So once you can fly, many opportunities open up in front of you. With the hours of stick-time you will now get by not having to wait for an instructor to guide you, your confidence should soar, just like your models!
Enjoy your models and your flying.
It is a great hobby to have and it is extremely sociable.
