About Us
The Whangarei Model Aircraft Club was formed in 1974 when, following a newspaper advertisement, a group of modellers got together and decided to form a Club.
We currently fly all year round, RC and control Line, at the Portland Recreation Centre ground at McGill Rd, Portland, Whangarei . We use the Recreation Centre Hall for Indoor flying and we have a dedicated outside area with a concrete pad for the flying of control line models. The RC site will be under development for the next few months and we hope to have a full length flying strip completed for the summer season. We do, however, have a limited length strip operating and members are finding it adequate for flying electric models and smaller gas/nitro ones. We fly here regularly and will continue to do so through winter and spring as the ground works continue. We have access to the bathroom facilities of the recreation centre.
Members range in age from the young to the young at heart and build and assemble all types, shapes and sizes of model aircraft most of which fly using Radio Control, free flight or controlline. The models can be powered by various sizes of engine including, more commonly these days, Electric motors.
Our flying site is available 7 days a week, however, we do not fly after 12 mid-day when a football league game is scheduled on some Saturdays. Generally we fly from around 10 am to 3 pm but is dependent on the weather.
Our members have diverse skills and expertise, so there generally will be someone who will be able to help with most problems whether it is a balky engine, an electric motor or Radio problem as well as modelling tips and of course help in flying your model. It might surprise you to know that models are now being flown with miniature versions of jet turbines that operate and sound just like the real thing.
Once hooked, building and flying model aircraft can be a lifetime interest, some members have been modelling for 50 plus years.
Current membership fees are $130 for Senior members (over 18years) or $ 30 for Junior members (under 18 years) and there are also Family concession and non-flying fees.
Club membership includes membership of the national body Model Flying NZ that includes Public Liability insurance for your flying activities. The Club has no prerequisites for joining (such as a joining fee) but instead allows prospective members to have 3 visits with your model to get it flying and see if model flying suits you before joining.
The Club has a e-mail Newsletter to keep members in touch with what is going on locally in the model aircraft scene.
