We are a friendly and informal club drawing membership from all walks of life. We are a fixed wing model-flying club for RC models with IC engines, although several members fly electric. We do not allow helicopter or control line flying on our club site. The club is entirely orientated towards flying for fun.
Principally in the interests of safer and more skilful flying the club actively promotes the A and B Proficiency schemes of the BMFA. Several of our more experienced flyers are registered BMFA examiners. These and other experienced members will willingly give instruction to those who may need it, particularly raw beginners. Please do not try to fly your first model by yourself, if you have had no previous experience. Unless you have an extremely rare natural talent you will most certainly crash it. The result will be very expensive heartache and if you are not insured, considerable financial liability if your model damages the property or persons of a third party. Joining the club avoids all this - and cheaply!
The Club Flying Site
This is a mown strip in a farmer's field near Craghead. It is available to club members 365 days of the year during daylight hours from 10.00 am (9.30 am for electric). We have no toilet facilities or clubhouse at the field unfortunately. Parking facilities are available on the field.
The site is worth a mention. It is on a flat hilltop, which gives magnificent views in clear weather eastwards over Washington and much of the Tyne & Wear area, right out over the North Sea. In clear weather one can catch a glimpse of the Cleveland Hills to the south and the whaleback of Cheviot to the north. This according to the measurements of that legendary bird the crow is about 100 miles! It is a very pleasant and quite impressive place to be on a fine summer’s day.
Against this, at an elevation of 850 feet it has been known to be quite breezy but then nothings perfect.
The site can only be reached by car. From Chester-le-Street Market Place take the B6313 west to Craghead, a distance of about 5 miles. In Craghead proceed over the cross roads passing the wind turbines on your left for about 1.1/4 miles along this minor road, just before a T-junction the entrance to the club site is seen through a five-barred gate on the left. For those approaching from Durham, take the B6532 to Sacriston and on to Craghead, where you will turn left at the crossroads for the final 1.1/4 miles.
The OS grid reference for the site entrance is 194500 (at the 284m spot height) on the OS land ranger series Tyneside map sheet 88
