The club offers many training opportunities for novice pilots. Starting in May on Tuesday nights Fixed Wing Training is conducted at Our Carbrooke Fen Site. Helicopter Training is held on Saturdays from 12.30 at our Carbrooke Site.

WRMC recommend new pilots purchase Futaba Radio Control Systems and the Futaba 6EX 2.4Ghz system which provides programming for both aero and basic helicopter if required is a very good starter system . This provides compatibility with club training equipment.

Flight simulators are a useful training tool to help imprint the basic hand/eye coordination that is required to master flying, particularly in the landing approach phase when "left is right" and "right is left" as the plane heads towards you.

WRMC First Unaided Flight Recognition ( First Solo) :-

Operates at any convenient time during the week, (to suit pupil and instructor) including Saturday (RW) and Tuesday (FW) evenings but ‘taster flights’ normally take priority.

WRMC Fixed Wing First Solo :- is achieved when the pilot unaided, without a buddy box connection completes the following in one flight :- Take off , Fly a circuit of the flying field , Land the aircraft . All to be conducted in a controlled manner.

WRMC Heli First Solo :- is achieved when the pilot unaided, without a buddy box connection completes the following in one flight :- Take off and hover in a stable manner , Completes hovering forward and sideways movements in a 'T' shaped pattern , Return to original takeoff position and land. All to be conducted in a controlled manner.

A novice pilot should only attempt unaided flight with an instructor present who has confirmed abilities have reached a sufficient level to achieve this.

In recognition of their ' First Solo ' flight , novice pilots will be awarded the WRMC ‘First Solo’ Certificate.

It is hoped that following being awarded the WRMC 'First Solo' it will not take pilots too long to gain their ‘A’ certificate, which is awarded by the BMFA when their ‘SAFE SOLO’ standard has been reached.

We would like all novice flyers to achieve this standard as soon as they possibly can, so that :-

          a. They minimise their own frustration with not being able to fly unassisted **.

          b. Their instructors can move on to other novices and / or spend more time flying their own aircraft.

          c. The rest of the club members can have greater confidence in the new, safe pilot flying with them.

** Please Note !! Being awarded a WRMC ' First Solo ' does not allow you to fly unassisted. A member of WRMC who has been awarded a BMFA 'A' certificate or above must be with you on the flight line at all times !!

BMFA ‘A’ certificate (SAFE SOLO) training scheme:

Again using the ‘buddy box’ and the novice’s own aircraft to ensure consistency, the skills and knowledge that will be taught during this basic training phase will include: -

Pre-flight and Post-flight checks, Straight and level flight, Hovering (Helli), Turning, Taxiing (FW), The effect of wind on the aircraft in flight, Climbing and descending, Trimming, Stalling (FW), Orientation, Take-off, Climb, Manoeuvre, Circuit, Landing, Engine failure in flight, Safety rules and considerations.

This continuation in training leads to the pilot being competent to take the BMFA ‘A’ Test (SAFE SOLO) with one of our 'Examiners'.

For Test Requirements Click Appropriate Link:-      

Fixed Wing 'A' test             Heli 'A' test

These are the stages set out in the BMFA booklet ‘Up and Away’ that you receive when you first join that organisation. However, not all instructors will cover these aspects in exactly the same way and some will be keen for you to spend more time practicing aerobatics to improve your ‘recovery’ skills.  

The training will require considerable commitment from the novice in terms of time and money but the First Solo and SAFE SOLO achievements are so very memorable and exhilarating that the effort is very worthwhile. 2, 3 or 4 sessions a week over several weeks will be so much more effective than the same number spread over several months (by which time it is winter again!). Your instructor (s) will be pleased to oblige a keen pupil who is prepared to put in the required effort. Please make sure that you have an agreed prior arrangement with an instructor rather than just turn up and expect their undivided attention. 

As stated in chapter 6 of your ‘Up & Away’ manual, your instructor’s word is law when you are under instruction – do it his way in the air, discuss situations later when you have landed. Secondly, you must not hold your instructor responsible if your aircraft crashes. Your training phase is inevitably risky for your plane, so your instructors will do all they can to prevent ‘accidents’ but they are not infallible. Accept these situations philosophically, fix the plane (with help if necessary) and get back in the air ASAP.

Hopefully a few others are keen to improve their competence and confidence to the point where they can also be effective assistant instructors. Further training is held on Saturdays during the winter months.

Assistant Instructor Training is the next logical step to consolidate the recently acquired ‘A’ skills by spending time at the other end of the ‘buddy lead’. There is also great satisfaction to be had from teaching others a complicated skill and for those who have no inclination to serve the club in a committee position; it is a very worthwhile way to actively support WRMC.

BMFA ‘B’ Certificate is not just the minimum standard required for a pilot to perform in a public display but also a good test of aerobatic skill and general flying precision, also including a more comprehensive knowledge of BMFA/CAP/CAA/ANO Regulations.

For Test Requirements Click Appropriate Link:-       

Fixed Wing 'B' test             Heli 'B' test