Failsafe
What the model does if it loses the radio signal. It should cut the throttle - you'll be asked to show it working before every test.
From first idea to first solo
Most pilots follow the same route. In RC Flyer Pro each step ticks itself off as you go.
- 1Get your CAA Operator ID and Flyer IDUK law: you need a Flyer ID (a free online test) to fly and an Operator ID to register your models. Add both on your Profile once you have them.
- 2Join the BMFAMembership gives you insurance, lets you join most clubs and is how you take the BMFA tests. Add your number on your Profile.
- 3Choose your first modelA high-wing trainer is the easiest way to learn. Add yours with AI - your first one is free.
- 4Get your model set up and checkedMost first-flight crashes are set-up, not flying: CG, control directions, throws, failsafe and range check - ideally checked by an instructor.
- 5Practise on a simulatorA few hours on RealFlight, PicaSim or similar makes your first lessons far easier - log your sim time here, kept apart from real flights.
- 6Find a club near youLearning with an instructor and a buddy box is the safest, quickest way to fly solo.
- 7Log your first lessonMark a flight as a lesson to record your instructor, what you practised and their notes.
- 8Your first solo flightWhen your instructor says you're ready, fly it yourself - no buddy box.
- 9Pass your BMFA Basic ProficiencyThe BPC is the first BMFA certificate - track every test item in BMFA Certificates.
- 10Gain your BMFA 'A' certificateThe 'A' shows you can fly safely on your own - many clubs ask for it before you fly unsupervised.
The UK rules
Flyer ID: before you fly, you pass a short, free online theory test with the CAA and get a Flyer ID. It shows you know the basic rules - where you can fly, how high, and how far from people.
Operator ID: whoever is responsible for the model (you, or a parent for a young pilot) registers for an Operator ID, renewed every year, and labels the model with it.
BMFA membership: the British Model Flying Association includes third-party insurance, most clubs ask for it, and members can usually get their CAA IDs through the BMFA. Weight limits and fees change from time to time, so check the CAA's own site.
CAA registration British Model Flying Association
We cover the UK and the USA so far. Elsewhere the steps are much the same, but check your own country's rules.
Your starter kit
You don't need much to begin - and a good club will tell you what works at their field before you buy. This is the usual list:
- A trainer modelA high-wing trainer flies slowly and forgives mistakes. Many have a stabiliser 'beginner mode'.
- A transmitter with a trainer portAt least 6 channels, with a trainer (buddy box) port so an instructor can take over.
- Two or three flight batteriesLiPo packs to suit the model - one flying, one charging, one spare.
- A balance chargerCharges every LiPo cell evenly and safely. Never leave it charging unattended.
- A LiPo-safe bag or boxFor charging and storing batteries - a damaged or overcharged LiPo can catch fire.
- Spare propellersYou will break some. Keep two or three of the right size in your field box.
- A small tool kitHex keys, screwdrivers, a prop balancer, tape and thin CA glue fix most problems at the field.
- A flight simulatorOptional but well worth it: an hour on a sim saves a lot of repairs.
Words you'll hear at the field
Short explanations of the things your instructor - and the BMFA tests - will talk about.
Range check
A test on the ground that the radio link works at a distance, using the transmitter's low-power range-check mode. Do one at the start of each flying day and after any crash.
Centre of gravity (CG)
The point the model balances on. Too far back and it becomes twitchy, even uncontrollable - check it against the manual whenever you change the battery or the model.
SWEETS
The BMFA's quick pre-flight check: Sun, Wind, Environment, Everyone, Take-off, Signals. If any of them isn't right, don't fly yet.
Buddy box (trainer lead)
Your instructor's transmitter is linked to yours. You fly, and they take over at the flick of a switch if anything goes wrong - the safest way to learn.
Trims
Small adjustments that make the model fly straight and level with the sticks centred. Your instructor will trim a new model on its first flight.
LiPo safety
Lithium-polymer batteries are powerful but delicate. Charge them in a LiPo bag, never charge a puffed or damaged pack, and store them at storage charge.
Circuit
The rectangular path flown around the field at a steady height. Neat, even circuits are the backbone of every BMFA test.
Dead-stick landing
Landing with the motor off, as if it had failed. You'll practise gliding approaches so a motor cut is no drama.
BPC, 'A' and 'B'
The BMFA Achievement Scheme: the Basic Proficiency Certificate, then the 'A' (safe solo flying) and the 'B' (display-standard flying). Clubs often ask for an 'A' before you fly unsupervised.
Wind and beginners
Light, steady wind makes learning far easier. RC Flyer Pro's beginner check suggests asking your instructor above about 10 mph average wind or 15 mph gusts, and not learning above 15 mph.
Practise on a simulator
A simulator on your computer (RealFlight, PicaSim, Liftoff, ClearView and others) teaches your thumbs the basics - including flying towards yourself, when the controls feel reversed - with no risk to a real model. Log your sim time in RC Flyer Pro; it's kept apart from your real flights.
Find a club and an instructor
Learning with a club instructor on a buddy box is the quickest and safest way to fly solo. In RC Flyer Pro, clubs that welcome new pilots show a badge, and you can ask their instructors about lessons straight from the club's page.
Clubs that welcome new pilots Flying sites near you Find a mentor near you
No instructor at your club yet? Many experienced pilots are happy to help: look for the 🤝 'Happy to help new pilots' badge on Pilots Nearby and club pages.
Ready when you are
Create a free account, tell us you're new, and RC Flyer Pro turns all of this into a Learning Path that ticks itself off as you go.
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