What Kinds of Model Aircraft Do WMAC Members Fly?

WMAC (Wellington Model Aeroplane Club) members fly radio-controlled planes, gliders, helicopters, and multirotors, plus a smaller dedicated group flies free-flight and control-line models. If you want to see these aircraft in person before deciding what to try, the club welcomes visitors to its flying fields and monthly meetings — no membership required to attend.

The Main Categories at WMAC

The club's activity centres on radio control (RC), but it covers a broader range than planes alone.

The first four categories reflect the club's main focus; free flight and control line are described as a small but committed part of the membership. That distinction matters if you are choosing where to start: RC planes, gliders, helicopters, and multirotors are the mainstream activity, while free flight and control line offer a quieter, more specialised route.

Gliders Are Not One Thing

The club separates glider flying into three distinct styles — slope, thermal soaring, and hand launch. Each involves different conditions and techniques, so if gliders interest you, it is worth asking members which style suits your local terrain and schedule before buying anything.

Competitions Across Model Classes

Competitions are held throughout the year in several model classes: aerobatics, scale, pylon, and vintage. These give you a sense of the range of flying the club supports — from precision aerobatic routines to scale replicas, speed-oriented pylon racing, and older vintage designs. If you are competitive by nature, these classes are a useful map of where you could specialise.

Seeing the Aircraft Before You Commit

The club explicitly welcomes anyone interested to come and view model aircraft and multirotors. Two easy options:

• Monthly club meeting — the next one listed is 28 October 2026, 8.00pm at Belmont Hall. Everyone is welcome, member or not.
• Flying fields — Seddon Range in Trentham, Upper Hutt is the primary site, typically active on Sunday mornings. Check the club calendar for when the field is open and the webcam to see whether anyone is flying, since this is weather dependent.

There is also indoor flying for smaller electric models — the next session listed is Friday 23 October 2026 at 7pm, at Riverstone Recreational Hall in Whirinaki (access from Fergusson Drive, entrance door behind the green tree). A $10 pilot fee covers hall rental, and spectators are free. Indoor sessions are a low-cost way to watch small electric models up close.

A Practical Way to Choose Your Starting Point

If you are new and unsure which category fits you, use this sequence:

1. Attend a meeting or visit Seddon Range on a Sunday morning to see planes, gliders, helicopters, and multirotors flying in the same place.
2. Ask members about the style that matches your interest — for example, slope gliding if you like hillside sites, or multirotors if you prefer hovering and camera work.
3. Try indoor flying first if cost or space is a concern — small electric models, a $10 pilot fee, and free spectating make it the least committing entry point.
4. Then decide on a class — recreational flying, or one of the competition classes (aerobatics, scale, pylon, vintage) if you want a goal to work toward.

The club also publishes information on how to get started with model aircraft, so the next step after a visit is straightforward: meet the members, watch a session, and let your interest in a specific aircraft type guide what you learn to fly.