wmac.org.nz

WMAC stands for the Wellington Model Aeroplane Club, a New Zealand model aviation club based in the Wellington region. Its website, wmac.org.nz, is the club's public information hub: it explains what the club does, when and where members meet and fly, and how newcomers can get started with radio-controlled model aircraft. It is aimed at past, present and prospective members, and the club states that everyone is welcome at its meetings and flying fields, whether or not they are members.

What the club covers

WMAC is broader than its name suggests. According to the site, members fly:

• Radio-controlled planes and gliders (slope, thermal soaring and hand launch)
• Helicopters and multirotors
• Free flight and control-line models, through a small dedicated group

The club also runs competitions across several model classes during the year, including aerobatics, scale, pylon and vintage.

Where and when the club meets

The site lists two regular gathering points:

Two practical details from the site are worth noting. Indoor flying is for smaller electric models, with a $10 pilot fee to cover hall rental and free entry for spectators. For outdoor flying, the club advises checking the calendar to confirm when the field is open and the webcam to see whether anyone is flying, since sessions depend on weather.

How to get started

The site is structured as a starting point rather than a rulebook: it offers information about the club, its activities and how to begin with model aircraft. The most direct route in, based on the club's own invitation, is to attend a monthly meeting or visit a flying field to meet members and ask about learning to fly. The site notes that the access door at the indoor venue sits behind the green tree and may need a knock if the wind has latched it.

Who the site is for

Use wmac.org.nz if you are in or near Wellington and want to find a club for radio-controlled planes, gliders, helicopters or multirotors, or if you are simply curious and want to watch before committing. If you are outside the region, the site is still useful as an example of how a model flying club organises meetings, indoor sessions and field access, but the locations and dates will not apply to you.

The simplest way to begin is to show up in person: WMAC welcomes anyone interested to come and view model aircraft and multirotors, and its monthly club meetings are open to members and non-members alike. Come to a meeting or visit a flying field, meet members, and ask about learning to fly — that is the path the club itself points beginners toward. The club also publishes information on how to get started with model aircraft on its website.

Step 1: Attend a Club Meeting

• When: the next meeting listed is 28 October 2026, 8.00pm.
• Where: Belmont Hall.
• Who: everyone is welcome, whether you are a member or not.

This is a low-pressure first step: you can see what the club does, meet past, present and potential members, and ask directly how the learning-to-fly process works.

Step 2: Visit a Flying Field

WMAC's primary flying site is Seddon Range in Trentham, Upper Hutt. Flying typically happens on a Sunday morning, but the club advises checking two things before you go:

1. The club calendar — to confirm when the field is open.
2. The club webcam — to see whether anyone is actually flying, since activity is weather dependent.

If you fly smaller electric indoor models, there is also indoor flying: the next session listed is Friday 23 October 2026 at 7pm, at Riverstone Recreational Hall, Whirinaki, with access from Fergusson Drive via the entrance door behind the green tree. The club notes a $10 pilot fee to cover hall rental and that spectators are free. If the wind has latched the door, knock.

Step 3: Decide What You Want to Fly

The club covers a broad range of disciplines, so you can match your interest before you commit:

Competitions in classes such as aerobatics, scale, pylon and vintage are held throughout the year — useful to watch if you want to see what experienced flying looks like.

What to Expect and Common Pitfalls

• Don't assume someone will be at the field. Flying is weather dependent and typically Sunday mornings; check the calendar and webcam first.
• Indoor sessions are for smaller electric models. If your interest is larger aircraft, the outdoor field is the relevant venue.
• Bring your questions to people, not just the website. The club explicitly invites newcomers to meet members and learn how to learn to fly — that conversation is the real starting point.

Quick Checklist

• [ ] Check the calendar and webcam before travelling to Seddon Range (Sunday mornings, weather dependent).
• [ ] Attend the next club meeting (28 October 2026, 8.00pm, Belmont Hall) — open to all.
• [ ] Or try an indoor session (23 October 2026, 7pm, Riverstone Recreational Hall; $10 pilot fee, spectators free).
• [ ] Decide which discipline interests you, then ask members about learning to fly.

WMAC's main flying site is Seddon Range in Trentham, Upper Hutt, and the club typically flies there on Sunday mornings. Because flying depends on weather and member turnout, the club asks visitors to check its online calendar for open days and its webcam to see whether anyone is flying before travelling. Indoor flying is a separate, ticketed session held at Riverstone Recreational Hall in Whirinaki, usually on a Friday evening.

Outdoor Flying at Seddon Range

Seddon Range is described as the club's primary flying site. The published pattern is Sunday morning, but the calendar is the authoritative check — the field may not be in use on any given Sunday.

Before you go, do two checks:

1. Calendar — confirm the field is scheduled to be open on that date.
2. Webcam — see whether members are actually present and flying. This is weather dependent, so a scheduled day can still be quiet.

The club welcomes anyone interested to come and view model aircraft and multirotors, so you do not need to be a member to visit. If you want to meet people and ask about learning to fly, a field visit or a club meeting is the route the club itself suggests.

Indoor Flying at Riverstone Recreational Hall

One practical note from the club: if the wind has latched the access door, knock on it. The entrance is easy to miss because it sits behind the green tree rather than facing the road.

Monthly Club Meetings

Club meetings are open to members and non-members alike, which makes them a low-pressure way to get oriented before visiting a field.

• Next meeting: 28 October 2026
• Time: 8.00pm
• Venue: Belmont Hall

What You'll See When You Visit

Members fly radio-controlled planes, gliders (slope, thermal soaring and hand launch), helicopters and multirotors, alongside a smaller group focused on free flight and control-line models. Competitions run through the year across classes such as aerobatics, scale, pylon and vintage, so a visit may coincide with an event rather than ordinary flying.

Practical Checklist Before Travelling

• Check the calendar for the date you plan to visit.
• Check the webcam on the day — Sunday mornings are typical, not guaranteed.
• For indoor sessions, bring $10 if you intend to fly; spectators enter free.
• Allow time to find the Riverstone entrance behind the green tree off Fergusson Drive.

If your goal is to learn to fly rather than just watch, the club's own advice is to attend a monthly meeting or visit a flying field and talk to members directly.

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.

You can attend either event without being a member. The next club meeting is 28 October 2026 at 8.00pm at Belmont Hall, and the next indoor flying session is Friday 23 October 2026 at 7pm at Riverstone Recreational Hall in Whirinaki. Indoor flying is aimed at smaller electric indoor models; pilots pay a $10 fee to cover hall rental, while spectators are free. Both are casual, welcome-all gatherings, so the main things to plan are timing, what you bring, and how you get into the hall.

Club Meeting: 28 October 2026, Belmont Hall

The monthly club meeting is open to members and non-members alike — WMAC explicitly welcomes anyone who is merely curious. It is the lowest-pressure way to meet members, ask about learning to fly, and hear what the club is doing.

• When: 8.00pm, 28 October 2026.
• Where: Belmont Hall.
• Who: Everyone, whether a member or not.
• What to expect: A club business and social gathering rather than a flying session. Use it to introduce yourself and ask about training, the Seddon Range flying site, and the different disciplines members fly.

If you are new, arriving a few minutes early gives you a chance to talk to people before the meeting starts.

Indoor Flying: 23 October 2026, Riverstone Recreational Hall

This is an active flying session, not a spectator-only event, though spectators are welcome at no charge.

Getting In

The entrance is the door behind the green tree, reached from Fergusson Drive. If the wind has latched the door, knock firmly — the club notes this specifically, so don't assume the session is cancelled if the door seems shut.

What to Bring as a Pilot

• A smaller electric indoor model suited to flying in a hall.
• Your $10 pilot fee.
• Whatever you normally need to charge and support your model.

If you are only watching, bring nothing but yourself — spectators are free.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Go to the club meeting if you want information: how to start with radio control, what the club offers, or which discipline (planes, gliders, helicopters, multirotors, free flight, control line) fits you. It costs nothing to attend and is the better first step for a complete beginner.
• Go to indoor flying if you want to see models in the air and meet members in a flying setting, or you already have a small electric indoor model and want hall time. Pilots pay $10; spectators don't.

Attending both in the same week is practical, since the indoor session (23 October) falls just before the meeting (28 October).

Practical Points Before You Go

• Check the calendar and webcam first for outdoor flying. WMAC's primary site is Seddon Range in Trentham, Upper Hutt, typically used on Sunday mornings, but the club advises checking the calendar for open days and the webcam to see whether anyone is flying, since this is weather dependent. This does not apply to the hall events, which have fixed dates.
• Don't expect to fly outdoors at these events. The meeting is at a hall in the evening and the indoor session is for small electric models only.
• Ask about the path to flying. The club positions itself as a place to learn how to fly, so the meeting is the right moment to ask about instruction and site access rather than guessing from the website.

For anything beyond these two dates — future meetings, indoor sessions, or outdoor field opening — rely on the club's calendar rather than the single dates listed here.