IRCMC has enjoyed a very safe flying environment for many years. Learning how to set up, operate and fly model aircraft safely is of primary importance. Airplanes can easily weigh between 10 and 50 pounds and can fly well over 100 mph. This makes for exceptionally large, destructive forces if one hits an object or a person. These forces can easily kill someone. While we aim to have fun, we do need to learn how to safely operate the aircraft we enjoy. We also need to understand safe maintenance, inspection, and preflight practices just like full-sized airplanes.
Introductory Flight Night
The club holds introductory flights during the Spring/Summer/Fall, usually every Wednesday from 5PM – Dusk at the field. The club owns 2 trainer airplanes that are specifically for this purpose. Club instructors can get an interested person some stick time on our trainers to see what it is like to fly a model airplane. After a couple of these introductory flights, newcomers that express a desire to go through our training program will be assigned an instructor and given a copy of the club Training Syllabus. The instructor will advise the student as to what model and support equipment they should purchase to start their training. Club introductory models are not used for student training. The instructor will work with the student to complete their training and achieve their Level 2 Solo Pilot status.
IRCMC has developed a Training Program utilizing approved club instructors. The instructors use our club training syllabus to keep training standardized that will cover the necessary flight operations to safely and confidently operate your RC airplane. The syllabus is a hard copy that you keep, and the instructor will sign off completed lessons in the back of the document. At this point you are on your way to becoming an RC Pilot!
The club has 4 levels of pilots:
- Level 1: Student Pilot: must always fly with an instructor
- Level 2: Solo Pilot: approved to fly without supervision
- Level 3: Experienced Pilot: Must pass flight test
- Level 4: Expert Pilot: Must pass flight test
We are an Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) sanctioned club. This requires all people learning to fly and operate aircraft at our facility to be a registered AMA member. This is not difficult and introductory membership and insurance coverage can be signed up for free for a short time while you take your initial lessons. You will be required to be an AMA full member to be a Level 2 Solo Pilot at our flying field. In addition to joining the AMA, you will also need to be a member of the Indy RC Modelers Club. The dues are set each by the club to pay for all costs associated with rental of the flying site, flying site improvements such as the fabric runway, pit areas and grass mowing. The club also puts on several events each year. Your instructor will give you all the details on joining AMA and the club.
Approved Club Instructors:
Tony Stillman – Chief Instructor — 912-242-2407
Tom Shores – 217-390-8229
Ted Brindle – 317-797-8502
Jack Sallade – 317-501-0213
Jeff Thomas – 317-412-5514
William Brewer –317-306-5361
Nick Grant – 317-478-6771
Greg Masters – 317-478-6771
Mike Grant – 317-498-3485