Where To Fly RC Airplanes: Finding Safe & Legal Flying Sites
Welcome to Lesson 5 of the RC Airplane World Flight School! Following on from lesson 4, this page will tackle one of the most common questions beginners have: where to fly RC airplanes safely and legally?
Finding the perfect RC flying site is an absolutely critical step before you even think about charging your flight batteries. Pay close attention to this one, because flying in the wrong places to fly RC planes can potentially be very damaging to our hobby, especially since the explosive rise of drones and the strict new aviation laws and negative press that have followed in recent times.
Fortunately, you don't need to own an airport to enjoy this fantastic hobby. Let's break down how to find the perfect location to maiden your new plane!
Club, Private Land or Public Area?
These are pretty much your three main options for finding somewhere to fly rc airplanes.
It could be that you have an organized rc flying club close to where you live - use the rc airplane club directory on this website to see if there's one within a convenient distance from home.
If there is, do consider joining especially if you're thinking of flying IC (gas/glow) powered planes. Such airplanes are more involved than your typical electric park flyer, so help from other modellers and the use of a dedicated, well-maintained runway is always a great thing.
If there's a club nearby but you don't want to join, it's still a very good idea to pop along to their field one weekend and talk to the members about flying in the surrounding area. Frequency interference is a very serious issue and can't be ignored if there's potential for conflict.
While it's true that most of us are using modern 2.4GHz radios these days, it's still very possible that you have bought an rc airplane that utilises a traditional MHz radio system (or someone at the club still does). This is where you have to be very concerned about radio interference from or to other flyers nearby. If you and another flyer are both using a MHz radio within close range (a mile or less) then you need to be sure about who is on which frequency.
Strike a Deal on Private Land
If you know of some nearby private open land—such as a farm or large estate—then why not approach the owner and politely ask if you can use it to fly from on a regular basis?
Private land is the preferable option over flying from somewhere public, because you can pretty much do what you like when you like, without the constant worry of being yelled at by a member of the public who doesn't like rc airplanes buzzing around!
Countless rc airplane clubs have been set up by doing exactly this, and it's always worth asking the landowner. You can always offer some kind of payment or a bottle of something nice in return.
Of course, it could be that you've bought an ultra micro type electric rc plane and that your back yard is big enough to fly it in. Lucky you, you're in an enviable position!
Flying in Public Areas & Parks
If you don't know of any private land or own a big back yard, your final option is to fly your plane from a public area.
Depending on the size and type of your airplane, suitable locations include public parks, empty sports fields, ball parks, beaches, or open hill sides.... You get the idea.
Above: public fields are great for flying rc airplanes,
so long as it's permitted.
The crucial thing to remember when flying in a public area is safety. Always use common sense and act responsibly.
As strange as it might seem, not everyone in the world enjoys watching an rc airplane zooming around the sky. It only takes the wrong kind of person to complain to a local authority, and that location can quickly and easily be shut down to all model flyers. So always, always think about where you're flying, and be responsible. None of us want this hobby to get a bad reputation.
On that note, the radio control flying hobby has never been in the public eye as much as it is now, thanks to the massive popularity of rc drones.
We're all at risk of being caught up in strict new rules and regulations, so choosing a suitable flying site is more important now than it ever has been. Things are only set to become tighter as governing bodies crack down on UAV operations.
What Makes the Perfect RC Flying Site?
Wherever you want to fly from, your flying location needs to be open and spacious. The size of your plane will determine what size area you need to fly in, but for, say, a standard 40-inch wingspan electric RTF airplane, an empty baseball or soccer field would provide ample airspace—that should give you a good idea of the kind of area you should be looking for.
Tip: when searching for local flying sites, use Google Earth or Google Maps satellite imagery. It's simply the best way of scouting out your local area quickly to find hidden patches of green space.
Other vital things to note when evaluating where to fly your RC airplane include:
- Obstacles: Presence of objects such as trees, light posts, pylons, and power lines. RC planes have a magical magnetic attraction to tall trees!
- People: How close members of the public will be to you while you're flying. Never fly directly over people.
- Buildings: Proximity of houses, schools, offices, shops etc.
- Traffic: Proximity of roads and highways; rc planes can be a big distraction to some drivers, and a plane crashing onto a road could cause a serious accident.
- Wind conditions: Large open fields can get surprisingly windy. I highly recommend keeping an inexpensive handheld digital anemometer (wind speed meter) or a portable RC windsock in your field box so you always know exactly what the wind is doing before you toss your plane into the air.
The bottom line is that you need a large(ish) open space where there is no danger of causing trouble, being a nuisance, or risking damage to people or property.
Check Local Airspace Apps
You absolutely must check local regulations and laws to see if flying radio control aircraft is even permitted in your chosen park. If it's not, and you take to the skies, you could well end up in a heap of trouble.
To stay on the right side of the law, I highly recommend downloading an official airspace app like B4UFLY (in the US) or Drone Assist (in the UK) to your smartphone. These free apps will instantly tell you if the park you are standing in is clear for model flying, or if it falls within restricted airspace (like being too close to a local airport or helipad).
Beware the Sun!
A very important point to make when choosing where to stand at your flying site is the sun's position.
As much as we all love a bright sunny day, the last thing you want is to be flying across the sun, so do pay close attention to where the sun is in relation to where you'll be flying. The ideal situation is to stand so the sun is behind your back, meaning there's no danger of being blinded as you're flying.
Even flying near to where the sun is can make your eyes water and cause your plane to become a total silhouette or blur, and it's no fun at all when that happens. Obviously, a good pair of sunglasses is highly recommended. In fact, I never go to the field without my polarized aviator sunglasses—they cut through the glare and make spotting a tiny RC plane against a bright, hazy sky infinitely easier. I always fly with a pair on, even on cloudy days.
RC Flying Insurance
Another hugely important point you need to consider is public liability insurance.
It's not so critical if you're flying from private land (although still recommended), and if you join a club then insurance is usually mandatory anyway, but if you're flying from public land then it's well worth taking it out.
Model flying liability insurance protects you against damage to people and property, which can easily happen in unfortunate circumstances.
Your national governing body for model flying will be able to help you, here are some links for western countries:
Third party liability insurance for rc flying isn't expensive and will give you great peace of mind. Take some time to look into it and contact your appropriate organisation from the list above for further information.
If you follow all the pointers on this page, you should be able to find where to fly rc airplanes safely. Most of us are close to some kind of open land, but you do need to think through your flying site and weigh up the pros and cons of the location. Be safe, and be responsible when deciding where to fly!
Common Questions About Where to Fly RC Planes
Can I fly my RC plane in a local public park?
In many cases, yes, especially if you are flying a quiet, lightweight electric park flyer. However, you must always check the specific park's bylaws. Some city parks explicitly ban all remote control aircraft, while others welcome them as long as you fly safely away from crowds.
Do I need a license to fly an RC airplane?
This heavily depends on where you live and the weight of your aircraft. Due to recent drone regulations, many countries (like the US and the UK) now require model flyers to pass a basic online competency test and register for an Operator ID before flying outdoors. Always check with your country's aviation authority (e.g., FAA or CAA) before your first flight.
How much space do I really need to fly?
It depends entirely on the plane! An ultra-micro plane can easily be flown in a large backyard or a small corner of a park. A standard 40-inch wingspan trainer usually needs an area at least the size of two soccer fields to give you comfortable turning room. Large, fast gas planes or EDF jets require massive open areas or dedicated club runways.
What happens if I fly near an airport?
Flying any RC aircraft near an active airport without explicit authorization is incredibly dangerous and highly illegal. Depending on your country, you typically must stay at least 3 to 5 miles away from any airport. Always use an airspace checking app to verify that you are flying in uncontrolled airspace.
Next up: Lesson 6 - How to do your pre-flight checks.
Or skip to the lesson appropriate to your current situation...
- Lesson 1: Buying your rc airplane.
- Lesson 2: Know your rc airplane.
- Lesson 3: Preparing your plane.
- Lesson 4: Weight and balance.
- Lesson 6: Pre-flight checks.
- Lesson 7: Take off / hand launch.
- Lesson 8: Flying your rc airplane.
- Lesson 9: Landing your rc airplane.
All of this and much more is covered in our Beginner’s Guide 👇
The Beginner’s Guide To Flying RC Airplanes is a 139-page, easy-to-read e-book written for complete newcomers. It explains exactly what to buy, where to fly, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
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