Events


 

If you need to contact a BMFA NW Area representative, contact information is available on the Contact Page.

 

North West Area Events Calendar

This is a list of North West Area events that have been notified to the webmaster.
If you would like an event listed, please contact the webmaster with the following information:
Date Type of Event Location Contact Information


2026/2027 Events


North West Area Meetings for 2026

The NW Area will hold its Ordinary General Meetings by Zoom on the following dates:

  • Tuesday 8th September 2026
  • AGM – 17th November 2026

There will also be a short OGM following the AGM to be held on the 17th November 2026

Meeting notifications will be sent sent to registered Chairman, Secretaries and Club Delegates. If you do not receive notifications, please ask your Secretary to check you are registered correctly as a club officer on the BMFA justgo portal (bmfa.justgo.com).

Contact: Martyn Kinder <bmfa.nw@gmail.com>


GPS Triangle Competition Days 2026

The Light Class GPS Nationals will be held on 12th/13th September 2026 at Sherlowe Airfield.

Two GPS training days are also planned for 2026:-
The First will be on the 18th or 19th April. The location will be advised nearer the day.
The dates and location for the second training day will be posted on this webpage at a later date when they have been finalised.

The contact for further details on any of these events is John Minchell e-mail: j.minchell@btinternet.com


BMFA Silent Flight Achievement Scheme Test and Train Days

Currently there are no planned dates or location for any silent flight achievement scheme test and train days during 2026.
If this changes then this section of the Events page will be updated.

If you would want to take your Silent Flight test then please take some time to download the latest version and do your set up and practicing in accordance with the new booklets. For e.g. the fail safe will now be tested as working and it’s an automatic fail if it doesn’t.
All available on the ASRC website. https://achievements.bmfa.uk/the-tests/ … es-current


2026 Scale Glider Aerotow Events

15th and 16th August at Sherlowe Airfield
18th, 19th and 20th September at Milson (South Shropshire)
10th and 11th October at Hughley (near Much Wenlock)

These are typically weekend events, camping and facilities may be available on site but attendee numbers are restricted. You must pre-register with the organiser (John Minchell) and receive confirmation of your booking. e-mail: j.minchell@btinternet.com

 


Indoor Flying (R/C) at St Helens 2025/2026

These will be held on the following dates between 1:00pm and 4:00pm.

Saturday 26/09/26
Saturday 24/10/26
Saturday 07/11/26
Saturday 12/12/26
Saturday 16/01/27
Saturday 13/02/27
Saturday 06/03/27
Saturday 10/04/27

Cost: Due to increased hire charges the sessions will cost £120.00 for the September to April meetings payable in advance or £15.00 per session payable on the day. The sessions should cost more but the club treasurer has agreed to subsidise the events this year, however it might change next year.

Shockies not allowed, helicopters/quads small 1s only.

Note: Only 6 people allowed to fly at any one time

Additional dates for those who wish to practice their Indoor Scale schedules in preparation for the Indoor Scale Nationals

All meetings 12.00noon-4.00pm

  • TBA

Cost variable depending on participants would guess £15.00-£20.00 we have to cover cost for hire of hall at £232.00 per session.

Ideally 10 or 11 people at the session so scale flyers please put these dates in your diary and ensure that you come along otherwise we will not be able to run future scale only sessions.

Note: Only 6 people allowed to fly at any one time for general flying.

We will be having individual practice slots for people to practice their scale routine and will arrange for everyone to have at least one during the session.

Please inform Eric Strefford by email that you will be attending in the week before the meeting.

Any questions contact:
Eric Strefford
07711268699
ericstrefford@gmail.com

Leisure Centre Address
Elton Head Road. WA9 5AU

 


 Midland Indoor Flyers (MIF)

This newly formed indoor, mainly free-flight, club currently flies at 3 locations.

Chase Terrace Academy (CTA)
Bridge Cross Road.,
Burntwood,
Staffs.
WS7 2DB
.
Erasmus Darwin Academy ( EDA)
Pool Rd.,
Burntwood,
Staffs.
WS7 3QW
.
Whitchurch Market/Sports Hall
St. Mary’s St.,
Whitchurch
SY13 1QY.
This Hall is very slightly smaller than the other two hall’s, which are standard badminton sports halls,
Current dates are:-
TBA
Chase Terrace Academy (CTA)

Whitchurch Market/Sports Hall

  • Wednesday 26th August 2026. 1200 till 1600 at a cost of £10.00
Reminder:- at Whitchurch we can set up slightly before the start time and pack  up slightly after, so we get the full four hours to fly.
 .
Further details regarding the venues and general flying queries can be obtained by emailing Andy Beere andybeere@yahoo.co.uk

Indoor Flying at Rochdale 2026 – 2027

We have had a great indoor season again this year and I am pleased that we have secured the Kingsway High School Hall for Autumn and Winter and Spring 2026-27.
The next series of Rochdale Indoor events will start in October and run through to Spring 2027.
The dates (provisional) are:

  • 18th October 2026
  • 29th November
  • 20th December
  • 24th January 2027
  • 21st February
  • 21st March
  • 18th April

(Unless otherwise stated, 3rd Sunday of each month)

The sessions will run from 11:00 am to 4:00pm.

Depending on demand, there will be dedicated slots for each discipline (NO FPV), and all attendees will get ample opportunity to fly.
Contact is Martyn Kinder: email: bmfa.nw@gmail.com Tel: 07989 025198
Location is the Rochdale (Kingsway Park High School) Sports Hall, Turf Hill Rd, Rochdale OL16 4XA


Velodrome – Indoor Flying 2026/27 (Free Flight and R/C)

  • TBA
For more information, please contact David at: whitehousejdavid@googlemail.com

Poynton Indoor 2025/2026

A new venue for Indoor sessions in the North West. This event is run by John Summerville, Neil Harrison and Jim Harris (Free Flight Only sessions) at the Poynton Leisure Centre, Yew Tree lane, Poynton, SK12 1PU. There will be separate slots for Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight
Session times have been extended and now run from 10:30 to 13:30 on (usually) the last Sunday of each month at a cost of £15 per session for the Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight flying dates and £15 per session for the Free Flight Only dates due to the reduced number of attendees.

The size is typical of a large sports hall (6 badminton courts floor area and about 26ft high) and well lit. Tables and Chairs are provided. There is ample free car parking on site.

Dates for the 2026 season

  • Sunday 30th August (Free Flight Only)
  • Sunday 27th September (Free Flight Only)
Contact for all discipline sessions is John Summerville. Tel: 07470833579. Email: summervilleje@gmail.com
Contact for the Free Flight Only Sessions is Jim Harris. Email: jimdharris@hotmail.co.uk
Note: There is no longer a requirement to pre-book, just turn up and enjoy the flying.

Norwind Flyers 2026/27 (Free Flight)

Norwind are a group of mainly indoor free flight fliers who hold regular monthly meetings in Rochdale from September to May.
We need new flyers to keep our numbers at a viable level. We fly for fun but also hold regular competitions, the only place in the Northwest to do so.
If you feel like having an afternoon of old fashioned aeromodelling fun, then make us part of regular flying activities.
Newcomers welcome, with lots of friendly advice.
2026/2027 dates
The season’s dates are normally the first Sundays of the month:
All events are from 11am to 4 pm, with competitions ending 2:30pm.
There are no flying slots, flying at any time but being respectful of others flights.
All Sundays 11am to 4pm.
Date               Event
  • 6th Sept  No-Cal WW2 and Pre 50’s Wakefield No Cal’s
  • 4th Oct    Cancelled due to school exams 
  • 1st Nov    Penny Plane & Chuck/Catapult Glider
  • 6th Dec    Tombola and A4 Paper plane/dart
  • 10th Jan   Kit Scale and Peanut (Note date)
  • 7th Feb   PussyCat Duration and Precision  & Capacitor Duration
  • 7th Mar   Osprey & Legal Eagle
  • 4th April  Living Room Stick (inc Butterfly) and P18
Location is the Rochdale (Kingsway High School) Sports Hall, Turf Hill Rd, Rochdale OL16 4XA
See the website Norwind.org.uk for further information on the indoor free flight competitions or contact David Whitehouse on 01942 897816 or email whitehousejdavid@googlemail.com