The West London Model Aeroplane Club
was formerly the West Drayton MAC. It was founded 1969 by Terry
Melloney, who was at one time British Scale Champion and also World
Scale Champion. The membership was about 18 when Lloyd Ressler
became Chairman.
The West Drayton field was located in
what is now the Stockley Park Estate. The present field was offered
to the club when the owners of the West Drayton site decided to
build the Business Park on the land. The club has developed what
was a land fill site into an ideal Model Flying Airfield. Upon the
change of flying site, the Club's name was changed to West London
MAC, monthly meetings were started and a monthly newsletter was
introduced.
The current field is located about 1 mile from exit 17 of the
M25 behind Harefield - between Denham and Uxbridge. It is
accessed by a private paved and hardcore road off Springwell
Lane. It is about 5 minutes from the motorway junction at
Maple Cross to the site. Although it's possible to drive down
the lane from the other end, it's very narrow - most people coming
from the Harefield/Ickenham/Northwood end still approach from the
Maple Cross end. The entrance gate to the site is locked and
each member has a key to access the site when they wish to fly
their models.
On the Flying field there is a Secure
Clubhouse comprising 40ft by 10ft which is heated with a kitchen
and a flushing toilet. There is a large hardcore parking area just
behind the clubhouse and members can drive up to the Clubhouse park
and carry their models just a few metres to the pits area in front
of the clubhouse. There is a pits area, with over a dozen
starting benches and hard standing for winter flying and tables to
assemble models. From the field there is a lovely view over the
countryside towards the M25.
The flying site is a large flat grass
area over 100 metres each way, there is no restriction on flying
times for silent flight (e.g. electric) models, but I/C models must
meet the BMFA noise limits and may only be flown between 09h00 and
19h00. In 2011 the club installed a dedicated astroturf
runway - possibly the only one in the UK.
We now have an additional heli
hovering area (also suitable for indoor 3D models) outside the main
flying area so that both can be flown at once without conflict, and
a car racing track (electric cars only)
In 2020 the club was offered the use
of an additional field ("Pickeridge Farm"), near Stoke Poges, by
our previous landlord. We have applied for planning
permission, and if this is successful we hope to start limited use
during 2022, although it will be some time before we have a setup
similar to Harefield.
Club meetings |
Current committee
