The North Down Model Aircraft Club as it is at present was formed on October the 9th 1973. Prior to this, there had been two clubs active in the area, the like named North Down Model Aircraft Club disbanded in 1959 and the Ards and District Model Club disbanded in 1964.
The club catchment area is the Ards Peninsula situated on the East coast of Northern Ireland. The present Club, originally operated from Newtownards Airport, the then home of the Ulster Flying Club (1961) Ltd. Two years later in 1975 we moved to Ballyhalbert, further down the Ards Peninsula, an abandoned Second World War airfield.
A further move to Kirkstown Motor Racing Circuit was made in 1984, and finally to our present site adjacent to Kirkstown in 1997. This is an ideal site for Model Aircraft flying with two cross runways of concrete, tar macadam, each approx. 120M in length with clear approaches from all directions. Our current membership is 41 and growing, due mainly we feel to the increasing popularity of 'Almost Ready to Fly Aircraft'.
The main interest is Fixed Wing Radio Control Power with quite a few members flying helicopters. We are actively encouraging participation in the BMFA Rdio Control Power Achievement Scheme. Currently we have two Examiners with four members holding 'B' Certificates and eight holding 'A' Certificates.
Our flying site can be found by following the road from Newtownards via Greyabbey to Kircubbin. At Kircubbin follow the sign to Kirkistown Motor Racing Circuit.
Below is the entrance to our flying site which is approx. 300m past the circuit entrance on the left. You can just see the eagles of the bungalow house just before the turn off to our site (where the car is).
This is an amazing photograph taken by Colin Bailie (our chairman) while flying his micro light. You can clearly see the cross runways enabling us to fly in all wind directions and just incase you don't make it to the tarmac there are some lovely big fields the whole way around the site.
