Training

PANDAS offers some of the best training facilities in the area. We have a team of dedicated instructors who offer their time free of charge to help people learn to fly.

For anyone looking to take up the hobby we can offer trial flights with our dual control aircraft.

If you are looking to take and pass a BMFA achievement test, we have 13 BMFA examiners, chief examiners and instructors (details below) who can help you to achieve that goal.

To fly solo at our site, you must hold a BMFA 'A' certificate.

Training

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The instructors are all competent flyers and are approved to act as an instructor by ‘The Club Committee’. They offer their time free of charge, but please bear in mind, that they are not available all the time and do like to fly their own aircraft too.

For more information or advice, relating to training and tuition or to arrange a trial flight, please contact one of the club training co-ordinators (details below):

Email: pandasaero@gmail.com

Martin Lynn: 07802 725 231

Graham Worfolk: 07961 815 918

Allan Marshall: 07974 806 737 

PANDAS try to hold a regular training and advice day on a Wednesday, subject to the weather and availability of instructors. This will usually commence around 1100 and in the summer months will run until late evening. There is a dedicated ‘WhatsApp’ group, to keep members up to date about these sessions. If you want to be added to the group, please contact the training co-ordinator Allan Marshall (07974 806 737).

With some prior notice, training can usually be arranged on most days of the week, subject to instructor availability.

One of the most important things you must decide when you first start to fly, is which mode to fly on. The mode relates to what the sticks on the transmitter do i.e. which control surface they operate. There are 4 different modes. Mode 1 and Mode 2 are the most common, with modes 3 and 4 rarely used.

 There is no right or wrong mode to fly, it is purely personal choice (we can usually accommodate any mode). Most modern radio sets today come set up on Mode 2. They have to be converted to the other modes. This is usually quite a simple process and only takes a couple of minutes.
Mode 1 sets have the following stick layout:
Throttle and aileron on the right-hand stick.
Rudder and elevator on the left-hand stick.

Mode 2 sets have the following stick layout:
Throttle and rudder on the left-hand stick.
Aileron and elevator on the right-hand stick.

PANDAS Club Instructors & BMFA Examiners

NameFixed Wing InstructorHelicopter InstructorMode 1 or 2BMFA Examiner & Qualified Instructors
Terry LeeYesNo1Fixed Wing & BMFA Qualified Instructor
Allan MarshallYesNo2BMFA Qualified Instructor
Graham WorfolkYesNo2No
Jim BrownYesNo1Fixed Wing
Martin LynnYesYes1Fixed Wing
Stephen TateYesNo1Fixed Wing
Neil FletcherYesNo1Fixed Wing
David CarterYesNo2Fixed Wing
Robert BuckleyYesNoFixed Wing
Michael TerryYesNo2Area Chief Fixed Wing & Silent Flight / BMFA Qualified Instructor
Paul BlakeboroughYesNo2Area Chief Fixed Wing / BMFA Qualified Instructor
Sheila MarshallYesNo2No
John MosleyYesYes1Area Chief Fixed Wing & Helicopter / BMFA Qualified Instructor