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


2025/2026 Events


North West Area Meetings for 2026

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

  • Tuesday 20th January 2026
  • Tuesday 28th April 2026
  • Tuesday 8th September 2026

(All dates provisional)

  • AGM – 17th November 2026

There will also be a short OGM following the AGM to be held on the 18th November 2025

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

It is planned to hold GPS events for electric hand launched gliders racing around a triangular course indicated by GPS coordinates in 2026. If you are interested, please contact John Minchell.

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

It is planned to hold two further Silent Flight Test and Train days in 2026

These two events will depend on the number of members expressing an interest and will commit to attend. Silent Flight test days are fairly rare so if you are interested, please register interest with John Minchell e-mail: j.minchell@btinternet.com

Please take some time to download the latest version and do your set up and practicing in accordance with the new booklets. For eg. 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 Sherlowe Events

These events are held at a private airfield near High Ercall in Shropshire. Typically weekend events, camping and facilities are 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 13/12/2025
  • Saturday 17/01/2026
  • Saturday 14/02/2026
  • Saturday 07/03/2026
  • Saturday 11/04/2026

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

  • Saturday 31/01/26
  • Saturday 21/03/26

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


Indoor Flying at Shawbury 2026

Sadly, there will be no further events at RAF Shawbury. The sports hall/hangar has been repurposed for BMX cycling and the RAF will not issue a licence to use the hall.

If you require any further information then please email John Minchell on j.minchell@btinternet.com


Indoor Flying at Rochdale 2025 – 2026

We have had a great indoor season again this year and I am pleased that we hope to secure the Kingsway High School Hall for Autumn and Winter 2025-26.
The next series of Rochdale Indoor events will start in October and run through to Spring 2025.
The dates confirmed are:
Winter 2025 – Spring 2026

  • 21st December 2025
  • 18th January 2026
  • 15th February 2026
  • 22nd March 2026  (PROVISIONAL AND SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION)
  • 19th April 2026

(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) Sports Hall, Turf Hill Rd, Rochdale OL16 4XA


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

  • 4th January 2026 – 9am to 1pm (R/C and Freeflight  run in 30 minutes sequential slots) (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
  • 14th March 2026 – NW Area Indoor Free Flight Gala 9am to 5pm
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 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 hall size is 6 badminton courts and well lit. The size is typical of a large sports hall.

Dates for the 2025/2026 season

  • Sunday 28th December 2025 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight)
  • Sunday 25th January 2026 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight)
  • Sunday 22nd February 2026 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight)
  • Sunday 29th March 2026 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight)
  • Sunday 26th April 2026 (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing and Free Flight)
Contact is John Summerville. Tel: 07470833579. Email: summervilleje@gmail.com
Note: There is no longer a requirement to pre-book, just turn up and enjoy the flying.

Norwind Flyers 2025 (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 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
7/12/25          Persey, Pussycat and Tombola
11/01/26        Kit Scale & Peanut (Note second Sunday to avoid School Holidays)
01/02/26       No-cal WW2 and Pre 1950’s Wakefield No cals (Rules to follow)
01/03/26       Capacitor Duration
12/04/26       Provisional Junior and Living Room Stick
03/05/26       Provisional BMFA Reguson FlyerCost currently £15 per session.
Location is the Rochdale (Kingsway) 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