As the local Model Aeroplane club gears up to celebrate its 80th anniversary, Lucy Callington chats to some of its magnificent members and their flying machines to discuss the enduring appeal of aviation.
If you listen carefully on a Friday evening in the summer months you may just hear the gentle buzz of small aircraft overhead, as a community of local flight enthusiasts gathers to enjoy “friendship, flying and fun”.
The club – which is popular with young and old alike – was started by ex-IVC art teacher Ray Malmström after the war in May 1946. Originally called Model Air Squadron, the club later became known as Impington Village College Model Aeroplane Club (IVC MAC) and would fly designs built by Malmström’s pupils, many of whom remained members of the club all their lives.
It was Ray who coined the club’s motto of “Friendship, Flying and Fun”. A motto which still very much holds true for the modern club.
Today the club flies Free Flight, Radio Control and Control line Aircraft and it’s a community bursting with engineering and aeronautical expertise. IVC MAC members are equally as likely to be found controlling their own model aircraft zig zagging overhead as they are sharing valuable club know-how with newbies.
New model army
Club secretary and ex-Army helicopter pilot, Alan Paul says the club is flying as high as ever – 80 years on: “Model building and flying is one of those hobbies that will stay with you throughout your whole life and give you a good social environment well into your later years. Everyone can do it – young and old”.
And in a world where much of our activity is sedentary and screen-based, the engineering challenges provided by building model planes are a welcome alternative.
Alan shares: “It’s a very varied hobby and it teaches all sorts of skills – from working with wood to programming electronics, plus the actual manual dexterity of piloting a model successfully”.
Taking flight
Having enjoyed the benefits of getting together to fly with “like-minded individuals on his doorstep”, Alan is keen to extend a warm welcome to all as the club celebrates this special anniversary year.
He says: “The club is a very friendly place where there are always other people on hand ready, willing and able to help. No previous experience is needed”.
Alan continues: “As well as children, we also get a lot of adults who come back to the hobby after a gap. We normally have between 20 and 30 people at both the indoor and outdoor sessions, so it’s a great community”.
In winter the club retreats indoors to fly in Impington Sports Hall every Saturday afternoon from 1pm-5pm, and on Fridays in the summer months, they can be found enjoying an evening’s flight on the sports field from 6pm until they lose the light.
Indoor flying in the winter is a mix of free flight, control line and radio control planes and drones. Summer flying is much the same but with the added bonus that being outdoors allows more scope to use larger models.
Kids earn their wings
The club is particularly keen on welcoming young members; offering free membership and help to get started. In fact, many youngsters learn to fly radio control models using the club’s trainer planes.
Recent developments in drone technology have seen more younger people attracted to flying model aircraft than ever, and, in a club setting, there are always people of other generations ready and willing to share tips and advice on successful flying.
Club treasurer, George Adam loves how the generations can fly side by side. He says: “I enjoy meeting other fliers and seeing how amazingly creative some of them are. Junior members are always welcome – it’s good for the future of this hobby”.
George has also recently introduced his primary school-aged grandchildren to the club. He explains: “They enjoy seeing all the different models that other people fly as well as being able to fly for themselves. And, for me, it’s good to have a shared interest with them that spans the generations”.
2026 off to a flying start
2026 looks set to be a year of celebrations for the IVC MAC as, not only are they marking their 80th year of continuous flight, but at the tail end (if you pardon the pun) of last year they were named Club of the Year by the British model flying association (BMFA).
There is a raft of indoor and outdoor events lined up to help celebrate its success, including an indoor free flight event in April and a radio control event in May – both in Impington sports hall.
Celebrations culminate in an outdoor ‘Birthday Bash’ – all-day fly, on Impington sports field on Sunday 21 June. Check out HI HUB What’s On pages for timings closer to the date.
Visit ivcmac.bmfa.uk for more information.
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