· I want to learn to fly radio control aircraft! What do I do?

We recommend that you come out to the flying field and meet some of the club members. Ask us your questions! Most members are happy to share information about the hobby and other aspects of how to get started. (If you plan to come to the field, see the note at the bottom of the "About Us" link.)

How much does it cost?

One of the most common questions we are asked is: "How much does it cost to put a (plane/helicopter/glider/etc) in the air?" Well...that''s like asking "How much does it cost to buy a car?" There is no standard answer to that question because there are so many variations in aircraft and radios available. We will do our best to give you some real world answers to costs of specific types of aircraft and equipment. Suffice it to say.. "It is not a trivial amount for most people." These are NOT toys! You can certainly get into the toy category for under $100, but if you are really serious about getting into a very rewarding and satisfying pasttime such as radio control aircraft, be prepared to spend a minimum of around $400-500. The average casual flyer equipment can probably be had for around $600-700. Certain kinds of specialty aircraft can go as high as $2000-3000 or more! It all depends on what you want.

If I spend this much money, how can I have a degree of confidence I won''t crash?

Nobody can give you a guarantee that you will not crash. Even experienced pilots crash! But there is one thing you can do above anything else that will give you an advantage. You obviously have a computer...most people find that an investment in a flight simulator will save them from some very costly mistakes while learning. Now, we're not talking about Microsoft Flight Simulator here. There are several very popular programs available, with the most popular probably being the Great Planes RealFlight simulator. The "new" price of this product is usually around $200. A lot of people balk at spending $200 once they have decided that they really do want to get into radio control, but trust us...this is probably the one most important investment you could make regardless of the type of aircraft in which you are most interested. It is generally accepted to be a NECESSITY if you are getting into helicopters! Crashing on a simulator is much less costly ($0) compared with repairing a real aircraft! You can easily spend twice the cost of a simulator on a single repair after a crash! If you do a bit of searching, you can probably pick up a lead on a used simulator for a lot less money.

Where do I buy all of this stuff?

We strongly encourage supporting the local hobby shops in the area. They have made a committment to area flyers to stock or order anything that is needed. Yes...you can certainly order and in a few cases beat the price by ordering on the Internet, but you will gain a wealth of help and knowledge by going through the local shops and asking direct, hands-on types of questions. You can''t get this type of service and help from the Internet! It''s not always about the lowest price...and many times the local shop will attempt to match or at least discount the price in order to get your business.

If you are still interested...then read on!

You''ve made a great choice! We welcome you into a wonderful hobby.

What do I need to do first?

You need to join the AMA first (Academy of Model Aeronautics). AMA membership is a prerequisite for joining CRCC or any other chartered club.

Why do I need to join AMA?

The main reason is that there is an inherent possibilty of danger and liabilty in flying model aircraft. As stated above...these are NOT toys! Serious injury or even death is possible. AMA membership provides you with insurance protection which will give you liability protection as long as you operate your aircraft in accordance with the safety guidelines and specifications set forth by the AMA Safety Code. At present, the liability coverage is $2,500,000. This protection is only one of the benefits available to you as an AMA member. Also, to have flying priveleges at Summit Field, you must be a member of both the AMA and CRCC.

Click here for more info about joining the AMA.

Download and print the CRCC application found on the Club Info / Join CRCC page.  After you have your AMA membership card, make a copy of your card and attach it to the CRCC application. Refer to the application for current membership rates and where to mail it and your payment. (Alternatively, you can bring the completed application and your AMA card to a club meeting.)

Now what do I do?

Come out to the field and let''s get acquainted! If you need flight instruction, we will put you in touch with one of our volunteer club instructors. Or, click on the link below and send us an email. We will arrange for someone to contact you.

Click here to contact the club about general information

The Chattanooga Radio Control Club has a program to help you learn to fly! If you would like to learn how to fly R/C aircraft please send an email to LearnToFly@crccflyers.org which will put you in contact with our Instruction Coordinator.

We look forward to hearing from you!

There is additional information for R/C newcomers located under the "Learn2Fly" link on this site.