The Wine Country Flyers are dedicated to helping people learn to fly RC aircraft competently and safely. The Club has many qualified instructors who, as a group, are skilled in flying powered airplanes, gliders, helis, and multi-rotors.

This service is typically made available to WCF members, but visitors are welcome to experience basic flight training as well. The process is made simple through the use of a “buddy box.” When buddy boxing, the instructor and the student each has a transmitter that is connected to the other by a cable. The instructor can override the student’s transmitter anytime the student gets in trouble, much like the instructor in the driver’s ed car.

During the flying season the Club runs the flight training program by appointment at the Club’s airfield. Training is available to anyone old enough to hold the transmitter! To fly unassisted at the field, you must have demonstrated the ability to safely handle your plane on the ground and in the air to the flight instructors. Until you have done so, you must be assisted by one of our designated flight instructors.

WCF has does not have a club-owned trainer plane, but many instructors are happy to share a suitable trainer aircraft with their student. This way, you can try your hand at RC flight before you purchase your own airplane. Of course, training flights may also be done with your own plane after it has been fully inspected by an instructor.

Before each flight, the instructor will show you how to work with the aircraft both on the ground and in the air. Flying RC models is an activity that has some inherent risk involved, and can lead to serious injury if you do not learn to operate in a safe manner. By working with our instructors, you will learn how to operate your aircraft in a manner that will keep you, your airplane, and other people in the area safe. There are several things you can do before coming to the field that will make your first flight a successful one:

• Learn how airplanes fly and how the ailerons, elevator and rudder change the plane’s direction.
• Search the Internet for beginner R/C airplane tutorials. There is a huge selection of information on the hobby available online. Don't forget to look through R/C related forums and YouTube videos.
• Practice on an R/C simulator. If you do not own one, check your local hobby shops for a RealFlight demo setup. Don't be afraid to ask the employees there for help using the program. Crashes on the computer are free!

To get started, just contact the Club This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it