History of Hale Hall Model Aircraft Club
The history of Hale Hall Model Aircraft Club (HHMAC) starts with The BAESystems Model Aircraft Club (BAESMAC).
BAESMAC was formed 60 years ago and model flying took place at the BAESystems sites at Sallmesbury and Warton. Salmsbury had a deactivated runway whilst Warton’s airfield was, and still is, active. Members could only fly at Warton when the airfield was closed – that is, all full sized aircraft movement had ceased for the day – however the reality was never actually closed. Warton was a designated diversionary airfield and home to a Police helicopter so Air Traffic Control (ATC) was permanently manned.
Procedures for model flying at Warton were plentiful. A radio had to be obtained from the Fire Department and communications established, regularly checked, and the radio monitored at all times. Cars were not allowed on the flying site. Instead models, flight boxes and folding chairs had to be carried some hundred yards from the car park to the strip. In addition itinery of all items taken out onto the airfield, down to individual bits and pieces in your flight box together with a COSHH statement of any hazardous substances in your possession had to be maintained by every member.
Early in 2008 members decided to try and find a new flying site where there were fewer restrictions
A work colleague said that he was friends with a farmer who farmed a large area of land near Inskip. A meeting with the farmer was arranged in March 2008 and a proposed flying site was agreed with a trial 12 month period put in place. The HHMAC has since 2008 flourished and the site has improved greatly since those early day. The strip has been widened to twice its original size and membership stands at around 50.