The VMC Pilot is a simple to build introduction to free flight model aircraft.

Designed by Andrew Darby it uses simple sheet sides and tail with a built up wing covered in tissue. The kit comes almost everything you need to build one. 

VMC Pilot Postal 

The Oxford MFC group build began in Feb 2023 with kits being made available to members at a discounted price. Now most have been built the club is running a postal flying competition for the models. 

Simply fly the model anywhere you can find the space and get someone to time the flight. The longest flight wins and you can have as many attempts as you like. There is a max of 1 minute so any times above this are recorded as a ‘max’. In the event of a tie then a fly off will be held at Port Meadow

There’s more details here on the VMC Pilot Postal page along with the results as they come in 

 

 

 

 

Below are a series of build blogs by members and photo’s from the various builds which should prove a mine of useful information for other Pilot builders

One important note with trimming that has arisen is try to trim your Pilot to turn left as many of the examples built here do not like turning right and spiral in . Also check the wings carefully for warps . Viewed from the the rear looking back along the centre line the wings should have an equally shaped area which is broader at the tip (washout) when looking at the lower surface of the wing between the leading edge and trailing edge. If you line up the model so can’t see the underside of the leading edge then slowly rotate the model so it lowers the nose and as the leading edge is revealed it should be even on both sides

Also note the about of left rudder I have added to get nice left turn

I also found the 3/16″ motor is far too powerful. Mine flies nicely indoors and out on a loop of 1/8″

I windier conditions the 3/16 motor provides a positive climb and greater duration but I found I needed 1/8″ packing at the top of the nose block to give some down thrust 

 

 

 

Build Blogs

Simon Burch’s Build Blog – Wings

Simon Burch’s Build Blog – Fuselage and Finishing

 

Chris Brainwood’s Build Blog – Basic Structure

Chris Brainwood’s Build Blog – Finishing Touches

Chris Brainwood’s Build Blog – Flying Notes

There’s a short video on YouTube of the Pilot flying indoors using the Flying Notes above

Members Models

Gary Law’s Pilot

 

Thomas Hinks’ Pilot – click on the picture for a video of it flying

 

Eddie Hanford’s  Pilot made on holiday with just a kitchen knife

 

Chris Brainwood’s Pilot 

 

Paul Thomas’s Pilot

 

Mike Stuart’s Pilot 

 

Dave Monk’s Pilot

Dave King’s Pilot

Bob Lee’s Pilot decorated with the DeLuxe Materials Designer pack

Note for Parents and Guardians of Junior Members   Those Junior Members taking part in this project will be offered one-to-one help via nominated mentors. Within the educational framework, this is a practical project that will combine design and technology with arts-and-crafts. It will introduce techniques for building lightweight structures, as well as discussing aerodynamics, forces, and weight/balance. 

The Committee will endeavour to keep the cost of participation as low as possible for Junior members. In that respect, the tools and other  required to build the model will be minimal. The kit contains a small bottle of excellent quality wood glue, so that the only other items likely to be needed are:-

b)      A few inexpensive dress-making pins, preferably glass-headed for easy use

c)      A small building board that will accept pins – a flat, 18” x 12 piece of thick cardboard will suffice.