05 Nov 2014 9:58 PM:

I fly FPV  in the countryside with my multicopter if I think it would be good for video and for flying. I have to add that I have return to home programmed in, its a six rotor and can fly on 5, the failsafe is set to 50ft hover and descend slowly and in the countryside I always fly with the GPS active. Safety is of paramount concern because as Crookesey has intimated it can go wrong either with pilot error or mechanical / electronic problems. Our very small village has a football pitch with no houses anywhere near it so I occasionaly fly a fixed wing from there but never FPV. The Spanish authorities, mainly due to the terrible accident at the RC airshow in Madrid, have had a sense of humour failure with RC aircraft.

I know you say you don't like clubs but, though we are members of the club, we tend to fly weekdays when nobody else is there.......all the advantages without the disadvantage of crowded skies. We  were advised just last weekend  that within the next few months an A, B or C licence will be required the same as the UK except it won't just be to be in a club or to take part in comps it will be to operate any radio and fly any plane anywhere. FPV drones will not be allowed except at recognised flying fields!

Sorry for the long answer but the bottom line is if you are happy to do it,  if there is nobody about, no properties and not private land the answer is anywhere with the right precautions and insurance.  Most insurances state in the small print 'with the permission of the land owner' and as all land is owned by somebody even if its the government as common land......its a nice get out for the insurers.  Most beaches are now also off limits to us. Sorry its not a more upbeat positive answer but thats why I joined the club.

By the way its technically the same rules right across Western Europe now. My friend flies in Slovakia and he can do what he wants but its a bit of a way to travel for a days flying LOL. I do know an excellent place in Almeria near Mojacar (an abandoned airfield) in excellent countryside but that again is a long journey.

I use Ibex as my insurers ~~Tel: +34 966 860 965

Thread: Model aircraft clubs

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04 Nov 2014 11:30 AM:

For anybody moving to, or living in the the Alicante area, especially anywhere near to El Campello there is an excellent club called the English Speaking Club englishspeakingclub.net where there is a good social life, excellent bar (with real ales from England) and you can get a wealth of information / advice from the members. It is a non commercial organisation run by members for members. The club is not just for English people and has members from many different countries including many Spanish members. You must however be able to speak English to an understandable level. It has strong links with the Spanish Bilingual Assoc of Alicante as well as many other groups such as the Freemasons, particularly the Santa Faz lodge, which meets at the club.

You will be made more than welcome if you visit. The club is open Wednesday and Sunday lunchtimes and on Fridays for menu del dia. On Sundays you can get a traditional English roast lunch.

If you need any more info you can pm me or of course add to this thread. 

This message was last edited by Happyexpat on 04/11/2014.
Thread: Social club in the Alicante area at El Campello

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04 Nov 2014 11:06 AM:

While far from being an expert (the black bin liners confirm this) I fly a Flamewheel multicopter FPV, a large wing FPV sometimes plus a variety of fixed wing aircraft. I also fly helis, electric 600 and 450 now and again but can't afford the repair bills so the word carefully creeps in.

I should add that there are now serious restrictions on the use of multicopters and FPV in Spain so be very careful where you fly, the fines are very heavy and you can lose the kit, if somebody complains or the police know the rules. Also third party insurance is a must, you can get this by joining the Federation through a club but it only covers you on registered flying fields in Spain. I carry a second insurance which I got for anywhere in the whole of Europe from a Co in Gibralter.

I fly at an excellent club just South of Alicante which does have a limited number of spare places. There is also one at Orito but you need to be pretty confident to fly there as it is usually quite windy as it is exposed. Finally there is another excellent club in terms of runway, Elche which is based in Catral however there is a very long waiting list for members and they tend to fly only IC big planes.

All the clubs are Spanish (not a bad thing I hasten to add) but in Alicante there are three or four of us who are English and fly weekdays as well as weekends. Our Spanish friends tend to fly only at the weekends.The local model shop is cenntrorclevante (very helpful) and Mecamodels both in Alicante. Centro is dedicated to RC planes and helis while Meca is a general hobby shop.

If you are interested in visiting the club or need any help please pm me or reply to this thread.

 

 

This message was last edited by Happyexpat on 04/11/2014.
Thread: Model aircraft clubs

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