Would you join an RC model flying club to access a really good astro site?

[dannybgoode]

Bit of a leftfield question this.  I am a member of an RC flying club who have a field near Doncaster and I figure it would make a really good astro site.  Pretty much 360 skies, Bortle 4/5, locked gate, parking etc.  I have bounced the idea of opening membership to astro folk to make use of the field at night and bar some admin our side it could be a goer.  Don't know what the exact price would be however it would be discounted from what people who fly pay so probably £40-50 per year-ish. 

Would this be of interest to anyone?  Cost maybe a shade lower and if there is interest I can get something concrete.

[globular]

I'm not in the area so I can't sign up - but I thought I'd reply to say I think it's a great idea.

Edited February 1, 2023 by globular
typo

[knobby]

Agreed, too far for me but I think it's a reasonable price. When I wangled a blipper to access a farmers land a few years back we paid £45/year but that was 4 years ago.

[Peter Drew]

Makes good sense.    

[dannybgoode]

And of course if anyone wanted they could learn to fly planes as well.  It's immense fun  

[Paul M]

Sounds like an excellent idea.

My father was a member of the local flying club, which is still based very close to where I work. It's a bit off the beaten track. There are limited reasons for people to be down there at night.

Some nocturnal dog walking, something else to do with dogs - or not dogs as it turns out, fly tipping and vandalism. I wonder whether that club would welcome legitimate nocturnal use? It's not really a dark site but better than the middle of town. And for a small fee I could turn off some of the local industrial light sources...

[JeremyS]

Keep those planes away from my Tak 😳

[Roy Challen]

6 hours ago, dannybgoode said:

And of course if anyone wanted they could learn to fly planes as well.  It's immense fun  

This would be my concern - getting into another expensive sounding hobby😁

[Chaz2b]

4 hours ago, JeremyS said:

Keep those planes away from my Tak 😳

Flying my ww2 model aircraft, I'd sneak up on Jeremy, spot his Tak and shout...atak atak atak!😆

[Alan White]

Nowhere near me so I can only encourage the idea from afar,
that is the OP idea not straffing anyones Tak.

Access to quite and secure dark sites is limited for many if arranged and used with due care and respect all is good.



 

[GalaxyGael]

Seems like a good idea, but is it safe at night when there is no-one or fewer people around? Luckily there likely not going to be too many flying their planes at night, cause they can end up coming down in an unintended and uncontrolled way!!

 

[Carbon Brush]

This does sound like a good idea. There are precedents.
I mention these because UK wide we have the opportunity to use sites that are otherwise neglected at night.
I'm not trying to 'steal' the OP's idea😁

I have already established some astro interest at an amateur radio club near Sandtoft.
That is between Doncaster & Scunthorpe for those who don't know the area.
I have left various scopes with them, including a 12" dob.
On the plus side there is indoor storage, kitchen, toilet, workshops, etc.
Membership gives access to a wealth of knowledge as well as cheap/free materials on the electronics aspects of astronomy.
Not the best light level. But certainly much better than a lot of people suffer.
Active interests already there include microwave experiments, light wave communications and reflecting high frequency radio from the moon.
I have found there is a significant overlap between astronomy and amateur radio. Many having a foot in both camps.

I visited East Midlands Stargazers a few years back. A great friendly bunch of people.
They had use of a cricket club in Derbyshire. Nice flat field and the clubhouse.
Obviously when bad light stops play the field belongs to the astro community.
It is a good location for light levels.

At one time I considered approaching a gliding club not far from my home but never followed it up.
They have a site with good light level, flat ground and a clubhouse.

I'm sure there are many more places.

David.

 

 

[dannybgoode]

9 hours ago, GalaxyGael said:

but is it safe at night when there is no-one or fewer people around?

This is an interesting point.  I mean people travel to dark sites that are not secured in any way so having a gate is useful.  This is where numbers come in as well.  3 or 4 (or more) people are better than 1 perhaps but again that is the same regardless of location.  I am confident enough to set up on my own though and will be doing in the coming weeks.  I could easily clear it for people to visit and see what they think.  It is not in the middle of nowhere rather on the edge of a small town and no less safe than most other places would be.

[dannybgoode]

13 hours ago, Roy Challen said:

This would be my concern - getting into another expensive sounding hobby😁

It doesn't *have* to be expensive.  Actually I really enjoy flying pretty cheap secondhand models.  You could get airborne and have a lot fun for £2-300.  But like astro, yes it is addictive and yes you can spend.  One of my friends is just putting together a new plane at around £5k and has another that he has around £10k in and the actual airframe is secondhand.  Just the gubbins that go in the big planes is expensive!

[Rapallokid]

CNAAG in Oxfordshire used to use a model airplane site at. They had a grass runway and the only stipulation was that you didn't drive on it. 

It was a great site till they installed night lights in the sports pitches below it !!

[jjohnson3803]

Since I'm across the Pond, I obviously could not partake, but that sounds like a great idea.  There's an RC aircraft park not far from me, but it closes at dusk and it's hardly a dark site.  It does have unobstructed horizons though...

I hope it works out for you.

 

[iapa]

A great idea.

A quick online search and I found the West Calder Aeromodelers website, am preparing an email with a view to arranging access for astrophotographers.

If anyone is already a member of this aeromodelers group, that would help greatly.