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ClubBritish Model Flying Association (BMFA)

BMFA model aircraft and drone clubs (youth membership and free trial flight)

The BMFA is the national governing body for model flying, with more than 750 affiliated clubs across the UK. Teenagers can join as a youth member for £20 and ask for a free trial flight with an instructor at a nearby club. It is a practical route into aerodynamics, electronics and drone building.

By the Born to Engineer editorial team Checked

At a glance

Run by
British Model Flying Association (BMFA)[1]
Who it’s for
Under 18s who want to build and fly model aircraft or drones through a local affiliated club. Under 18s need a parent or guardian to complete the trial flight form and attend.[2]
Entry
Students or a school can enter
Worth
Hands-on aerodynamics, electronics and build skills through a national governing body with local clubs and instructors.
Cost
Youth membership £20 (under 18). Trial flight is free.[3]
Year groups
Year 9, Year 10, Year 11, Year 12, Year 13
Where
UK-wide (UK-wide, via over 750 affiliated local clubs)
Format
In person

Sources

3 sources

  1. British Model Flying Association

    Home – British Model Flying Association

    Over 750 BMFA affiliated clubs provide more than 1000 flying sites nationwide for our members to fly recreationally

    Checked 23 October 2026

  2. British Model Flying Association

    Request a free trial flight

    Where the person who is wanting a trial flight is under 18 this form must be completed by a parent/guardian who must also be in attendance when the trial flight takes place.

    Checked 23 October 2026

  3. British Model Flying Association

    Join us – BMFA

    BMFA Youth £20.00 (Under 18)

    Checked 23 October 2026

Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.

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Free weekly Saturday clubs for 13 to 16 year olds, hosted at universities and colleges, with Science and Engineering one of the subjects. Students find a local club on the map and register.

Cost
Free to attend. Travel is not paid for (not rechecked).
Who
Young people aged 13 to 16 of all abilities.
Entry
Students apply themselves
When
Each club sets its own timing, and some are closed for the current year. No general deadline.

Visit saturday-club.org (opens in a new tab)Details: National Saturday Club: Science and Engineering clubs

RSGB Youth: amateur radio for under 26s

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The RSGB runs a youth section for under 26s covering licensing, making kit, digital comms and contacts with the International Space Station. Licensed young people get free digital membership and can join a fortnightly DMR Youth Net. Local clubs and training courses can be found through the RSGB finders.

Worth
An industry-recognised licence plus hands-on RF, electronics and digital comms experience.
Who
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Entry
Students apply themselves
When
Join any time. Fortnightly DMR Youth Net.

Visit rsgb.org (opens in a new tab)Details: RSGB Youth: amateur radio for under 26s

UKRA junior membership and rocketry club network

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ClubUnited Kingdom Rocketry Association (UKRA)

UKRA is the UK body for model and high power rocketry and offers a cheap junior membership for under 18s. Members get the safety code, certification routes and a network of affiliated clubs that fly together. UKRA also publishes a free youth rocketry course handbook.

Worth
Safety-code based rocketry with certification and a national club network.
Who
Young rocketeers under 18 (junior membership) who want to learn to build and fly model rockets safely.
Entry
Students apply themselves
When
Membership is a yearly subscription running from January to December. Join any time.

Visit ukra.org.uk (opens in a new tab)Details: UKRA junior membership and rocketry club network