Planes

Welcome to the Area 51 RC Squadron. We are pleased to offer an open field for flying everything electric (line of sight) with wings or helicopters. The field is a combination of a 45'x400' geotextile fabric runway over crushed asphalt millings and a 50'x500' grass runway with an open lake to the West. With the advancements in battery technology, dusting off an old gasser and converting it to electric is now a fairly easy process (who needs to fuss with nitro when you can plug in some electrons?). 

Are you an elite helicopter pilot trying to fight for space on the flight line? We have you covered with your own pilot station on the west side of the field (near the lake) with a paver landing pad. Pilots are also able to command the field with notice and to take turns with other members.

We invite you to come out and enjoy the Florida sunshine as we fly the skies till sunset.


Area 51 Flying Site Safety Rules - Updated 05/12/2020 -  DOWNLOAD PDF

“ The Flight Line Protocol “

Flight Line #1 - The Helipad Area

Flight Line #2 - The Main Runway

  • On both flight lines
    • Approach the flight line to announce loudly you are taking off, and after checking the air and windsock, take off and enjoy your flight
    • Always announce loudly that you are landing for other pilots to hear you.

Flight line #1 - Helipad

DJI type drones can fly for some 20+ minutes that take off and return to that flight line area.

  • If a helicopter pilot announces his intentions to fly from that area and your planning on coming in please communicate to that pilot you're on your way back to the helipad so as to not force your landing while he’s in the middle doing his flight

Flight line #2 - The main runway

At times a helicopter pilot with a larger helicopter may take command of the main flying field for a flight that averages 5 minutes. During this time no other planes should be in the air for safety reasons. Upon landing, the plane pilots may resume flying with the helicopter pilot preparing themselves to be in line for the next flight.

  • Should multiple helicopter pilots wish to fly, we would like to ask for no more than two helicopter pilots fly in a row with planes to resume afterward. The helicopter pilots will then resume in order of field usage.