Oxfordshire model aircraft pilots hope they've done enough to get Guinness World Record

Squinting into the leaden clouds above the North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society’s south Oxfordshire base, you would be forgiven for thinking you were watching an impromptu airshow featuring full-size aircraft.

But these planes looping the loop and sniffing each other’s wing tips were just a fraction of the size of their metal-and-canvas cousins.

This was a vanishingly rare sight for this corner of bucolic Oxfordshire.

Typically, no more than five or six model aircraft are flown at once from NBRMAS’s grass field strip.

At midday on Sunday, there were 27 planes in the air – as well as a further 16 ‘chuck gliders’ of the type beloved of children worldwide and two drones.

Together with 280 clubs nationwide, the North Berks flyers were taking part in Guinness World Record attempt to get the largest number of model aircraft in the skies at one time.

The record breaking bid was held to mark the British Model Flying Association’s centenary. Set up in 1922, the organisation represents model aviation clubs and enthusiasts up and down the country.

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15

John Bell was responsible for organising the club’s contribution. Cool-headed Mr Bell, flying a rainbow-liveried biplane with ‘DON’T PANIC’ emblazoned on one wing, told the Oxford Mail: “Normally we have a maximum of five to six aircraft.

“Taking the chuck gliders away [from the calculation], today we had 27 planes flying – which is five times more than we would normally have.”

He has been with the club for six years. “It’s really social. We come here and might not fly for two hours because we’re having a chat and a laugh. It’s just fun.”

Pilot Chris Hunt, who has been flying model planes for half a century, was at the field on Sunday with a 30-year-old Stars Delta model powered by a glow plug internal combustion engine that gives it a top speed of 70mph.

“We used to fly this at shows. This is about the last one left,” he said.

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15 Pictured: Chris Hunt

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15

North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society takes part in the Guinness World Record attempt at their East Hanney airfield on Sunday, May 15

The pilots had braced themselves for a number of mid-air collisions. In the event, however, the record-breaking flight passed off largely incident free.

One aircraft was reported to have wedged itself in a tree, while another had to be rescued after its nose became stuck in the manicured grass landing strip.

Some mild jeopardy was, perhaps, unsurprising. Conditions were far from ideal; a stiff wind and downpours that had the pilots retreating to the relative comfort of a gazebo.

Rigorous checks by Guinness World Records bosses mean it could be a number of weeks before it is known whether or not the record attempt was successful.

To find out more about the North Berks Radio Model Aircraft Society, visit: nbrmas.bmfa.org.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward