Prince George’s Radio Control Club has actively promoted the enjoyment of building and flying radio controlled model aircraft for everyone since its original establishment.
PGRC has an an active Remote Control Pilot Training program that is conducted on Tuesday afternoons (3 pm to dark) during the warm weather months (April through October – weather & daylight permitting).
New members of PGRC who have never flown models before are given free flying lessons by qualified instructors using a training aide known as a ‘buddy box.’ This is a functionality built into most modern radio systems and allows instructors to instantly regain control back from their student when they get into trouble. Use of buddy box systems reduces crashes, accelerates learning and greatly increases the success rate of new pilots.
The best type of aircraft to learn on are appropriately called trainers. Trainers are sturdy, high-wing planes that fly slowly and have a lot of inherent stability. Good quality electric or glow-fuel-powered trainers are sold by several companies as kits, almost-ready-to-fly (ARF) planes, and complete ready-to-fly (RTF) packages that include the radio system and other accessories. The PGRC instructors can advise new members on appropriate beginner airplanes.
PGRC members are welcome to fly fixed wing, rotary (Helicopters) or multi-rotor models (Commonly referred to as Drones) at our field. PGRC does not allow any First Person View (FPV) flying due to current FAA Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) restrictions which includes the PGRC field. No commercial type drones shall be flown at PGRC facilities.
All models flown will be in accordance with AMA and PGRC rules and regulations. All models shall remain within the pilot’s visual line of site whether or not they have FPV capability. Violation of this rule may result in a fine and/or imprisonment of the individual, and would jeopardize the existence of not just PGRC but the 12 other Radio Control (RC) clubs that are currently located within the current designated SFRA.
Rotary and multi-rotor pilots shall coordinate flight times with fixed wing pilots when limited personnel are at the field. During times of peak use the first 15 minutes of each hour shall be designated for rotary and multi-rotor flight.
We moved to our current, and hopefully last, home on Swanson Rd. in 1995. When we arrived, the property was owned by the City of Bowie, and then sold several years later to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).
PGRC has a lease agreement with M-NCPPC which covers the flying site and club house. We have averaged between 140 to 160 members each year, over the past several years.
