Originally the club was known as the Swansea & District Radio Controlled Club, when it was formed in 1970 and flying took place at Fairwood Airport. Previously a group of like minded modelers flew on various commons in the local area before making it official. A meeting was held and an Annual Subscription was set at £1. Two founder members Colin Langlois and Alan Beor are still active members and fly regularly.
In 1972 the club moved its base to Pembrey airfield, followed by affiliation with the SMAE (BMFA) in 1976. When the club was offered a flying site at Gorseinon (Mountain Colliery) in 1984, the club name was changed to Lliw Valley Radio Control Club. The club has always run a proficiency scheme and adopted the BMFA format in 1987.
Four experienced club fliers were tested by an area chief examiner to be club examiners. The club has since offered tuition and encourages flying to ‘A’ and ‘B’ Standards. Because of the sites industrial development in 1990 the club moved to its present flying site on Garn Goch common.
From the very start member flyers were very competitive, organising club competitions and entering numerous events further afield, which warranted better building and flying.
As well as flying, other radio controlled interests were catered for included model power boats, yachts, cars and also indoor flying. Today the club’s main interests are in model aircraft that include IC power, electric power, gas turbine, helicopters and gliders.
Over the years the club has always been safety conscious and determined to improve the public’s perception of model flying as a modern sport. To promote its image the club have actively contributed and participated in numerous exhibitions and organised displays in the Swansea area.
Forty years after formation the club was renamed the SWANSEA MODEL FLYING CLUB in 2010
