Southport Model Aero Club (SMAC) is a friendly and long-established radio-controlled model flying club based in the Southport and Ainsdale area of Sefton, Merseyside. Formed in its present configuration in 1975, the club brings together people of all ages and experience levels who share an interest in building and flying model aircraft.

Our members fly a wide range of aircraft, primarily fixed-wing models. These include beginner-friendly trainers, sport and aerobatic aircraft, and highly detailed scale models — from Almost Ready-To-Fly (ARTF) designs through to fully scratch-built projects. In addition to traditional aircraft, members also fly electric ducted fan (EDF) jets, multi-rotor drones, and, for suitably experienced pilots, turbine-powered jets.

We place a strong emphasis on safe and responsible flying. The club is affiliated with the British Model Flying Association and has a registered examiner within the membership. While SMAC is not primarily a training club, new flyers are welcome and we will always do our best to help newcomers get started and progress safely.

Our main flying site is at Leisure Lakes near Southport, with additional flying permitted on Ainsdale beach under local regulations. During the winter months we also run indoor flying sessions, allowing members to continue flying throughout the year.

As well as flying, SMAC is a social club where members meet regularly, share knowledge, help each other with building and setup, and attend local model shows and events. You can also see what we get up to by visiting our Facebook group and YouTube channel using the links on this site.

If you are interested in aeromodelling, would like to learn more about the hobby, or simply want to come along and see what we do, we would be delighted to hear from you.