World Championship event takes place at Buckminster Estate

Model aircraft enthusiasts from around the world converged on Buckminster – providing a boost to the local economy and an amazing spectacle for visitors.

The 2026 Federation Aeronautique Internationale F4 World Championships for Scale Model Aircraft was held at the British Model Flying Association’s headquarters which has been based on the Estate for nine years. Across the UK and Ireland the association has 26,000 members.

Teams from 23 countries, including Australia, the United States, Japan and Columbia, as well as nations across Europe, took part in the prestigious event in hot and dry conditions. The championships are the highlight of the model aircraft competition season.

The competitors and their back-up crews were joined by hundreds of spectators who enjoyed a total of eight days of competition from July 10th to July 18th watching a range of model aircraft, including many from the early days of flying, being put through their paces.

Graham Kennedy, BMFA Operational Support Officer and Fellow of the Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, said the competitors who took part were all impressed with the site. This is the first time a grass airstrip has been used for the championships. The club has the use of around 43 acres of land, including the grass air strip where the model aircraft take off and land, with buildings they have invested in.

Graham said: “It worked out very well indeed. All the comments from the international competitors have been very positive. They thought the scenery was spectacular and the unobstructed nature of the site made for excellent flying conditions.”

On “Nations Night” the catering was provided by the landlord and landlady of the Tollemache Arms, Andy and Tracy Stirzaker, assisted by their son, Chris. They served 240 portions of bangers and mash to the championship competitors and their team members. Graham said: “Teams met up regularly throughout the competition at the Tollemache Arms, where the Australian Team had booked rooms for two and a half weeks. – the village shop and Coffee Barn has never seen so many customers of different nationalities!”

In previous years the world championships have been held on full-sized airfields, but the facilities at Buckminster, proved to be an excellent location and a fitting backdrop to many of the model aircraft being showed and flown. Most of the full-size versions of the model aircraft of course would have taken off and landed on grass strips.

The competition ended with a spectacular drone display culminating in a light show that showed the Union flag transforming into the Polish flag. The next championship event is due to take place in 2028 in Poland.

Estate Manager, Jeremy Hill said: “The British Model Flying Association is a valued tenant of the Estate and it has been a pleasure to support them in hosting this prestigious international event. It is good to see the arrival of competitors from all over the world and we are pleased that so many of them made use of our excellent local businesses.”