AS STRANGE as it sounds, Roma residents Ken Dawes and Doug Blair are able to fly planes from the comfort of their backyards.

The pair is founding members of the Roma and District Aeromodelling Club, who take to the skies every Sunday with model planes, helicopters and other flying machines.

Mr Dawes said many past junior club members became inspired to work in the aviation industry.

"One young person opted to do a commercial pilot's licence rather than go to university and three have all got pilot's licences and become licensed aircraft engineers," he said.

"I was very pleased with knowing that someone has taken something they love doing."

Mr Dawes has been flying model aeroplanes since the 1970s, which he said was an expensive hobby at the time.

The rise of China's manufacturing industry has made the hobby cheaper than ever, but this hasn't translated to more kids getting involved.

"When I first started flying I was in a control-line club, which is flying in circles," he said.

"You could make a model for about $150 but it was fairly basic and it didn't have radio-control.

"As an example, if you wanted to build a radio-control plane in those days, you were looking at about $3000-$4000 in today's money, which was the equivalent price of buying a nice car."

Mr Blair said it was an exciting time to be involved, with good model aircraft now costing the same as a carton of beer.

To join the club, call Ken on 0429 452 286.