Model planes take flight in Warbirds and Classics show in St. Charles
Last year, a mountain of memories and a fondness for flying inspired members of the Fox Valley Aero Club to create the Windy City Warbirds and Classics event.
This week, more than 60 pilots from seven different states and Canada will fly nearly 120 flight-ready, large-scale model remote-controlled airplanes at the club's airfield in St. Charles. There, spectators can get a firsthand look at the models and talk to the pilots.
Participants at last year's event were inspired by a variety of reasons, including a desire in some to re-create their fathers' or grandfathers' military experiences, and others who simply share a passion for planes. Last year's success was an effort to help share those passions with the community, said Tom Siwek, the club's safety chairman.
"People had strong connections and fond recollections that are associated with the models we fly." Siwek said. "We saw it fitting to put together an air show event that showcases this segment of aviation history."
One of the members who found a connection to his lineage was Tom Flint of Geneva, the group's media relations manager. Flint's father, a pilot in World War II who designed tail hydraulics for flying fortress bombers, took his son flying decades ago in Princeton, New Jersey.
Today, Flint relives his youth and brings back memories of his father by flying with his friends.
"You only need to be in the air once, in a small plane, to gain this wonderful new perspective on life," Flint said. "It's easy to think of my Dad and I flying together as I fly giant scale RC airplanes."
The planes are remotely controlled from the ground and have wingspans up to 20 feet.
Dave Murray of Elgin flies a 10-foot T33 model jet, but flies something a little big larger at work. He is an international jumbo-jet pilot for United Airlines with 33 years of commercial flying experience.
For him, mastering model planes serves as a completely different challenge.
"It takes much more concentration to fly model airplane over something like a 747," Murray said. "You see it and hear it, but you don't get the airspeed or altitude - none of information like with a full-size airplane."
At work, Murray takes daily trips to Europe and Asia, but in his down time, he is the vice president of Fox Valley Aero Club.
After being introduced to the hobby by Robert Walker, former owner of Walker's Hobby Shop in St. Charles, Murray attended Southern Illinois University to venture into a career in aviation. Since, then, Murray has accrued decades of flying experience and has built more than 120 model jets.
But, it seems nothing compares to the 16 years he has shared with members of the Fox Valley Aero Club.
"I've had a long and interesting career. I've flown a lot of different models, built almost 120 jets alone," Murray said. "It's been a lot of fun. But the camaraderie and what we have at the club, you don't find it anywhere. It's just top notch."
Visitors are welcome to watch the planes fly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 25-27, at the flying site, 3821 Karl Madsen Drive in St. Charles. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids age 12 and younger. For information, visit www.foxvalleyaero.com.
If you go
What: Fox Valley Aero Club's second annual Windy City Warbirds and Classics model airplane event
Where: The club's airfield at 3821 Karl Madsen Drive, St. Charles
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 25 to 27
Admission: $5 adults; free for kids 12 and younger
Details: <a href="http://www.foxvalleyaero.com/">www.foxvalleyaero.com</a>