Latest news with #FestivalofFlight
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Fans of model aircraft fly high at Festival of Flight in St. Charles
Airplane enthusiasts took to the skies on Saturday as the Fox Valley Aero Club offered its annual Festival of Flight public demonstration in St. Charles featuring a variety of model aircraft flown by Aero Club members. Paul Lund of Sycamore has long held a love of planes and decided to visit St. Charles for the event. 'I used to be a member of the club a while back that is putting this on, but then we moved out to Sycamore and were too far away,' Lund said as he stood near some bleachers in a field operated by the Fox Valley Aero Club. 'I used to have some planes myself but I sold them. I came to hang out with a couple guys I know and I just love flying. It was fun to just come out and watch the planes fly.' The event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fox Valley Aero Club Field at 3831 Karl Madsen Drive, featured model aircraft including 'civilian and military replicas to non-scale sport planes, with power sources including electric motors, small gas and glow engines and even real jet turbines,' according to the club's website. Todd Culbertson of St. Charles, who handles public relations for the club, said the event has been held 'for more than 20 years,' noting that the club holds two such air shows a year along with about 10 other events. The club, he said, has been in existence for almost 100 years. 'These shows are community-focused. The purpose of this show is to showcases miniature versions of every full-sized aircraft in existence,' Culbertson said. 'We're talking about jets, biplanes, warbirds from World War I, World War II, commercial aircraft – every aircraft in full-scale is represented here in miniature. We fly using a transmitter and they look like the real things when they're flying.' Culbertson said that 'some of our planes have wing spans up to 20 feet.' 'It gets kind of crazy. It's a hobby for club members but it's a real community event and a chance to bring whatever kind of craft you have and hang out with other enthusiasts,' he said. 'It is a community event as tickets are $5 and kids are free and it helps pay for the upkeep of the field every year.' Those attending had a chance to to see planes built and flown by their owners. 'We're talking about things like a jet with an eight-foot wing span – an F-16, military jet, all scale – and it goes 300 mph,' Culbertson said. 'It's flying right over the 800-foot runway and people are 'oohing and aahing' while it's doing it. There are real jet engines in these planes and these things cost $30,000. This is pretty series hobby action.' St. Charles resident Laura Molter said she came with her cousin to the event. 'I love this event and I actually am going to become a member and learn how to fly,' she said. Mark Ramsgard of Geneva said he has worked as a commercial pilot for 35 years and that he is amazed at the authenticity of the planes hobbyists fly. 'It's incredible the way they make things seem so real now. Back when I was a youngster, guys were doing things out of balsa wood,' he said. 'I usually just come out here whether there is a show or not and find guys flying. People enjoy seeing the historical airplanes and they like the history.'
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Airshow Festival Village returns for two days of family entertainment
There will be a range of activities for all ages, including a climbing tower, laser tag, and axe throwing. The International Ayr Show's Festival of Flight village will bring a weekend of entertainment for the whole family this September. The event will take place on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6 at Ayr's shorefront - with activities and attractions throughout the Low Green as well as breathtaking aerial displays. This year, there will be plenty of activities for all ages, including a climbing tower, laser tag, and axe throwing. Visitors can try the aircraft simulator or make their way to the fabulous lights and attractions of the fun fair. If you're coming to the airshow with the whole family, there's a wide range of activities to keep children occupied at the Family Fun Village – with face painters, glitter tattooists, a circus workshop, bubble football, a dinosaur show, a magic show and more. The airshow strategic partner, theSKYLAB, will return to the Festival Village with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) marquee. With hands-on activities and representatives from companies from the Prestwick aerospace hub and across Scotland, attendees will be able to get a taster of all the impressive and interesting things that are going on in the world of STEM. Also returning will be the popular Army, Navy and RAF village. Organisers are especially pleased to welcome back the event charity partner to the festival site - the RAF Benevolent Fund. Representatives from the Fund will be happy to welcome festival goers to their marquee to chat about the invaluable support they provide to serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their families. Attendees will be able to create the perfect memory of their visit by choosing a souvenir from one of the many vendors in our Local Trade Village, or from the airshow merchandise stall. There will be a food village with a wide variety of tasty treats to keep everyone fuelled up, plus a bar on site. Business owners are encouraged to register their interest in trading at the 2025 International Ayr Show via the online application form which is available on the aishow webpage. There will be a range of static exhibitions featured this year, showcasing vintage cars, vintage motorcycles, model aeroplanes, heritage emergency vehicles and more. There will also be a range of military museum exhibitions to view. With all this, plus daring aerial displays on both days, there's plenty to look forward to at the International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight. Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Brian Connolly, said: "After two successful years, The International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight has gone from strength to strength and I'm sure 2025 will be no different. With even more announcements to come, the line-up for both the aerial displays and Festival Village are promising a brilliant weekend." Depute Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, said: "We'll have an excellent range of activities on offer at the airshow this year – making it not only a worthwhile trip for all the aviation enthusiasts, but also a great day out for families. "It's exciting to have such a prestigious event to look forward to within South Ayrshire that draws in impressive crowds of both local people and visitors – just what we want and need for the area." Gavin Davey, Area Director for Scotland, Northeast England and Northern Ireland, at the Fund said: "We are delighted to continue our partnership with South Ayrshire Council at The International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight in September. "This outstanding event provides an invaluable platform to raise awareness of the vital support we offer to members of the RAF Family across Ayrshire, Scotland, and the wider UK. "We look forward to this year's event with great anticipation and are grateful for the continued warmth and enthusiasm shown by South Ayrshire Council and the local community. "The Ayr Show consistently offers a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, and we are excited to strengthen our local engagement." CEO of The Skylab, Geoff Coxon, said: "The STEM village is a fantastic place to see what is happening at the amazing Prestwick aerospace hub and the rest of Scotland, with all of the companies bringing along the really exciting things they make. They will also bring interactive family activities such as mini drone flying, flight simulator, wind tunnel experiments and much more too. 'It is a great place to talk to the companies about career opportunities too. Even though you may not think it, there are so many transferable skills that be used in the aerospace industry, so you never know where your next career move will take you after the airshow. 'Our airshow is very special in that it is the only airshow in the UK where the flying display programme is specifically designed around STEM. So, all of the exciting displays you will see have real links with the engineers and companies in the STEM village. This way there is real context to what is happening in the STEM village on the ground. Make sure to listen out for the display commentaries that link all of these great companies, and their teams, to the displays from the Typhoon, Red Arrows and many others to come!"
