District VI Report - 2003/03
Pekin, IL
The Pekin Radio Control (RC) Club held its 23rd Big Bird Fly-in at the Pekin Park District. Roughly 25 fliers and approximately 200 spectators attended.
What was unique about the fly-in was television publicity: an award-winning program, Postcard, was broadcast on local channel 25.
The club attracted the station by showing copies of two AMA videotapes — All Because of Model Airplanes and Model Airplane Flying Sites in State Parks. These tapes were used as the basis for the TV presentation entitled A Field of Dreams. The program reached approximately 600,000 viewers in central Illinois on two separate days, airing in conjunction with the noon, 6:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m. news.
The Pekin club, along with two other area clubs, has worked with the AMA Lincolnland Models Air Show Team to promote model aviation across central Illinois. This is an example of what working together can do to further our sport.
Clubs involved:
- Pekin Radio Control (RC) Club
- Peoria R/C Club
- Summit Valley RC Flyers
- AMA Lincolnland Models Air Show Team
Jim Shupe sent the pictures and information.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
