Windy City Warbirds & Classics July 9th - 11th, 2026
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN!
This is a Radio-Controlled Aircraft Event for Giant Scale Military and Civilian Classics
The planes you will see at our event are scale models of full-scale aircraft. They are replicas of military and classic aircraft from the earliest days of manned flight, up to current generation of modern jet aircraft. The show will feature aircraft from WWI, Vintage Golden Era planes, WWII, and Jets powered by actual small scale turbine engines.
Pilot Registration Fees: Info coming in spring 2026
– Warbirds with a sport-scale outline minimum. Sport aircraft with warbird markings are not permitted.
– Vintage aircraft where the full-scale counterpart first flew on or before the 70’s.
– In addition to the above criteria, aircraft must have an 80″ wingspan minimum for monoplanes, 60″ wingspan minimum for bi-planes and 140″ (wingspan + length) for jets. Aircraft that are 1/4 scale minimum that meet all criteria except wingspan/length are also acceptable.
Updated requirements for AMA Sanctioned Events including Windy City Warbirds and Classics:
The AMA has revised the requirements concerning the operation of turbine-powered models, and aircraft that weigh more than 55-pounds.
To fly a model airplane that weighs more than 55 pounds, the owner/pilot must have a permit to fly for that specific airplane from the AMA. A pilot shall have this document with him or her to present at check in. There is also a current listing of all pilots and their approved airplanes in the members-only documents section of the AMA website.
There are four categories of large model airplanes:
– LMA-1 airplanes weigh between 55 and 77 pounds, with fuel, ready to fly.
– LTMA-1 airplanes are powered by turbine engines and weigh between 55 and 77 pounds, with fuel, ready to fly.
– LMA-2 airplanes weigh between 77 and 125 pounds, with fuel, ready to fly.
– LTMA-2 airplanes are powered by turbine engines and weigh between 77 and 100 pounds, with fuel, ready to fly.
* It is the responsibility of the Contest Director to verify that the pilot has the proper credentials to fly their aircraft.
Flying Site Procedures:
In all respects, safety is the dominant consideration for what we do. As we conduct ourselves during the event, we must keep safety as our primary effort.
As the “Pilot in Command” you are accepting responsibility for the aircraft, payload, and all events that occur during the course of the flight. You must always exercise sound judgment and decision-making, recognize and manage risks effectively, and maintain situational awareness.
You will be facing south on the side of our paved east-west runway. Our field boundaries are the top of the first gun-range berm to the east, and the first tree line to the west. Please fly in a race-track pattern based upon the designated direction indicated by the air boss. There are designated areas for starting engines prior to flight. It is imperative that we use these starting areas exclusively. Starting and/or running engines or motors in the pit area is strictly prohibited.
Should the need arise for you to test run your engine please see the air boss. A location away from the pilot stations and spectators will be made available for this purpose. Formation and group flights of like aircraft are encouraged. Please let the flight line team know in advance of your intentions, and they will work your group into the sequence. There will be six flight stations. Although a maximum of six aircraft will be permitted to fly simultaneously, exceptions will be made for formations and gaggles.
- Event Admission: (Cash Only)
- General Admission Adult $5.00 (Under 12 free)
- Veteran and Active Military Free
- Show Hours – Thurs, Fri 9am to 5pm, Sat 9am to 4pm
- Food Vendors Onsite
- Shopping Nearby
- Incredible RC Aircraft, Wingspans 80” and Larger – Warbirds and Classics
- Skilled and Safe Pilots, with as many as 6 or more Planes Flying at Once – Great Family Fun
- Exhibition Flights
- The FVAC flying field is located at 3831 Karl Madsen Drive in St. Charles, IL.
Your safety is our priority:
Windy City Warbirds and Classics, brought to you by the Fox Valley Aero Club, is sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and adheres to the AMA’s safety guidelines. Every effort is being made to ensure your safety. Please pay close attention to all safety announcements during your visit with us. Certain areas, for your safety, are restricted to pilots only. Please do not enter these areas, and always follow the directions of event personnel. It is imperative that you remain vigilant to the activities around you.
In the event of an aircraft incident or other emergency we will issue an appropriate warning, as time allows, so that you may be aware of the situation. Persons attending this event expressly assume all the risk incident to the event, whether occurring prior to, during or after the actual event, and agree that all sanctioning bodies, and all event staff, employees, agents, officers, and directors of the Fox Valley Aero Club, its affiliates and subsidiaries, are hereby released from any and all claims for personal injury or property damage.
Please Support these Proud Sponsors
If you would like to support Windy City Warbirds & Classics Event.
Please contact Dave Murray (847) 254-6475
The Event Coordinators and Flight Boss Operations will determine the flight arrangements and order at the time of the event.
2025 Pilot List:
01. Tom Czapiewski, Rolling Meadows – IL
02. Dale Gathman, Elgin – IL
03. Jason Rigney, Arlington Heights – IL
04. Robert Boen, Oak Brook – IL
05. John Howe, Woodridge – IL
06. Eugene Villa, Chicago – IL
07. Scott Anderson, Eden Prairie – MN
08. Robert Larsen, Park Ridge – IL
09. Mark Johnson, Pardeeville – WI
10. Stephen Gawlik, Downers Grove – IL
11. Michel Melendy, Decorah – IA
12. Robert Sampson, Wheaton – IL
13. Jeffrey Mrachek, Glen Ellyn – IL
14. George Fram, Ballwin – MO
15. Scott Schilling, Saint Charles – IL
16. William Horoszko, Hinckley – IL
17. Armin Weber, Naperville – IL
18. William Ellison, Imperial – MO
19. Orvil Fluharty, Algonquin – IL
20. Logan Mize, Clayton – MO
21. John Anzalone, West Chicago – IL
22. Vic Fortino, South Elgin – IL
23. Jon Seese, Delavan – WI
24. Hans Becker, Hanover Park – IL
25. Frank Del Giudice, Hoffman Estates – IL
26. Kevin Kessler, Geneva – IL
27. John Dowd, Ballwin – MO
28. Wolfram Donalies, Elgin – IL
29. Randall Sciuto, Fenton – MO
30. Dave Murray, Elgin – IL
31. David Brustle, Elgin – IL
32. Jeff Peterson, Saint Louis – MO
33. David Bhend, Chippewa Falls – WI
34. Alan Valenzo, Buffalo Grove – IL
35. Mark Knoppkie, Elgin – IL
36. James Scahill, Plainfield – IL
37. Matthew LaLonde, Evanston – IL
38. Carl Will, Waukegan – IL
39. Thomas Flint, Geneva – IL
40. William Suhr, Palatine, IL
41. Alan Galle, Mt. Pleasant – WI
42. Jacob Olef, Aurora – IL
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