Joe Imel/Daily NewsDee Davis of Bowling Green takes pictures of her husband Levy’s plane Sunday.

Large radio-controlled airplanes will take flight and zoom in for landing this weekend at the Southern Kentucky Model Aero Club’s Vette City Big Bird 2011.

“It’s going to be all large airplanes,” said event contest director Dennis Baack. “We may have some turbine-powered jets.”

Pilots will fly planes from daylight to dark Friday and Saturday at Stahl Field, 185 N. Graham St. General admission is $10 per carload or $5 per person. Because of parking, carloads are encouraged. Pilot registration is $20. All International Miniature Aircraft Association-legal aircraft are welcome. Concessions will be available. Lawn chairs and blankets are also encouraged.

“We have large shade trees, so they’re not going to have to sit in the sun,” Baack said. “The best day to (see the most planes) would be Saturday. People will be coming in all day Friday.”

Proceeds will benefit SKYMAC, a nonprofit organization for RC pilots, and charities it supports.

“We provide a place for RC enthusiasts to fly all types of planes from small electric to large gas models,” said SKYMAC event coordinator John Williams. “(Flight events like Vette City Big Bird) give the guys a chance to showcase their skills to the public.”

SKYMAC is about more than just planes. The group has also done some work in the community, Williams said.

“We’ve done school programs talking to young kids about aviation and used the models to help explain that,” he said.

SKYMAC puts on multiple shows for the hobby and the public each year, Baack said.

“We try to specialize in each event,” he said. “We try to cater to a lot of the aspects of the hobby and give people a chance to get together, fly their planes and show off.”

Baack is looking forward to showing off his new plane, which is 40 percent the size of a real one.

“We hope to have other 40 percenters,” he said. “We may have some 50 percenters.”

Vette City Big Bird has drawn as many as 40 pilots from three states, Baack said.

“It’s the enjoyment of aviation,” he said. “They fly much easier than smaller planes. They are all powered by gasoline two-stroke engines.”

The club enjoys having spectators at the event.

“We always open it up to the public to show what we have to offer in the city,” he said. “The public is always welcome to join us and ask questions. We enjoy talking about the hobby.”

— For more information, call 792-4269 or 783-4004, or visit www.skymacrc.com.