Sports
Wings of Victory: Replica Planes Fly 100+ mph (Video)
Fully Operational World War II Fighters, Bombers, World War One Biplanes and Even Jets Take To The Wild Blue Yonder Over Davis.
It can take two solid weeks of full days to build just one of the aeromodel planes that were on display at the "Wings of Victory" event this weekend.
"But only a second or two for everything to go wrong up there," said a Davis-Woodland Aeromodel Club spokesperson at the event. The planes are meticulously detailed replicas of actual, historic war planes.
He then gestured toward the cloudless sky over the club's new Mavis Henson Field just north of Davis. As he did, a bright blue World War Two Navy Hellcat with a five-foot wingspan came in for a landing on the asphalt runway. Its wingtip scuffed up a little cloud of dirt beside the asphalt.
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The pilot at the radio controls cut the engine and the scale-model fighter coasted to a harmless stop.
Dozens of club members, family and friends turned out to watch Vietnam-era "Huey" helicopters, a World War One Sopwith Camel biplane, many World War Two aircraft (American, British, German and Japanese), and even a Navy Mustang Jet.
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The high-powered engines can drive the newer models upwards of 100 miles per hour. After hours of practice throughout the year, some pilots get their planes to execute intricate aerobatics.
The new airfield is named in honor of the late Mavis Henson, long-time Davis hobby shop owner and Aeromodel aficionado back in the 1960s.
The "Wings of Victory" meet finished up this weekend.
You can see the planes in action by watching the videos on the right.