Ron Shields, from the Chicago Model Masters in Riverdale, Illinois, sent me a picture of club member and Tuskegee Airman Dan Williamson. Thank you for your service, Mr. Williamson!
The Chicago Model Masters is a diverse group that is representative of citizens throughout Cook County, near Chicago. The club’s base is at Kickapoo Woods in the Calumet division of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Its focus is on safety and mastering skilled model aviation maneuvers.
Renowned for building and flying state-of-the-art model aircraft, the club’s priorities are laser-focused on mentoring youth, as well as instructional initiatives. Through outreach initiatives, partnerships have been established that involve reciprocal visits with educational institutions, churches, park districts, community organizations, etc. Thematic instructional presentations have proved to be effective in associating the various nuances of model aviation with math, science, physics, vocabulary, history, geometry, discipline, obedience, and responsibility—the laws of cause and effect, etc.
Kickapoo Model Aviation Field is an immaculately maintained, club-designed, modern aviation field. The site features a 50- × 400-foot fixed-wing asphalt runway, an instructional rotary wing pod, public and pilot parking, and a pedestrian/cycling trail.
Jeremy Church reported that 2025 was busy for the Jasper RC Flyers located in Jasper, Indiana. The club saw real growth, a lot of community involvement, and some exciting things happening with its youth members. The following is a look back at 2025.
STEM and youth engagement: The Jasper RC Flyers brought in six new members, including two young pilots ages 11 and 15. It also worked with Vincennes University Jasper Campus’s STEM Camp, where it led a challenge on flight dynamics and center of gravity. The club also teamed up with Southridge High School’s aviation classes at the Huntingburg Regional Airport to show how classroom lessons connect to real-world aviation.
Community events and partnerships: The Annual Open House was a big success, and the club hosted its Annual Fun-Fly, bringing in 25 pilots from across the region. It also hosted the Patoka Valley Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron from the Huntingburg Regional Airport at its rocket launches and gave several presentations to community groups.
Community service and outreach: Jasper RC Flyers donated $500 to the Deaconess Lange-Fuhs Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital in Jasper. It also supported the Washington RC Aero Club and the Daviess County Airport’s Wings and Wheels event.
A point of real pride for the club is that two of its former youth members have gone on to aviation careers.
Bill Spencer shared that the Champaign County Radio Control Club (CCRCC) in Champaign, Illinois, is proudly celebrating 75 years of aeromodeling, innovation, and community service. From early Free Flight (FF) experiments near Willard Airport to today’s premier RC airpark in Champaign, CCRCC has been a leader in safe flying, education, and outreach.
Founded in 1951, the club has trained thousands of pilots through its FF training program, hosted signature Midwest events, and built strong partnerships with the model aviation industry. Today, with more than 120 active members spanning generations, CCRCC continues to embody mentorship, volunteerism, and the enduring joy of model flight.
To see your club in print, send me pictures and a short article. It will get in the magazine. Email it to amadistrictvi@modelaircraft.org. Keep in mind that pictures must be at least 500 KB standalone JPG files.
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI