Pilot Tyler McCormack, left, and his dad, Scott, of Sandown, N.H., start up their 100cc Extra 300 for another flight. Tyler, 15, and his brother, Steven, 13, who have both won awards for flying remote-controlled planes, will perform at the Butler Aircraft Modelers Society air show Saturday.

WEST SUNBURY — Giant scale model planes will take to the skies of Butler County Saturday as the Butler Aircraft Modelers Society hosts its third annual air show, complete with award-winning pilots.

“This is a live air show,” said Dave Chisolm, BAMS president.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 315 Mack Road in West Sunbury.

According to Chisolm, the government has canceled a lot of larger air shows.

“This is one of the few remaining, even if it's on a model scale,” he said.

The airplanes are controlled remotely by a pilot holding a transmitter that operates on a frequency similar to WiFi.

Aircraft can reach speeds exceeding 200 mph, but due to Academy of Model Aeronautic regulations they are not allowed to go over 199 mph.

The planes Saturday will be flying at 199 mph, according to Chisolm.

The remote-controlled planes can have a range of up to 3 miles and a wingspan of 5 or 6 feet.

As for cost, smaller planes start around $100 with jets worth around $30,000.

More than 30 top pilots from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and New Hampshire will be performing.

One of those pilots will be Ken Olsen, 74, an Air Force veteran from Toledo Ohio.

“I started building model airplanes back in the '50s when I was 13 years old,” he said.

At 16, he bought and flew his first remote-controlled airplane. Olsen said, “We hand launched the planes as the engines back then didn't develop enough power to take off on their own.”

He was absent from the hobby for more than 45 years due to the Air Force and spending time with his family. However, Olsen maintained his interest in planes and earned his pilot's license in 1981.“My real enjoyment from the hobby comes not only from the experience and the satisfaction of flying something I created, but the great people I've met along the way,” Olsen said.Another featured pilot this year will be Jasmine Reidenbach, 39, of Virginia. She is the first female performer who will be flying at the BAMS event.Reidenbach has been flying remote-controlled airplanes for six years.“I wanted to do it as a kid, but my dad said it was too expensive,” Reidenbach said.She ended up getting into the hobby when she was at the mall with her former husband. Reidenbach said he wanted a remote-controlled truck, so she decided to get a remote-controlled helicopter.Her passion for the aircraft progressed after that, and she now receives sponsorships to fly and promote the planes.“The plane I am bringing is just short of $10,000, and I paid for about $1,500; the rest was sponsors,” she said.Being a woman has helped her to receive sponsorships since there are not many women flying RC airplanes.“I travel around and promote the products,” Reidenbach said. “It's easier for women to get sponsors because there aren't many of us.”Two other pilots will be Tyler, 15, and Steven, 13, McCormack of Sandown, N.H. The boys may be young, but they are both nationally recognized.Tyler has many first-place wins from the International Miniature Aerobatic Club, among other awards.“My brother got me interested,” he said.Tyler's brother has been interested in planes for a long time and become involved with RC aircraft after he saw someone flying a plane. “When I saw model planes fly, I wanted to do it,” he said.Steven also has several first-place IMAC wins. He says he enjoys RC airplanes because he enjoys traveling.The brothers have been flying for five years and will perform at the air show Saturday.In addition to the RC planes, the air show will include five full-scale fly-by planes.There will be $7,000 in door prizes and raffles.The proceeds will go to local fire departments and ambulances and the Butler Trooper Helping Trooper fund.Show organizers also will be donating to the Wounded Warrior Project. “Because we have grown every year we decided to help on a national level and donate some of the proceeds to WWP,” Chisolm said.The rain date for the BAMS air show will be Sunday.

<B>WHAT:</B> Butler Aircraft Modelers Society third annual air show<B>WHEN: </B>9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday<B>WHERE: </B>315 Mack Road, West Sunbury<B>ADMISSION: </B>$5, children younger than 12, free; proceeds benefit community fire departments and ambulances and the Butler Trooper Helping Trooper fund and the Wounded Warrior Project.<B>TO TAKE: </B>Lawn chairs

Fans will also see airplance such as the ultra bandit turbine jet .