About BMAC

Burlington Model Airplane Club History

The Burlington Model Airplane Club was started in 1949 by Jack Polson and Dr. Tom Yard. The original name of the club was the Plymouth Aero League, and it was sponsored by the Plymouth Auto Division. The early meetings were held at Dial Motors on Division Street in Burlington. After about a year, the club name was changed to the Burlington Model Airplane Club and meetings were moved to the First Christian Church.

Two U Control concrete circles were built at the Burlington airport and were later removed to build baseball diamonds. One of the circles was 50 foot radius and the other was 70 foot radius. U control demonstrations were put on at the yearly Aviation Day festival at the airport.

Jack Polson had one of the club's first radio control systems. The system was put in a model of a Luscomb Sedan in about 1952. It was a Heathkit escapement radio system with rudder only. Jack Polson's family still has that airplane.

Proportional radio control came to Burlington in about 1972. Club members flew their planes south of Burlington in a pasture near the Boys' Camp, which is long since gone. Other early flying sites included 34 Raceways and the Armory in Middletown. When Highway 34 was being constructed through Burlington, the club flew just north of Southeastern Community College in the construction area. The club later moved across the road from the Carman cemetery on the Lomax Road in Illinois. The sand was not an ideal location for model airplane flying so another new location was sought.

In 1981 Jack Polson obtained permission from the Des Moines County Supervisors and the Des Moines County Conservation Board to build a field at Big Hollow Recreation Area, north of Burlington. The club has been in this location ever since.

A new clubhouse was donated in 2006 by our special friend, Jack Polson. Jack was a charter member of the Burlington Model Airplane Club. He was instrumental in locating the club's flying field in Big Hollow Creek Park. In June 2004 the flying field was name in his honor. Because of Jack's leadership, gift of time and generous contributions BMAC continues to thrive today.

Interior improvements to the clubhouse were made in 2008 from memorial donations for longtime BMAC member, Warren "Nick" Bouquet. He served faithfully as BMAC secretary and editor of the newsletter for twenty years. The club's fall fun-fly is now called the "Nick Bouquet Memorial Fun-Fly." Nick was a special friend to all who knew him.