Reedley airshow draws crowds with nearly 200 RC jets at Peg Field

Nearly 200 turbine-powered RC jets roared over Peg Field in Reedley as about 70 pilots put on a free public airshow that drew hobbyists, families and curious spectators to the east-side Fresno County city. Organizers urged people to bring chairs and settle in for the displays, turning the event into a daylong gathering rather than a closed club meet.

The show gave Reedley a rare regional spotlight and showed how a niche hobby can become a public draw when the aircraft are big, loud and easy to watch. Clovis Area Modelers, also known as Clovis RC, said the goal goes beyond entertainment. The club wants to introduce RC aviation to the public and spark interest among younger generations who might one day become pilots, builders or event volunteers.

Peg Field is the club’s home flying field, an old ranch airstrip at 1751 S. Alta Ave. that the group describes as roughly 3,000 feet long. The club says the site has a paved runway over 3,000 feet long, a resurfaced section about 700 feet by 45 feet, a large shaded pit area, RV parking and views toward the Sierra Nevada near Kings Canyon National Park. It is also FAA FRIA-certified, which means no Remote ID is required to fly there, a detail that helps explain why the field can host larger turbine events.

Reedley’s role in RC aviation is not new. The club’s 2026 calendar lists Jets Over California at Peg Field from April 29 through May 2, 2026, with large turbine model aircraft, formation flying and high- and low-G maneuvers. That event underscores how the site has become a recurring gathering place for pilots traveling from beyond Reedley, including visitors from Clovis, which is about a 20-minute drive away.

A FOX26 report in 2022 also pointed to the same pattern, describing a huge model jet rally at Peg Field over Wednesday through Saturday and a separate West Coast Festival of Giants at the Reedley Municipal Airport that opened to spectators at 9 a.m. Together, the events show Reedley has become more than a backdrop for model aviation. It has become one of Fresno County’s most recognizable places for it.