Bennett Field - A World Class Field with a Long History!
William G. Bennet
Our primary flying field is the William Bennett RC Airfield located on the eastern edge of the Las Vegas Valley, just north of Sam Boyd Stadium. This premiere facility has a great history of RC contests and exhibitions, and is a Clark County park facility. Bennett field is open to all RC aircraft pilots who possess a valid AMA Membership.
The airfield has a 100’ by 700’ east/west runway with pit areas for competition and two large shade shelters for spectators. The Bennett Field – located in the eastern edge of the Las Vegas valley just north of the Sam Boyd Stadium - is open to any flyer with a valid AMA open flight card. Visitors are welcome to come and watch the clubs fly anytime. Bleacher seating provides a view of the entire event area.
The field is open 365 days a year, weather permitting, and flying is permissible from 7:00 AM till dusk. Of course, visitors are always welcome and ample bleacher seating is available to see what’s going on.
A Little History
Bennett Field is named after Bill Bennett, a major owner of several Nevada Casinos, and an avid RC enthusiast. He personally financed the construction of two model aircraft fields in Las Vegas. Only one remains. Known as the William G. Bennett Radio Control Aircraft Field. It was called the Circus Circus R/C field initially because Mr. Bennett owned the hotel and casino.
He also owned the Circus Circus Reno, Slots O' Fun, Silver City, Excalibur, Luxor, the Edgewater and Colorado Belle in Laughlin and Circus Circus Tunica in Mississippi. After he sold his interests in those properties he purchased the Sahara Hotel and Casino.
The airfield has a 100’ by 700’ east/west runway with pit areas for competition and two large shade shelters for spectators. The Bennett Field – located in the eastern edge of the Las Vegas valley just north of the Sam Boyd Stadium - is open to any flyer with a valid AMA open flight card. Visitors are welcome to come and watch the clubs fly anytime. Bleacher seating provides a view of the entire event area.
The field is open 365 days a year, weather permitting, and flying is permissible from 7:00 AM till dusk. Of course, visitors are always welcome and ample bleacher seating is available to see what’s going on.
A Little History
Bennett Field is named after Bill Bennett, a major owner of several Nevada Casinos, and an avid RC enthusiast. He personally financed the construction of two model aircraft fields in Las Vegas. Only one remains. Known as the William G. Bennett Radio Control Aircraft Field. It was called the Circus Circus R/C field initially because Mr. Bennett owned the hotel and casino.
He also owned the Circus Circus Reno, Slots O' Fun, Silver City, Excalibur, Luxor, the Edgewater and Colorado Belle in Laughlin and Circus Circus Tunica in Mississippi. After he sold his interests in those properties he purchased the Sahara Hotel and Casino.
He loved flying model helicopters but was not very good at it. It cost him so much to repair them that he decided to open a retail hobby shop just so he could get his helicopter parts at wholesale. It was called Circus Hobbies and was located on Highland Avenue, a couple miles South of the hotel. He did a lot more mail order business than walk in. He arranged an exclusive distributorship for the United States for Japan Radio controllers. He sold them under the Circus Hobbies brand. We now know them as JR radios.
One reason Bill Bennett constructed the flying field was to host the Tournament of Champions (TOC). This invitation only event featured cash prizes to winners which is not rivaled to this day. Of course, Mr. Bennett didn't miss the opportunity to promote his hotel/casino and his hobby shop. Only the top R/C pilots were invited. The TOC was truly a spectator event.
LVRC has a secondary field located in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Hemenway Harbor. This field offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains
One reason Bill Bennett constructed the flying field was to host the Tournament of Champions (TOC). This invitation only event featured cash prizes to winners which is not rivaled to this day. Of course, Mr. Bennett didn't miss the opportunity to promote his hotel/casino and his hobby shop. Only the top R/C pilots were invited. The TOC was truly a spectator event.
LVRC has a secondary field located in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Hemenway Harbor. This field offers spectacular views of the lake and surrounding mountains