AMERICUS — It’s a bird, it’s a plane — wait — it is a plane this time — a radio controlled one — overhead near Hodges Hobbies about seven miles out of Americus just off of Ga. Highway 49 North.

Actually, last year, there were 99 planes flying at one time, which broke a world record, Jeff Meyers, event director for the Southeast Electric Flight Festival (SEFF), sponsored by the Fayette Flyers, said. The previous record was 57 in South Africa.

The event is scheduled to take place April 23 and 24, and Meyers is expecting more than 500 pilots and expects to bring in between 1,000 and 2,000 people, including pilots and spectators.

“There will be every kind of radio controlled plane at the event,” Meyers said. “We’ll have electric powered jets, war birds, scaled military war crafts, racing planes, gliders, park flyers and more.”

Mack Hodges, owner of Hodges Hobbies, has an “impressive” radio controlled X1 rocket.

“It’s really impressive,” Meyers said. “The wing span is 22 feet long.”

Meyers said a man who had that model was the first one who broke the sound barrier.

This will be the group’s eighth year in Americus, and the ninth annual event.

Fayette Flyers outgrew its initial location in Atlanta, and needed a larger field.

“Hodges’ field is one of the premiere sites in the country,” Meyers said. “It’s a real gem in the hobby industry.”

Hodges has a 1,800-ft. runway, and keeps his field in tip-top shape, Meyers said.

“Plus, there’s a hobby shop on property just in case something breaks,” Meyers said.

People come from not just from around the nation, but from all over the world.

In the past, there have been attendees from Holland, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Japan and Germany.

It’ll be taking place for two days, but Saturday’s the big day, Meyers said. At noon, there’ll be a show that lasting between an hour and an hour and a half.

“It’ll show the biggest, baddest, fastest, most highly-skilled pilots in attendance,” Meyers said.

At 11:45 a.m. that day, there’ll be a candy drop for children.

Admission is $3, and people can either bring their own lunches or purchase food at the event.

But, there’s not just one big event. Anyone is welcome to come watch at 11:45 a.m. Friday and stay until dark.

According to Melanie Grace, executive director of Americus-Sumter County’s Tourism Council, it’s an amazing event to watch.

“It’s a blast to go out and watch them,” Grace said. “It’s a popular sport, not just here, but everywhere. It’s unbelievable to see what the skilled pilots can do with the planes, especially after dark.”

All proceeds raised will be donated to Sumter County charities.

And the event makes a big difference in Americus’ economy, too.

According to Grace, in 2009, people coming out for the event spent about $90,000 at local hotels, $65,000 at stores while in the area, $35,000 at local restaurants and $20,000 on fuel.

For more information, visit www.fayetteflyers.com.