But he also has another reason - to thank the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service for saving his life after a light plane he was flying crashed near Luskintyre last year with engine failure.

Mr Bryson was pulled from the wreckage of a Chipmunk with his back broken in two places, and his knee and ankle shattered.

"They saved my life. That is why all the money raised at this weekend's display featuring more than 130 radio-controlled aircraft will go to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service," Mr Bryson said.

Models flying at Luskintyre airfield will include a jet turbine aircraft speeding at more than 250km/h, planes on floats flying from water, and classic models of aircraft from World War I and II.

An aircraft engineer, Mr Bryson has had a passion for aircraft from his school days.

"The beauty of our aircraft is the gift they bring to flyers," he said.

"From the ground, you can have your plane performing to match those of the greatest airmen of bygone ages.

"There is the added joy that from the ground, you can see everything the aircraft does, whereas in cockpit, your views are very cramped."

A pride of Mr Bryson's fleet is a Gloucester Gladiator, one of the last biplanes before World War II and similar to the three famous planes that once defended Malta.

Mr Bryson said most of the model aircraft were a third the size of real ones.

"We have a Sopwith Triplane with a 260cc radial engine that is beautiful and easy to fly," he said.

"It took me nine months to build and construction was very close to the way the actual plane was built."

The competition already has 80 entrants, each one having entered three aircraft.

The displays on Saturday and Sunday start at 9am both days.

Tickets for adults are $5 each and children are free, but they must be accompanied by an adult.