GENESEO, N.Y. — A place that’s dedicated to preserving and promoting vintage aircraft was the site of a recent takeover, of sorts. The National Warplane Museum in Geneseo hosted some high-flying pilots of a different kind.

What happened on a field in Geneseo would make Orville and Wilbur proud. Enthusiasts of old planes — not the ones that are part of the museum here.  But the model planes, and the men who designed and built them.

Even the Wright brothers didn’t get it right on the first try.

The model airplane contest was sponsored by the Flying Aces Club, an international model airplane organization. There’s a draw.

“The people,” laughed Doug Beardsworth, of Connecticut. “I enjoy the building. I enjoy the flying, but this is a great group of folks."

Most started when they were young.

“Ever since I was a kid back in the '60s,” said Tom Hallman, of Pennsylvania.

Unlike the real thing, these planes are powered by rubber band. An event called the Flying Aces nationals brought them here, for something that truly has to be seen to be believed.

“It’s supposed to be a test of man and machine,” said Sky Mayo, the club’s president emeritus.

Thirty pilots lined up, sending 30 planes into the air. The goal is to stay in flight as long as possible.

“Every time you build a new model, it’s like being the Wright brothers all over again with their plane,” said Hallman. “It's you and the wind and the breeze.”

How long the planes stay in the air is only part of the competition. Model builders are judged on scale and historical accuracy.

“We started learning that if we shared our experiences and shared our knowledge, everybody had more fun,” said Mayo.