One of the most unforgettable attractions at the 2025 Morgan County Fair wasn’t on the grandstand stage — it was rolling across the grounds on tracks. The military tank show brought real armored vehicles to Jacksonville, Illinois, and we chased the action with 3.5-inch and 5-inch FPV drones for footage you have to see to believe.
Real Military Vehicles at the Morgan County Fair
The tank show drew some of the biggest crowds of the week. Visitors of all ages got an up-close look at armored vehicles and military hardware — and from the air, the scale of the display was even more impressive.
The Tanks: Meet WW2 Armor
The armored vehicles at the 2025 Morgan County Fair were brought in by WW2 Armor, a central-Florida educational organization dedicated to preserving and demonstrating America’s World War II armored vehicles. What started with a single 1942 Ford GPW jeep has grown into one of the most impressive privately held collections of operational WWII armor in the country.
From the WW2 Armor collection:
- M5 Stuart light tank
- Two M4 Sherman medium tanks
- Two M18 Hellcat tank destroyers
- M36 Jackson tank destroyer
- M3 half-track & M20 armored scout car
- A fleet of armed WWII jeeps
See the full lineup on their collection page, or learn more about the group at ww2armor.org.
Led by Col. Rabbi Rob Thomas, WW2 Armor travels the country for re-enactments, educational events, and even film and television productions — giving the public a rare, hands-on look at what it meant to be a WWII tank crewmember. Having them roll into Jacksonville for the Morgan County Fair was a genuine treat to capture from the air.
Chasing armored vehicles with 3.5-inch and 5-inch FPV drones is exactly the kind of high-energy footage that makes an event unforgettable on social media.
Why FPV Drone Footage Hits Different
Standard aerial shots are great for showing scale, but FPV (first-person-view) drones fly fast, low and dynamic — diving between vehicles and racing alongside the action. It’s the same cinematic style you see in viral sports and event reels, captured right here in Morgan County.
The Vehicles, One by One
What makes the WW2 Armor collection so special is that these aren’t static museum pieces — they’re operational, running machines that visitors can see and hear in action. Here’s a closer look at the hardware that rolled into Jacksonville:
- M5 Stuart — a fast, light tank used by U.S. forces for reconnaissance and infantry support throughout WWII.
- M4 Sherman (x2) — the iconic American medium tank of the war, produced in huge numbers and a workhorse on every front. Few things turn heads at a fair like a running Sherman.
- M18 Hellcat (x2) — the fastest armored fighting vehicle of WWII, the Hellcat was a tank destroyer built for speed and ambush.
- M36 Jackson — a heavier tank destroyer fielded to counter Germany’s most heavily armored tanks late in the war.
- M3 Half-Track & M20 Armored Scout Car — the support and reconnaissance vehicles that kept the armored columns moving.
- Armed WWII Jeeps — the nimble, instantly recognizable vehicles that did everything from scouting to hauling troops.
What the Tank Show Was Like
You hear the tank show before you see it. The rumble of period engines and the clatter of tracks carries clear across the fairgrounds, and it pulls a crowd fast. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages got up close to the vehicles — kids climbing where they were allowed, veterans swapping stories, and history buffs peppering the crew with questions. For a lot of families, it was the first time they’d ever stood next to a running Sherman or Hellcat.
It’s the kind of attraction that does double duty: pure spectacle for the kids, and a genuine, moving history lesson for everyone else. Paired with the fair’s new Salute the Troops night, the tank show gave the 2025 fair a patriotic backbone that fit Morgan County perfectly.
Capturing It With 3.5" & 5" FPV Drones
Standard aerial drones are perfect for showing scale, but they can’t move with the action. For the tank show, we flew 3.5-inch and 5-inch FPV (first-person-view) drones — the same fast, agile aircraft you see in viral sports and cinematic event reels. These drones dive between vehicles, race alongside moving tanks, and pull off dynamic, sweeping moves that a traditional camera drone simply can’t.
Flying FPV around moving armored vehicles and crowds is not a point-and-shoot job. It takes a skilled pilot, the right aircraft for the shot, and a deep respect for safety. The smaller 3.5-inch quad is ideal for tighter, more technical lines, while the 5-inch delivers the speed and presence for those big, chasing hero shots. Together they produced footage that puts you right in the middle of the action — tracks, dust, and all.
Living History in Central Illinois
Bringing real WWII armor to a county fair is no small undertaking, and it’s a gift to a community like Jacksonville. For younger visitors, it turns a textbook chapter into something they can see, hear, and feel. For older generations — and for the veterans the fair honored during Salute the Troops — it’s a powerful tribute to the people who crewed these machines when it counted.
Capturing that kind of living history from the air is exactly the work we love doing. Whether it’s a military display, a car show, a festival, or a sporting event, the right aerial and FPV coverage turns a great event into content that gets remembered — and shared.
The Sherman, the Hellcat & the War They Fought
Part of what makes seeing these vehicles in person so powerful is understanding the role each one played. The M4 Sherman was the backbone of American armored forces in World War II — reliable, mass-produced, and deployed in every theater of the war. Its sheer numbers helped tip the balance, and it remains one of the most recognizable tanks in history.
The M18 Hellcat took a different approach. Built as a tank destroyer, it traded armor for blistering speed — it was the fastest tracked armored vehicle of the war — relying on quickness to strike and slip away. The M36 Jackson arrived later with a more powerful gun, fielded specifically to take on Germany’s most heavily armored tanks. Meanwhile, the nimble M5 Stuart handled reconnaissance and infantry support, and vehicles like the M3 half-track and M20 scout car kept the columns moving and connected. Seeing them lined up together at a county fair in Illinois is a rare chance to appreciate how an entire armored force actually worked.
Why FPV Is the Future of Event Coverage
A few years ago, the kind of fast, weaving, immersive shots you see in this footage were only possible with a helicopter and a six-figure budget. FPV drones changed that. They let a skilled pilot fly the camera like it’s on a roller coaster — diving low between vehicles, racing alongside moving tanks, and pulling up into a sweeping reveal, all in a single continuous take.
That style is exactly why FPV footage performs so well on social media: it puts the viewer inside the action instead of watching from a distance. For an event organizer, a sponsor, or a brand, that’s the difference between a clip people scroll past and one they stop, watch, and share. Pairing FPV with traditional cinematic aerials — the way we did at the tank show — gives you the best of both: the scale of the wide shots and the adrenaline of the chase.
Honoring Those Who Served
There’s a reason a military display draws the crowds it does. For veterans and military families, these vehicles aren’t just machines — they’re a tangible link to service and sacrifice. The 2025 fair leaned into that with its new Salute the Troops night, and the tank show became a natural centerpiece of that tribute.
Documenting it properly — from the air, up close, and in motion — helps preserve that experience and share it with people who couldn’t make it out to the fairgrounds. It’s history, community, and spectacle all at once, and it’s the kind of story we’re proud to help tell.
Licensed, Insured & FAA-Waivered
Every flight in this post was flown by a licensed FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot operating under FAA Certificate of Waiver 107W-2024-01088 — an authorization that specifically permits small drone operations over people (14 CFR § 107.39) and over moving vehicles (14 CFR § 107.145), valid through May 2028. That kind of waiver is rare, and it’s exactly what legally allows us to fly directly above packed crowds, moving vehicles, and busy event grounds. For an event organizer, it’s the difference between aerial footage you can actually use and a serious liability — and it’s why Elevated Ideas can capture shots most drone operators simply can’t.
Bring This Kind of Coverage to Your Event
Military displays, car shows, festivals, fairs, sporting events — if it moves and draws a crowd, we can capture it in a way that stops the scroll. Combining licensed over-people and over-vehicle drone work with fast, cinematic FPV flying gives event organizers and sponsors content that’s genuinely worth sharing.
The tank show was a perfect example of what’s possible when the right pilot, the right aircraft, and the right authorizations all come together. If you’re planning an event in Jacksonville or anywhere across Central Illinois and want coverage that people will actually stop to watch, that’s exactly what we do.
Want FPV Coverage of Your Event?
Elevated Ideas flies both cinematic and FPV drones for events, businesses and brands across Central Illinois. Let’s make your next event go viral.
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Good To Know
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the tank show at the Morgan County Fair?
The 2025 Morgan County Fair featured a display of real military vehicles and armored equipment that visitors could see up close throughout the day.
Who shot the FPV drone footage?
Elevated Ideas captured the tank show using 3.5-inch and 5-inch FPV drones, based in Jacksonville, IL.
Can you fly FPV drones at my event?
Yes — our licensed FAA Part 107 pilots offer FPV and cinematic aerial coverage for events of all kinds. Visit our drone photography and video page to get started.