Drones have totally changed the way young people have fun today. They are no longer interested in cars or bicycles. All they want is to have a powerful high-tech drone, learn its various controls, including basic functions and advanced maneuvering techniques, and then participate in drone racing to test your skills against the skills of many other pilots in this art. It is recommended first to gain knowledge on how to enter such a contest, what are the prerequisites and what to expect when you finally arrive at the race venue and start flying your aerial machine.
FPV systems
If you haven’t seen a drone racing contest yet, you may be wondering how it goes. Of course, you can’t track your drone all the way to keep it in line of sight. So how do you monitor your location, change directions or altitude and find out where you are in the race? Well, drone racing is done through FPV or First Person View systems. This type of drone handling is also known as FPV flying because the person who is flying a drone sees it through a screen as if they were actually sitting inside the drone. Exciting, isn’t it?
Well that’s exactly what makes this sport even more enjoyable and worth being a part of. Since the sport of drone racing is increasing in popularity worldwide, the latest drones come equipped with specialized glasses that allow the user to experience the entire flight through their eyes.
A racing drone
The first thing you should do before being part of such a sporting event is buy a racing drone. You may have already guessed that not all drones qualify for drone racing. These specialized aerial machines are also known as multi-rotor drones; they move faster than normal drones and are also much more stable. They are also smaller than a drone made for some other purpose, such as surveillance, mapping, or data acquisition. There is a size standard when it comes to a racing drone because it has to move in various types of situations, overtake other machines that fly nearby, and overcome obstacles.
Features to consider in your racing drone
Although there is no limitation on the model or brand of the drone you bring to the contest, it is a good idea to see what other riders are using so that you can also get a machine suitable for this purpose. Here are some of the features you should consider when buying a racing drone:
Speed: Everything that participates in a racing contest must be fast and agile. What good is an extremely sophisticated machine with all the latest features and a high-resolution camera, which is not fast? A rule of thumb is to get a drone that can easily go above 35 mph and, in some situations, even cross the speed of 50 mph. To reach this level of speed, you will also need powerful batteries and higher voltages than normal drones.
FPV Camera: Don’t forget to buy a model that comes equipped with an FPV camera and this is clearly mentioned in the specs when you review various drone models. Camera position is also important in drone racing because you want to see what’s coming when your drone is tilted forward.
Flight Controller: Just be aware that without a good flight controller you will never win a drone racing contest. Why? Because such controller comes with firmware which makes drone flight smooth and stable. Many novice pilots can easily overlook this feature, but this is advice you will get from every drone pilot who has had a good experience on the field.
Longevity and Insurance: Powerful drones are not cheap, so you must secure your racing drone before entering a contest. This is because in a racing event, crash episodes, damage and collisions are quite common. If your drone is not repairable, you will lose a good amount of money.
Fly a racing drone
Once you have a racing drone in your hands, you must first learn its controls. Basic controls are required for normal flight, just for fun, but when you participate in a race with world-class drone pilots like your competitors, you also need to master some advanced-level skills. Adjusting your drone to keep it stable when it takes off and flies in midair is also a very important step.
