From the most powerful to the cheapest do-it-yourself options, there are drones here for everyone.
The ability to fly is something that humans have longed for. While we still haven't found a way to match the aerial prowess of birds, there is one sport that allows its athletes to catch a glimpse of this flying experience.
The sport of drone racing involves strapping on a headset and experiencing the sight of a drone flying, flipping and gliding at speeds in excess of 100 mph. Putting you in the driver's seat with a controller and, hopefully, lightning-fast reflexes, drone racing is certainly a unique experience.
But how do you get started, and more importantly, where can you buy these FPV (First-Person-View) drones? We talked to three-time world champion drone racer Evan Turner to find out what he thinks are the best beginner racing drones.
Do It Yourself
If you want to be like drone racers, the number one option is to build your own racing drone. This requires you to buy all your parts and put them together, which can be a bit daunting for some newbies.
“A typical racing drone in its current state is built from the ground up. You buy parts, and you assemble them all together. Obviously this requires some knowledge or skill, but there is a lot of educational material out there to make it happen,” Turner says.
He runs a website called Five33 that sells parts for making racing drones, but there are many other websites where you can buy these parts such as YourFPV. You can also find tons of guides to show you what you need and how to set it up.
DJI FPV: The Beginner Drone
DJI is a name that will likely be familiar to both drone fanatics and those new to the game. This makes it one of the best-reviewed consumer and photography drones, and for those interested in drone racing, an FPV option as well.
Known creatively as the 'DJI FPV', this is a solid choice for anyone just starting out in FPV drone flight while offering a well-built, easy-to-use device.
Turner says, “DJI FPV drones are a good way to get into FPV and at least understand the basics, but I would also say that you are not going to use the DJI FPV as a long-term drone because it is very basic." ,
“It’s very geared for your early entry-level hobbyist and you outgrow it pretty quickly. If that’s something that interests you and you just want to cruise around, the autonomous features and easy-to-learn controls Would make it a really good option.
iFlight: Best for Pre-Build
If you like the idea of having something pre-built, like DJI's FPV, but want something better for racing, a drone from iFlight might suit your needs.
"They have a lot of ready-to-fly drones in this space for FPV drones. There's a great website and it's accessible to anyone. They're many of the ones used in drone racing or high level hobbyists," says Turner. parts, but they make it a lot easier for you to build a drone.
iFlight makes a lot of drones, but for absolute beginners, Mini Quads would be a good place to start or if you have a little more experience with drones, Race Quads are also a great option.
