The Best Racing Drones – Satisfy Your Need for Speed

The best racing drones are small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) designed for competition purposes. They are often used in first person view racing events which are normally held in various cities around the globe. Drone racing is fun and if you participated in the Hawaii 2016 World championship, then you know how entertaining the sport is.

Unlike camera drones, racing drones fly fast and quickly and if you’re no longer interested in cars and bikes anymore, then you may want to try them. In case you’re planning to participate in a drone racing competition, be sure to have a high-tech powerful drone that can help increase your odds.

Racing FPV drones come with mounted cameras that enable you to control the quadcopter. Each competitor wears a head-mounted display that provides live stream feeds from the quadcopter. The images you see are usually transmitted via radio waves. Most drone racing sports are done indoors to reduce hazards that may occur.
However, before flying your drone you may need to register first and check the legality of the sport in your country if you want to fly it outdoors. Now, before heading to the market to get yourself a good racing drone, there are factors you need to keep in mind.

Racing Drone Durability

No one would want to imagine crashing their lovely drones but it usually happens. No drone racer is perfect and if you are a beginner venturing into drone racing for the first time, then you might encounter a few crashes before you progress to the pro level. Therefore, the endurance of your drone is vital. In case of a crash, propellers might break off and is worse for the case of heavy drones.

This is why lightweight models are most preferred since they don’t suffer extensive damage in case of a crash. Always emphasize on buying a drone with a tough and durable frame. Carbon fiber is considered the best.

Moreover, in the course of your racing, you might want to buy different replacement parts like batteries, props, motors, frames, and ESCs. It pays to consider the cost of these replacement parts. Even if a drone comes with a decent warranty, it covers only the manufacturer defects and not the damage that may occur when you’re flying the drone.

Drone Maneuverability

As a first-time drone racer, you’ll just need a drone that is easy to fly around. However, for the advanced drone racers who want to perform a series of acrobatic turns and twists, a drone with great maneuverability is ideal. The maneuverability of a drone is determined by its flight stability level, control response time, lift power and banking predictability.

The response time is the time a drone takes to respond to the commands you make. Racing drones come with flight control software that determines the stability of your drone. Props, motors, and ESCs define the lift power of a drone. These drones also come with powerful motors and efficient props that deliver great lift power.

This makes it easy for you to negotiate sharp corners and race faster than other competitors. You can consider a drone with 10.1 power to weight ratio. High-quality 3S and 4S motors are also paramount. Props should be thin, lightweight and efficient.

Racing Drone Speed

Speed is critical in any type of competition and drone racing is no exception. You need speed to win. Most racing quadcopter drones come with speeds of over 75 mph. Speed should go hand in hand with maneuverability.

It makes no sense to buy a high-speed drone that is hard to maneuver around.

Racing Drone Flight Time

Although drones aren’t designed to last for long in the air, it is advisable to consider their flight time when buying one. These devices can only last for up to five minutes in the air but often come with very quick and short power and speed outburst. This is why they sap the battery power very fast.

They are not like camera drones that take up to 15-20 minutes in the air. This is because they allow you to take as many aerial photographs as you want. It is good to pay attention to the battery life of your drone.

Budget and Affordability

If you are a beginner, then you might want a cheaper drone as you rise up your learning curve. For the pro racers, you should never compromise on the quality of your drone especially if you want to use it for competition. For instance, you may need a drone that comes with an LCD monitor or goggles.

Those with LCD monitors are cheaper compared to those with goggles, but they still give you clear images. Goggles provide a more immersive viewing experience and can cancel all distractions that may occur as you race. This is why they are mostly preferred by professional racers.

Good Camera is Important

Pilots who race drones often prefer quadcopters with a dual camera system. A good HD action camera alongside an FPV is good for any serious racer. FPV cameras often record analog videos with low light sensitivity and low latency. HD action cameras record high-quality videos with greater color representation. Factors such as form factor, mounting, connectors, and lens type are quite essential.

The most common types of FPV cameras you’ll find on the market are the Runcam and Foxeer. With a good camera, you can clearly see the direction where your drone is heading. The quality of the picture relayed matters. Choose a camera that has a resolution of between 700-800 TVL.