What an unforgettable weekend we had at the Shuttleworth Summer Fete & Drone Race!
Set against the stunning backdrop of Shuttleworth College and its historic aircraft museum, we teamed up with the BDRA to bring the thrill of drone racing to a whole new crowd. Unlike attending the usual RC-focused events, this was a fresh experience for us. It was exciting to show off our sport - most had never seen drone racing up close before, and their excitement was contagious!
We kicked off at 9:00 am and soon the unmistakable buzz of drones zipping around the track filled the air, drawing curious spectators from all corners of the grounds. Watching kids’ jaws drop at the speed—and hearing their laughter when a drone took a tumble—was priceless. Their faces lit up even more when they learned just how fast these drones could fly, and that they could try their hand at flying one themselves in our dome tent.
A huge shoutout to the BDRA committee for setting up the dome tent ahead of time—it made my Saturday morning setup a breeze! Inside, we ran our “Whoop Give It a Go” sessions, letting newcomers experience the joy of drone flight. The BDRA had even invested in some beginner-friendly FPV whoops so anyone could join in. To avoid interfering with the main race, we cleverly switched off the FPV transmitters, letting everyone fly line-of-sight with no issues.
As the races roared on and the signature “Big Whoop” sounds echoed, more and more families flocked to our tent. The BDRA’s nearly invisible safety netting kept everyone safe, though it did occasionally get tangled in the blades—a quick prop pop and we were back in action!
Special thanks to Eric, David, Zoey, and Dad for braving the heat and helping out in the tent all day. With the sun blazing, it felt like an oven inside, but their support kept things running smoothly. When the wind picked up later, it made flying a bit more challenging, but the breeze was a welcome relief!
Most of our young pilots were under 12, and it was fantastic to see how quickly they picked up the basics. Even the littlest ones (ages 3 to 5) got in on the action, often teaming up with their parents. Some kids were so hooked they came back on Sunday for more flying and to catch the drone race finals. Maybe we’ll see them at a local drone club soon!
We also had affordable, tough little drones for sale—perfect for energetic young pilots. The H36 model, in particular, proved it could survive even the most enthusiastic four-year-old on a sugar rush, much to parents’ delight.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted but happy—it was a scorcher, but seeing so many kids take their first flights made it all worthwhile. The Scots saved the evening with a delicious barbecue, and as we swapped stories over burgers and sausages, the fun didn’t stop. Antihype’s giant RC car made an appearance, and we ended the day chasing it across the field with our tiny whoops as the sun set behind the manor house.
All in all, it was a weekend full of smiles, firsts, and the kind of memories that make you love this hobby even more.
Well done to all the pilots and helpers for putting on a great show for the visitors. The Shuttleworth team came over and said how many people were buzzing about the drone racing which is exactly why were were there - to share this hobby with more & new people. Well... that, and points!
Congratulations to Owen Knight (Nighthawk) taking 1st place, with Toby Hughes (Minus_One) in 2nd and Stephen Gibbs (ReikonFPV) bringing up 3rd place in this hotly contested race. Check out the full finals results table here.
If you'd like us to come to your event and run a give it a go drone racing session, just drop us a message below.
Can’t wait for the next one!
