The 1st FAI World Drone Racing Championships kicked off today in Shenzhen, China, with a fast opening round of racing in the spectacular Shenzhen Universiade Center-Stadium.

A total of 128 competitors, including 44 Juniors and 13 women, from 34 countries are in China for the competition, which lasts four days, from 1-4 November 2018.

Alongside the drone pilots, there are 34 team managers, plus 72 extra helpers and 40 official supporters. 

Italian pilot Luisa Rizzo’s life changed when her father bought her a drone “to help me move”, giving the 16-year-old wheelchair user from Lecce in Southern Italy a sense of freedom she had never felt before.

“I loved flying my drone, so I decided to try racing,” she said. “There are not many drone racing pilots in Italy, so I mainly trained alone. But I enjoyed it so much I trained every day.”

The FAI has a new President: Robert Henderson from New Zealand was elected with a 4-year mandate at the FAI General Conference in Luxor, Egypt last weekend.

The last person from outside of Europe to serve as FAI President was Clifton F von Cann, of the USA, who was President from 1988 to 1990.

Final preparations are underway in Shenzhen, China for the 1st FAI World Drone Racing Championships, which start on Thursday 1 November.

Some 128 competitors, including 44 Juniors and 13 women, from 34 countries have arrived in China’s number-one tech city for the competition, which lasts four days.

Alongside the drone pilots, there are 34 team managers, plus 72 extra helpers and 40 official supporters. 

The 112th FAI General Conference took place in Luxor, Egypt, on 26 and 27 October 2018.

More than 70 delegates from Active, Associate, Temporary Member Countries and Recognized Organizations with a Regional Scope attended, alongside FAI elected Officers, Presidents of Honour, Companions of Honour, Presidents of Commissions or their appointed representatives and Observers.

The achievements of athletes and pilots from across the world of air sports were celebrated last night at the annual FAI Awards Ceremony, held in Luxor, Egypt.

The 2018 ceremony marked the start of the 112th FAI General Conference, the plenary sessions of which take place on 26 and 27 October.

FAI President Frits Brink presented the awards, as well as an “FAI Companions of Honour” Diploma to Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from Saudi Arabia.

The 1st FAI World Drone Racing Championships in China are on the horizon, with less than two weeks to go.

Apart from the pilots, star of the show is sure to be the track. With its 7,000m of LED lights it is certain to turn heads among drone fans around the world.

However, just as eye-catching and inspiring is where the track is set – the location of the whole competition.

Calling all drone racing fans: tickets for the very first FAI World Drone Racing Championships – the most exciting event on the drone racing calendar 2018 – are on sale now!

What’s more, you can get a massive 40% discount if you use one of our exclusive code when buying them online in advance.

There are four sessions to choose from: