FPV multirotor racing has been getting quite popular and I have attended a few races myself. But what aboutthe fixed wing FPV guys? Fixed wing FPV flight is obviously much older than multirotor and yet it is missing the racing component. The boys in north east USA have created a small spec class and have published at least one video of legit fixed wing racing and I've also seen a race session with IBCrazy on YouTube. It only took one trip to the multirotor races for my fellow members of the Flight Club to get the itch to try it. I attempted to fly the multirotor race course in Oakland CA but it was way too small for a fixed wing. We began thinking about what it would take to get some real FPV fixed wing racing going, how the starts would be managed and what the courses may look like.
We often fly in formation and already have a small team of expert FPV pilots, so why not give it a try? We found a great new venue to put it to the test, Gibson Ranch in Sacramento.
We have been brain storming the starting method and I believe a "yacht racing" start may be best and tactically exciting. Another option would be a Le Mans where everyone has to run to their ground stations and turn everything on before flight. Another option is a hand launch for each craft at once in a line, but that requires just as many spotters as pilots. If you have any ideas or theories for us to test out, please reply below with your feedback.
Obviously soccer goal posts are perfect for fixed wing FPV racing gates.
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