World’s best pilots to race LIVE at the NEC this weekend

UK event brings drone Top Guns to NEC, Birmingham as part of new tech and gadget exhibition

Some of the best drone pilots from around the globe will be pitting themselves against each other at the European Masters invitational drone racing event at the NEC in Birmingham this December.

Hosted by Jason Bradbury, the well-known technology expert from TV’s “The Gadget Show”, the drone world’s “top guns” will be taking to the air as part of the UK Drone and Technology Show Live at the National Exhibition Centre on the 1st and 2nd of December.

The top talent on display includes the UK’s Luke Bannister, who was crowned World Drone Prix champion in 2016 at age 15. Another young hotshot vying for the cash is America’s Alex Vanover, an 18-year-old who recently became the USA’s National Drone Racing Champion, and who is making his European UK racing debut at the show. Also making his first debut on UK soil is Korean 14-year-old wunderkind Minchan Kim, widely regarded as the fastest drone pilot in the world.

Drone racers wear goggles that are connected to a small camera and video transmitter on their small aircraft giving them a first-person view of the course. Pilots race each other and the clock around tracks that are filled with gates and other obstacles the pilots must navigate.

Commenting on his love for drone racing, Mincham Kim said: “It feels like I am flying, and if I crash into the gate it feels like I am crashing.” Spectators at the European Masters get to share the adrenaline rush the speed and crashes give the pilots by getting up close to the action, protected by a safety net hung from the roof. There will also be video screens where spectators can see the “pilot’s eye view” from each drone.

Oliver O’Brien from UK Drone Show commented: “It’s an honour to have such great pilots racing at our event, we’ve designed a really technical track for the European Masters, not only to stretch the pilots to the limits of their skill but also to give the crowd an amazing up-close experience.” Despite the technical nature of the course, pilots will still get the chance to open up the taps. “The noise as they rip through the air to make the tight turns is something you have to experience firsthand to appreciate the speeds and the skills involved,” he added. “We’re thrilled to be able to bring the very best drone pilots from around the world to Birmingham for this unique event.”

As well as world-class drone racing, visitors to the Drone and Tech Show Live can get to see the latest racing and camera drones from all the major manufacturers, and speak to experts from the UK’s top specialist drone retailers.

Alongside competitions to win drones and professional drone training courses, there’s a “Perfect Capture” drone photography competition with £4K worth of prizes on offer, this is sponsored by Sony, London camera exchange and the Civil Aviation Authority, and a live speaker’s area dedicated to commercial drone use and the application of technology in business.

Together with all things drone, the show promises to be a huge hit with anyone who’s a fan of gadgets and the latest tech. Joining Jason Bradbury will be Julia Hardy and Andy Jaye to host a range of live demonstrations of amazing technology including virtual reality gaming, home robotics, and much more. Plus there’s plenty of gadget shopping opportunities to pick up a Christmas bargain, as well as amazing interactive exhibits from companies like Tesla and AMG Mercedes.

The UK Drone and Technology Show Live is at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December 2018. Advance tickets are available now from www.techshowlive.com