First-person-view (FPV) racing is one of the hottest multirotor segments out there right now. In the beginning, it was truly a grassroots-type effort. Groups of people gathered together with scratch-built quads comparing notes and figuring out designs until they came up with something that worked. Before long, they were racing through trees and forests, competing for local titles and bragging rights. Within a few years, organizations started appearing and stepped up to create national competitions. These races were so big that they started attracting attention outside of the drone world by mainstream media. Today, we have many competitions that are qualifiers for national championships and world championships. This is quite a remarkable achievement in such a short time. I was fortunate enough to attend the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is oneof the largest electronic shows in the world. Coinciding with that show was the second race of the Xtreme Drone Circuit (XDC), also in Las Vegas. This race was a feast for the eyes and an extreme challenge for all pilots who attended. I’m sure that you will enjoy the visual treatment that awaits you in the pages ahead. Unfortunately, because of other commitments, I was not able to attend and enjoy it in person. But two weeks later, I did attend the Drone Racers Acceler-8-tion team race, once again in Las Vegas, which brought together some of the best FPV teams to compete for the title of number one in sponsored teams. A few weeks later, I found myself in Burbank, California, watching a qualifier for the World Drone Prix. This racecourse also featured the FPVLighTrax setup that was used in the XDC_2 event. While the latter course wasn’t as extreme, it was still a visual treat for both the pilots and spectators. It was a fun month for me. In addition to all the latest racing news, this issue also features tips on picking out your next battery charger, answers to some common questions, and information on how to use telemetry in your multirotor. There is also an interesting story on how scientists are measuring Arctic Sea ice using multirotors. If you are interested in drones, then you picked up the right issue, an enjoyable treat for the eyes and the mind. 
RotorDrone March/April 2016
