Drone racing group sparks grassroots efforts

BOSSIER CITY, LA (KSLA) - One group is working to increase exposure to drone racing in northwest Louisiana.

The Red River First Person View races at South Bossier Park monthly and flies all over the Shreveport/Bossier area for practice.

Quinton Craig with the Red River FPV says they work to educate people on drone uses and take away the negative connotation that they're just used to spy.

"Really and truly we haven't seen any of that come to light. These are extremely noisy things with cameras that are low resolutions," said Craig. "If you wanted to spy on someone you could have a digital camera with a long lens that makes no noise."

Craig says they demonstrate safe practices and comply with FAA regulations.

"Safe zone would be under 400 foot, outside of the range of airports, not in flight paths, not flying towards people or over people, and generally following common scene rules like that."

The drones are also equipt with a camera that allows a first person view, where the pilot gets to experience the flight through special goggles.

"You feel like you're in the craft. It's something that you absolutely cannot experience because something this size can fly through tree branches that a human couldn't fit through at 100 miles an hour," said Craig.

Red River FPV races at South Bossier Park monthly and flies all over the Shreveport/Bossier area for practice. They invite people interested in FPV racing, hobby sports, or those who simply enjoy watching.

The group is part of the national drone racing league, MultiGP, that focuses on grassroots racing at the local level.

According to the MultiGP website, they welcome pilots and organizers of all skill levels to participate and help grow our sport.

See the drones in action with this 360° video. Tap to interact.