Nova Scotia Drone Racing League joins Yarmouth exhibition lineup

The Nova Scotia Drone Racing League has joined this year's Western Nova Scotia Exhibition in Yarmouthand the league's founder is eager to show off the "magic" of what the fast-growing hobbyhas to offer.

Drone racing combines drone piloting, elements of virtual reality technology and air racing through open-field obstacle courses.

At the exhibition, there will be races, freestyle flying and even audience participation. The five-day event runs from Aug. 3 to 7.

Watch the action on the big screen

Audiences will be protected from the drones by tall netting and Plexiglaswalls at the Mariners Centre, says Allen Whittaker, a member of the exhibition's board of directors.

To make it easier to see the action, a live feed from the drone's camera will be patched into the centre's big screen.

Whittaker is excited about the drone inclusion.

"All of our board members are asked to look for the new, unusual or up and coming, and events," he said. "The whole fact they're creating a league to race drones there's something there."

David Titus of Halifax launched the league's website in Aprilafter seeing similar leaguesrev up in other parts ofthe world. He wants to shape the community of enthusiasts interested in the hobbyone which he likens to the formativedays of skateboarding inthe 1970s.

"When I saw this stuff, I thought, 'That's the coolest stuff I've seen in a long time.' I'm 47yearsold. I've been around long enough to really appreciate the technology here," said Titus.

• Drone racing: Armchair pilots strap on goggles for aerial dogfights

'An approachable hobby'

For newcomers, it'll cost $500 to get into the sport,but the sky's the limit for customizing and strengthening the drones, says Titus.

With the advent of new virtual reality technology, drone pilots can don goggles for a first-person experience and "suddenly be hundreds of feet in the air, flying like a bird," he said.

Titus says the hobby is rapidly evolving.

"To me, it's magic," he said.

• VIDEO |World Drone Prix looks to usher in future of sport

Drone basics

In Nova Scotia, most enthusiasts will start with the basics: propellers that spin at 30,000 rotations per minute and motors that can push a drone to speeds of 70 km/h or more.

It's a self-taught hobby, so Titus is also promoting safety flying outside, away from people and alongside a spotter.

"I try to show people that this is an approachable hobby," he said. "You got to do some self education, which is something I'm hoping to do with this little community I'm putting together to help people figure it out."

So far, over 20 members have signed up for the league.