2015 US Drone Racing Nationals Links

During the California State Fair in July 2015, the US Drone Racing Nationals made history.  This event, which drew about 120 pilots competing for a 25,000 prize was the first large scale First-Person-View (FPV) race in the country.

Want to re-live the event, or indulge your curiosity on what it is all about?  Here’s some** of the best (of quite a lot) media coverage:

Pre-coverage:

Estrin, Sam.  “2015 US National Drone Racing Championship at the California State Fair,”  Drone Universities.com.  Posted 24 June 2015.

Strong, Katie and Ashiah Scharaga.  “Interactive guide: Drone racing at the California State Fair,”  The Sacramento Bee.  Posted 14 July 2015.

Nakashima, Rebecca.  “The 2015 Inaugural U.S. National Drone Racing Championship will be held at the California State Fair on Bonney Field July 16 & 17,”  VenuesToday.com.  Published 26 May 2015.

"Fat Shark" is blazoned on the front of this set of white FPV goggles. The control are set in blue on top.
Fat Shark FPV goggles, like those used in the 2015 Drone Nationals. Donated by Scot Refsland, Drone Sports Association, 2017.09.

During the event:

CBS News.  “Drone Racing Soars as a Competitive Sport,”  CBS.com.  Posted 16 July 2015.

Chan, Norman.  “FPV Quadcopter Racing at the Drone Nationals!,”  Tested.  Posted 23 July 2015.

Amezcua, Hector.  “Video: Drone Racing at the California State Fair,”  The Sacramento Bee’s Youtube Channel.  Posted 16 July 2015.

AMA.  “VIDEO: Coverage of the 2015 Drone Nationals,”  AMA’s Competition and Events blog Posted 7 August 2015.

The front and back of this white t-shirt has been signed by pilots in black marker. It is pretty well covered in signatures.
T-shirt signed by the pilots at the 2015 Drone Nationals. Donated by Scot Refsland, Drone Sports Association

Post coverage:

Murphy, Mike.  “The first US national drone-racing competition was won by an Australian,”  Quartz.com.  Posted 18 July 2015.

Egel, Ben.  “State Fair attracts world’s top drone racers,”  The Sacramento Bee.  Posted 17 July 2015.

Goers, Randy.  “Business of FPV Drone Racing – Scot Refsland,”  Drone Radio Show.  no posting date, but a top 10 podcast of 2015.

“Aussie Wins First US Drone Championships,”  Australian Broadcasting Corporation RN Drive.  Posted 21 July 2015.

Hague, Corey.  “Chad Nowak: Aussie drone racer moves to US to keep his dreams flying,”  ABC Radio Sydney.  Posted 30 December 2015.

JPHAdmin, “2015 US Drone Racing Nationals,”  Jake’s Performance Hobbies.  Posted 18 July 2015.  Retrieved 29 April 2017.

**We know that there is a lot of media coverage that was not included with this list.  If you know of something that should be shared – whether a news story, your own FPV video of the event, or your memories, please email Maria at mariav@modelaircraft.org and it’ll be added to the research file.  Thanks!

Bright red baseball cap and water bottle, cinch backpacks, transmitter, FPV goggles, multirotor frames, participant ribbons the awarded belt buckle prize all from the 2015 US Drone Nats.
Multirotor frames, baseball cap, water bottle, transmitter, FPV goggles and other items related to the 2015 US Drone Nationals. donated by Scot Refsland of Drone Sports Association..

In 2017, Scot Refsland, of the Drone Sports Association donated a large collection of artifacts to the National Model Aviation Museum to tell the event’s story in physical form besides the digital videos and all the written words.   Thank you Scot, and to everyone that was a part of the event.  We’re glad to be caring for this history!

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For more information on the National Model Aviation Museum, including our location, hours and admission fees visit: www.modelaircraft.org/museum

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