I’ve recently bought a relatively inexpensive FPV (first-person-view) drone – the kind that comes with a wireless headset to give you a real pilot’s perspective. At £70, it certainly wasn’t “cheap,” but in the world of FPV drones, it’s as affordable as they come. The battery only lasts about five minutes on a full charge (which itself takes 60 minutes), but judging by my students’ enthusiastic reactions, it was worth every penny. And impressively it has survived a few knocks.
The short flight time has already led me to order a few extra batteries to keep the fun going. With the remainder of this year’s budget, I’m now looking into a small fleet of FPV brushless drones (around £200 a set) to kick-start a drone racing club.
Of course, flying drones – especially in a school setting – comes with its fair share of challenges. A thorough risk assessment will be essential to ensure everyone’s safety, particularly when charging LIPO batteries, which require careful handling.
Despite the safety considerations, I’m convinced this could become a brilliant club. Flying drones encourages coordination, teamwork, and strategic thinking, not to mention plenty of discussions about the broader issues around drone use in public spaces.
Apologies for droning on about it – no pun intended!
