A little over a decade ago, the average American household didn’t think much about drones. In the minds of many, drones were tools used by the military to gain a superior tactical advantage. Around that same time, scientists and researchers were beginning to recognize the possibilities afforded to them with drone technology. There was also an increase in model drone kits at hobby stores. Fast forward to 2021, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t seen or heard of drones and their many applications. The drone industry has become one of the fastest growing markets with drones filling unique niches in countless enterprises.

Drones are being used to entertain people by the film and television industry, at live events, or at art installations. Drones have completely reshaped how real estate properties are marketed and sold. Drones have helped emergency responders protect and save thousands of lives. Drones have made it safer and easier to tackle difficult jobs in the fields of surveying and inspections. Drones have made it possible for scientists to make great discoveries. Drones have changed the way people stay in touch by becoming wireless connectivity hubs. Drones are changing the way grade school children engage in STEM activities. Drones have become ways for people in isolation to have access to medications and necessities. The list goes on and continues to grow. But perhaps one of the best things about drones, something that covers all of the above mentioned applications, is that drones are fun.

Whether you are a bystander watching drones or a pilot, there is something inherently cool and exciting about drones. It was the fun factor that led Sam Rasmussen to establish the Kitsap Drones Group in 2015. He wanted to be able to get together with other drone enthusiasts in the Seattle, Washington area. The group started with about 5 members and has grown a lot over the years. It now has members of all ages, some novice hobby pilots, some licensed pilots, and some just looking to get into drones.

Robert Rawlings, one of the club’s original members, said that they see all kinds of drones, off the shelf and homemade ones. But regardless of what type of drone members are flying, they are all there to support each other. On the club’s Facebook page you will often see posts encouraging discussions on the latest drones available. Posts about manufacturers like DJI or the best hobby supply kits. Ian Pluska from Hansville got interested in drones after watching videos featuring them on YouTube. He decided to start building racing drones, recently winning a competition in Olympia. He joined the Kitsap Drones group a few years ago, and now at 16 years old, he is training to enter a national drone racing competition in Florida. It is the support and shared insider knowledge that he gets from the club that has kept Ian progressing in the competitive drone racing field.

Unfortunately, for Ian and the other members of the Kitsap Drone Group, meetings had to be suspended since the outbreak of COVID-19. The group continued to support each other through their Facebook page, hopeful of being able to get together in the future. Well, that day finally arrived as COVID-19 restrictions have begun to ease up. The Kitsap Drones Group held an event at the Port Gamble Heritage Park RC Field just outside Kingston. Members came out to enjoy the beautiful weather, food, and a chance to fly their drones together. Obstacles were set up in the field for those wishing to test out agility, perfect practice for Ian’s custom built racing drone.

Rawlings pointed out how great it was to see everyone, noticing how they progressed in their skills since quarantine had begun. “Two years ago he was 14 years old flying 140 mph,” Rawlings said about watching Ian zoom through the obstacle course. “His actions, reactions, responses are incredible.” Other members like Ed Sisk from Poulsbo brought out their own custom built drones. Ed likes to add an element of whimsy to his drones. He attaches decorative embellishment on them like a pirate ship and has one that resembles a ship from Star Wars. Robert Zollna is a commercially licensed drone pilot and was excited to join the group to fly some of his drones. He even brought his underwater drone to share with the group.

For some members, getting involved with drones and the club became an excellent outlet to explore during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Jennifer Reid said that for her son Hu, getting involved with drones not only gave him something to focus on over the last year, but encouraged him educationally as well. Hu became interested in drones as a photography tool and has spent a lot of time working on building just the right drone to capture some of the breathtaking landscapes of the forests and mountains surrounding Seattle. “It [the drone kit] all comes in parts, they build the whole thing themselves, there’s a lot of soldering going on, then there’s a lot of programming going on on the computer, then there’s the actual flying,” Jennifer said. “The whole process is pretty amazing because it brings together the technical skills for building, and all the critical thinking with programming, then you bring in the flying.”

As Jennifer said, there is a lot more to drones than just the fun of flying them. Drones are opening up whole new worlds of opportunities. Over the next few years, the drone market is expected to grow tremendously bringing in billions of dollars and providing thousands of employment positions. With clubs like the Kitsap Drones Group, drone enthusiasts have an outlet to access the latest information on drones. The support the members get from each other keeps them engaged and encourages the future of the drone industry.

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