Viking Quads heads to nationals
Viking Quads urgently needs sponsorship for the team to enter the Nationals and World Drones Championships.
HILLCREST residents, Luke Johnson, and Josh Martin are hoping to bring the national drone racing title home to KZN.
Luke is a pioneer of racing drones in KwaZulu-Natal, which is a popular sport worldwide but only recently in South Africa.
The duo desperately wanted to enter the World Drone Prix in Dubai in March but lacked sponsorship, but have now set their dreams on attending the Drone Worlds in Hawaii from 17 to 22 October. In order to fulfil their dream, they have to qualify at the first ever South African Drone Nationals in Klerksdorp from 23 to 26 April.
Luke has been flying remote-controlled (RC) aircraft for as long as he can remember. He said flying has always been his passion and this is how he got involved in radio-controlled products, which allowed him to be the pilot he was not old enough to be. Luke would try and develop better and enhance any radio-controlled product that was available to him.
“I have always been driven by the desire to create something better, something faster, and something to push the limits of performance. I don’t like to settle or to do anything mediocre. My passion for pushing the drone racing is because it is like combining an action sport with a video game. It enables the participant to race through seemingly impossible obstacles at insane speeds around courses that will make you sweat,” said Luke.
Luke now has about 30 years of experience in flying remote-controlled aircraft. When he finished school, he became a pilot by obtaining his commercial pilot’s licence, which allowed him to explore his love for flying on a full scale. Having this experience, Luke sought to open his own RC hobby shop, Flight Pro, so that he could make the hobby affordable to the public. He also started a KZN Quad Club at Thomas More College in Kloof, which he has named the Thomas More Viking Quad Club.
His partner in crime, Josh Martin, who has an architectural background, put the plans to paper in order to create the new racing drone. Josh has two years’ flying experience and is an integral part of the Viking Quads team.
“Viking Quads has a carbon-infused frame, is fully self-engineered and currently is the best on the market. We have taken what is available on the market and made it better. It has a stronger frame, which is lighter and faster than its current competitors,” said Luke.
Luke is one of the KZN pioneers in the Quad racing scene and a member of SAAMA (South African Aero Modelling Association) and SIG (Special Interest Group) for the Drone Nationals in Klerksdorp.
Viking Quads needs sponsorship for the team to enter the Nationals and World Drones Championships. This cost includes entry, transport and accommodation costs. Anyone interested in assisting Viking Quads can contact Luke on 082 042 3540, e-mail ragnar@vikingquads.com or visit www.vikingquads.com.
