News

What the Wall Street Journal Discovered When They Tore Apart an FPV Drone

On May 6, a Wall Street Journal reporter went to the front lines in Ukraine, tore apart an FPV drone found in the trenches, and made a discovery that surprised no one in the industry. The components inside: motors, batteries, unmarked control chips, carbon fiber frames – nearly all of them labeled "Made in China." A Ukrainian drone expert put it bluntly: "Without the Chinese supply chain, Russia could not have built this drone." Meanwhile, US Marines are training their first FPV pilots in just three weeks, while their opponents have years of...

For Every Clever ‘Bird’: New 360° FPV Jammer and the Evolution of Drone Technology

A new counter-drone system has entered the field. The recently unveiled SERP-FPV is a vehicle-mounted jammer designed specifically to protect moving targets from FPV drone attacks. Its key features: 360° coverage – Any FPV drone approaching from any direction gets disrupted. Critical for defending against swarm attacks. Broad frequency range – Even if an operator changes to a non-standard frequency, the jammer can suppress it as long as it falls within its working range. As one developer put it: “For every clever ‘bird’, there’s a counter-system with a secret.” The Bigger Picture: A Continuous...

340 Teams, 3 Challenges: What the World Drone Games' Second Phase Reveals About FPV

The first-ever World Drone Games are still flying high in Chengdu, China. After the opening week's drone fencing and weightlifting, Phase 2 – Low-Altitude Intelligent Control Competition kicked off on April 18 at the Huai Zhou Airport. More than 340 teams from universities and vocational schools across China are competing. But this phase isn't about manual piloting. It's about autonomy. The Three Challenges 1. Smart DeliveryDrones must complete their mission without any human control. Using only onboard sensors, they need to map their environment, plan their path, and deliver cargo autonomously. 2. Hummer CrossingThis one is...

800 Teams, 4 New Sports: What the First World Drone Games Tell Us About FPV's Future

The first-ever World Drone Games are underway in Chengdu, China, running from April 11 to 25. More than 800 teams from around the globe are competing—including 30 international teams from Russia, Myanmar, Cameroon, Pakistan, Tanzania, and beyond. But here's what makes this event different: forget racing. The Games feature four entirely new sports: Drone Weightlifting – testing transport capacity Drone Fencing – two drones face off, using added "swords" to pop balloons on the opponent Drone Equestrian – ground-air coordination Drone Basketball – aerial precision targeting The Star Event: Drone Fencing Drone fencing is stealing the...

From F1 to Your Desk: Why Wind Tunnel Testing Is Having a Moment

Wind tunnels are in the spotlight right now—and not just for race cars. This week, Cadillac revealed it had to build fake Pirelli tires for its 2026 F1 wind tunnel testing because the real ones weren't ready yet . Meanwhile, Ferrari unveiled its updated 499P Hypercar aero package, developed after its first visit to the Windshear facility in North Carolina . And Aston Martin? Their legendary designer Adrian Newey admitted the team started wind tunnel development four months behind rivals—yet their new car is already turning heads . The Bigger Picture What's fascinating is the range: Formula...

One Operator, 100 Drones: What China's Swarm Technology Means for the Future of FPV

China recently demonstrated a drone swarm system that sounds like science fiction. A single container truck carries 48 different types of drones. They launch at a rate of one every 3 seconds. And one operator can control nearly 100 drones simultaneously for reconnaissance, strikes, and electronic warfare. Meanwhile, China's low-altitude economy now includes over 170,000 companies. Nearly 50,000 new drone-related businesses registered in 2025 alone—a 139% increase from the previous year. What This Means for FPV 1. Swarm Logic Is the Next Frontier For years, FPV has been about one pilot, one drone. But swarm technology changes that equation. Imagine race...

From High School Lab to C919: What a Student Research Project Reveals About Desktop Wind Tunnels

Whether you're a collector wanting to display your 1:64 masterpieces, a teacher looking for a classroom tool, or an RC pilot curious about the forces that keep your rc aloft—this is your wind tunnel.

220 Drones in 72 Hours: What Military Swarm Tactics Teach Us About FPV's Future

In early March 2026, Russian forces launched multiple large-scale drone attacks over a 72-hour period, with a single day seeing more than 220 fixed-wing drones deployed . Ukrainian forces reported shooting down 1,722 tactical-level drones on the same day . The numbers are staggering. But what matters more than the count is what's inside these drones: 433MHz frequency-hopping technology, GPS-free navigation, and cost economics that are rewriting the rules of engagement . The Technology Inside 1. 433MHz Frequency Hopping Most hobbyists know 433MHz as a common band for radio control and telemetry. But what makes it battlefield-relevant is frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) ....

The Rise of the "Super Stack": How Integrated FPV Systems Are Changing the Game

This week at the DSK 2026 Korea Drone Expo, Hobbywing showcased its latest integrated power systems, drawing significant attention from industry professionals . Their "一体动力" (integrated power) solutions—combining motors, ESCs, and propellers into a single optimized unit—were among the most visited exhibits at the show . Meanwhile, across the Pacific, the U.S. Army National Guard announced it is formally integrating FPV attack drones into its training sysytem, with specifications calling for 5-inch quad platforms featuring integrated flight controllers and AI-enabled computers . What Is a "Flight Stack"? For those new to the term, a stack (or...

When You'll See FPV Drones at the Winter Olympics (And Why It Matters to You)

The News The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina are underway, and there's something new racing alongside the athletes: FPV drones . For the first time in Olympic history, first-person view drones are following skiers down slopes, diving into luge tracks, and capturing angles that were impossible just a few years ago . Olympic broadcasters call it a "new generation of technology" that puts viewers inside the action . The CaptainRC Take Here's what excites us: the same technology flying at the Olympics is the technology you fly every weekend. The agility, the real-time...

What Recent Drone Incidents Teach Us About Radio Reliability

The News This week, international news highlighted several drone operations near naval vessels in different parts of the world. While the details vary, one thing is clear: reliable communication matters. The Lesson If sophisticated military drones depend on rock-solid radio links, our hobby aircraft do too. Why Radio Reliability Matters Every FPV pilot knows the feeling: losing signal mid-flight. Your quad drops. Your jet flies away. Your video goes black. At CaptainRC, we design our radio systems with one priority: keeping you in control. Frequency hopping – automatically finds clear channels Telemetry – real-time...

S-EDF 90mm vs 105mm vs 120mm: Ultimate RC EDF Fan Comparison Guide 2026

Choosing the right Electric Ducted Fan (EDF) for your RC jet can be challenging, especially with multiple sizes and configurations available. In this detailed comparison, we break down the S-EDF 90mm...