Five pilots will race for Australia at the FAI World Drone Racing Championship in Guangzhou, China, from 8 to 13 December. Congratulations to IQ0, BMSThomas, digsky, Wilf and AeroplaneJelly on their selection as Team Australia 2026.
Team Composition
The FAI World Drone Racing Championships allow countries to enter teams consisting of 3 pilots (without age or gender requirements) , then additionally a junior competitor and/or a female competitor. This allows a nation to enter a maximum of 5 competitors. Teams then consist of a Team Manager, one helper per competitor and supporters. The Team Manager accompanying the team in 2026 will be, Sam Evans, Vice-President of AUFPV.
IQ0
IQ0, from Eastside FPV in Melbourne, was the best Australian at this year's Nationals in both classes. He finished second in Open Class and second in Pro Spec, this comes alongside major wins at the Australian Tiny Whoop Championships, the Australian MultiGP Regional Final and Mountain Mayhem this year. No Australian has been as consistent across as many formats this season.
BMSThomas
BMSThomas, from MMRC in Victoria, is the most successful pilot the Australia has produced: five Open Class titles between 2016 and 2023, and a third place this year, ten years after his first win. He also brings more international experience than anyone else in Australian drone racing. He has represented Australia every year since 2016, and his record overseas includes two MultiGP International Open World Cup titles and the 2024 Japan Drone League series championship. That experience counts for as much off the track as on it.
digsky
digsky, also from Eastside FPV, has made the biggest step of anyone in the team over the past year. He was 14th in Open Class at the 2025 Nationals. This year he qualified eighth, raced his way into the six-pilot Chase the Ace final and finished sixth, the third Australian home and ahead of everyone outside that final. He was runner-up to IQ0 at the Australian MultiGP Regional Final in August and runner-up at the 2025 Tiny Whoop Australian Championship. He has been flying since 2021, and the panel sees him as a pilot who can perform for Australia now and for many years to come.
Wilf — Junior
Wilf, from FPV Rebels on the Sunshine Coast, takes the Junior place, and is easily a contender for an open one. He was second in Open Class at the 2023 Nationals and won it in 2024 and 2025. He is also already proven at this level. He finished 11th overall and 8th Junior at the 2024 FAI World Cup, placed 9th at the Turkish WDC in 2025, and was top qualifier at the iFlight IDRC in Guangdong last December.
AeroplaneJelly — female pilot
AeroplaneJelly, from Eastside FPV in Melbourne, was the highest-placed woman at this year's Nationals in both classes: 23rd in Open Class and 17th in Pro Spec. Her progress over three Nationals is the steepest in the team: 78th in Open Class in 2024, 26th in 2025 and 23rd this year, in a much deeper field. She was third in the women's race at the MultiGP International Open earlier this year and raced for Australia previously in 2024. She also speaks Chinese, which will be useful to the whole team in Guangzhou.
What happens next
The championship runs from 8 to 13 December. The team will now commence preparations. AUFPV is seeking sponsors to come onboard to help support Team Australia to get to China. We will share how to follow the racing, and how to support the team, closer to the event.
Thank you to every member who nominated. The panel had more strong nominations than places, and several pilots who missed out this time will be in the conversation for the next team.
Congratulations to IQ0, BMSThomas, digsky, Wilf and AeroplaneJelly, and to ironoid as team manager. Go well in Guangzhou.
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