French drone racing pilot Thomas Grout came third in the FAI Drone Racing World Cup, despite being just 16 years old at the time.

An aeromodelling fan from a young age, he started FPV drone racing in 2015, obtaining his Aeronautics Initiation Certificate in the same year.

Two times French junior champion, he also participated in the World Drone Prix in Dubai in 2016.

“I became aware of radio-controlled sports about eight years ago because my father pilots model boats,” says Grout, who lives in St Malo in northern France.

“As I have always loved everything that flies, I soon got interested in aeromodelling, joining a local club and flying model aircraft just for fun.

“When I saw FPV videos on YouTube, I decided to try a headset on a model aircraft and I loved it straight away.”

The young pilot, who is still at school, enjoys the immersion of FPV flying.

“I first started flying drones competitively towards the end of 2015, and took part in my first real race in 2016,” Grout says.

“Even since then, both the drones and the headsets have really moved on, meaning you are totally immersed while you are doing it.

“It’s like being in a real-life video game – you definitely feel the adrenaline more as a result.”

However, he believes his years of aeromodelling helped him to progress more quickly as a drone racer.

“You do not need to have aeromodelling experience to become a drone racing pilot,” he says. “It helps with understanding the radio control element, though.”

While he loves competing, his favourite thing about drone racing is flying with his friends.

“For me, the three best words to describe drone racing are: adrenaline, fun and friendship,” Grout says. “You can’t beat flying with your friends.”