PARIS: The Champs-Elysee was the setting of a mini-air show as amateur drone enthusiasts flew their high-tech toys over the famed Paris avenue in the city’s first festival celebrating the gadgets.
Paris city recently announced the opening of two permanent sites — in the Bois de Boulogne park in the west of Paris and in the Parc de la Villette to the north — where amateurs can pilot their drones on starting Sept. 18.
Concentrating intently, punters guided their remote-controlled flying machines through a brightly colored obstacle course accompanied by commentary worthy of a Formula One race.
The afternoon festival included a race and demonstrations of the remote-controlled devices that are increasingly used as toys as well as for surveillance, aerial photography and — controversially — in the secretive US counter-terror campaign.
“It’s really magical to be at a site like the Champs-Elysees, one of the most famous places in the world,” said Dunkan Bossian, 19, one of eight pilots who competed in the race.
A German entrant, 27-year-old Julia Muller, added: “Events like this are important to show people that drones are not only dangerous things but you can have fun with them as well.”
Part of the famous avenue — which is carless on the first Sunday of every month — was converted into a drone aviary for the occasion, a space confined in netting that is about eight meters (25 feet) high and 140 meters long.
“There has been a democratization of the drone for leisure activities,” city official Jean-Louis Missika told AFP, adding that drones were last year’s most popular Christmas present.
However, “people must absolutely understand that it is not a toy, that regulations are very strict for good reasons,” Missika said. “You can’t fly a drone in the park like you can play badminton.”
Come and fly your drones in Paris on September 18
Come and fly your drones in Paris on September 18
