TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Hengchun Airport hosted its first-ever drone exhibition on Saturday, becoming the first domestic airport to open runways to drone enthusiasts, CNA reported.
The event coincided with the 150th anniversary of the founding of Hengchun, and approximately 80% of drone associations across Taiwan attended the special event, CNA reported.
Dapeng Bay Scenic Area Management Office director Wang Wen-jie (王玟傑) said the event marked the first time enthusiasts could fly freely on real runways and in wide-open airspace. He added it also attracted tourists eager to view life-like drone flights.
Pingtung County Drone Association chair Chen Chen-guo (陳振國) said the highlight was the flight of a handmade, 2.8-meter T-5 Brave Eagle Trainer. Spectators also witnessed flights of three model C-119 transport aircraft and a model P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter, custom-made at a cost of NT$600,000 (US$20,300).
“Aeromodelling is all about passion,” said Chen. He said he imagines himself as a pilot in the sky when flying a drone. Chen said he hoped the drone gathering could grow every year, attracting more people to Hengchun Airport.
New Taipei drone association chair Chen Hong-yang (陳宏洋) said it was his first time operating a drone at a fully functioning airport. He brought a model F-16 with a take-off weight of 25 kg, a thrust configuration of 32 kg, and a flight speed of about 300 kph.
Hengchun Airport has a wide, expansive airspace, making the flight of large drones less stressful.
The event opened with helicopters flying in formation, followed by fighter-jet drones flying at high speed. A drone soccer match featured spherical drones battling to fly through a floating goal.
According to the Pingtung County Drone Association, hundreds of enthusiasts converged on the airport from across Taiwan. Teams from Wu-Feng University and National Pingtung University of Science and Technology also participated, demonstrating AI flight control systems and drone flight.
The event continues on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with visitors invited to view a model-aircraft display and participate in a parent-child paper-airplane activity.
