Drone races scheduled at River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township

Pittsburgh drone racers will get to know part of the Alle-Kiski Valley.

On May 17, the Pittsburgh Drone Masters will hold the first of four drone races at River Forest Country Club in Allegheny Township, club officer Dan Calig said.

The drones must be flown through gates or flags and an obstacle course that tests the mettle of the operators. Calig said drone pilots wear goggles that shows a first-person view of their drone in flight.

The races last three to four minutes.

The inaugural race at the country club will be held at a part of the course and during a time that won’t interfere with golfers, Calig said. The country club, which is under new management, has some 450 acres.

“Safety is my most important concern, and we use natural barriers,” he said.

Pittsburgh Drone Masters is an advocacy and enthusiasts’ club. Most drones are about 12 to 24 inches wide. Some fly at 80 mph.

Some professional drone pilots sell aerial photos to give contractors and surveyors a bird’s eye view or help with security. Most people, though, fly them for sheer enjoyment, Calig said.

Some drones, intended for indoor use, are less than 5 inches wide and fit into a palm of a hand.

“Last winter, we met at a farm in Butler County to use our drones when it was 40 degrees because we had cabin fever,” Calig said.