Drone racing might have all the headlines these days, but the hobbyist model aircraft flyer has been around for decades. I photographed model pilots from Western Canada compete in a weekend of competitive flying at the Hub City Radio Control Club south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. If there's one thing the Prairie has in surplus, it's open sky.
The original Hub City Radio Control Club airfield outside Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The club has been in operation some forty years, and now has a new home east of the city at Richard Field.
Most summers, hobbyists from across the country attend sanctioned model aircraft races in Saskatoon and other Prairie cities.
In an air race, pilots navigate their aircraft through a series of pylons as fast as possible. Judges ensure each pilot follows the course correctly.
Before the Start, teams hold their planes aloft to display wing colors to the course judges.
Flyers build and tweak their planes for speed and agility. Races are a chance to show off their skills.
A race begins. Flying teams consist of a radio control pilot and a spotter.
Race organizers construct timekeeping areas with visibility and protection in mind.
Traveling at up to 180 MPH, model planes fly fast and close through a course, sometimes with consequences.
A judge near the edges of the course pylon watches from a distance.