Eastside FPV gives Melbourne pilots second chance at nationals qualifying
Melbourne pilots who missed the first nationals qualifier get one more crack Sunday at Lewellyn Park. Eastside FPV’s 50-pilot meet still feeds AUFPV’s 96-slot Open Class and 48-slot Pro Spec ladder.
Missing the first nationals qualifier will not end the season for Melbourne-area pilots. Eastside FPV’s second chance meet at Lewellyn Park in Wantirna South will give them another route onto the Australian Drone Nationals pathway, and that matters because AUFPV still has 96 Open Class slots and 48 Pro Spec slots to fill, with offers set to go out from July 2026 until the fields are full.
Eastside has built the day to feel more like a club session than a pressure cooker. Setup will start at 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 21, 2026, flying will begin at 11:00 AM, and the event is set for a 10-to-4 schedule. The roster is capped at 50 pilots. Eastside’s listing also points to a practical grassroots package: power and shade in the pavilion, tables and chairs for everyone, and Uber Eats pizza included for the $10 race fee. Seniors and juniors are both listed at $10, Gold Members can fly for free, and the event page also shows non-member pricing as free.
That open-door feel does not change the competitive value. Eastside’s current Open Class qualifying board already gives every pilot a number to chase, with IQ0 leading at 26.39 seconds, digsky next at 27.94, and ironoid at 29.70. The list stretches further through names like Joey, wonderFPV and D1NGO, which means this will not be a symbolic second shot. It will be a real attempt to beat a live board and move onto the national ladder.
The Pro Spec side is just as pointed. Eastside’s board shows IQ0 at 43.68 seconds, ironoid at 46.88 and thereyet at 56.22, while AUFPV’s rules add a technical layer that rewards clean prep as much as raw speed. Pro Spec submissions must include the full flight and software configuration before arming, and the DVR has to show the animated “PRO” icon plus a timer. That is the kind of detail that separates a casual laps day from a legitimate nationals pathway.
Eastside says it is Melbourne’s premier FPV drone racing club, a member of AUFPV, and committed to growing the sport in Victoria. The club also says beginners are welcome to come and watch or join a meet, which fits the broader national tone around the series: “Fly Hard - Have Fun - Good Luck.” For pilots who missed the first qualifier, Sunday will be the second chance that can still matter.
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