Vilnius drone racing returns outdoors, May 16 Šeškinė Scouts stage announced

Vilnius is pushing its drone racing scene into a tougher lane. The city’s Vilnius Rises! series will move outdoors to the Šeškinė Hills for the second Šeškinė Scouts stage on May 16, turning a controlled local contest into a course where terrain, wind and sightlines will matter as much as raw speed.

The change matters because this is not just another exhibition run. The first race in the series took place at the Vilnius Drone Center, but the next stop places pilots in open air, where the hills themselves will shape how the race unfolds. Pilots of different skill levels are set to compete, which should create a wider range of line choices, pace differences and pressure moments than an indoor setup can usually produce.

The event is being staged with the Capital Children and Youth Center Hobiverse and FPV Sports, and the Lithuanian Red Cross is part of the mix as well. That combination gives the day a broader identity than a pure race meet. Spectators will be able to try a flight simulator and learn the basics of civil protection, a reminder that Vilnius is packaging drone racing as both sport and public education.

The rules also point to a more formal operation. The competition will use age categories, minors may take part with guardian consent, and pilots must hold a valid A1/A3 license under EASA rules. Registration remains open until May 12, giving the field a clear deadline and reinforcing the sense that this is becoming an organized pathway rather than an informal gathering of FPV hobbyists.

That structure is what makes the shift to Šeškinė Hills notable. An outdoor course on a hillside changes the competitive logic of the event and raises the demands on pilot judgment, especially in a setting where elevation and visibility can affect every line. It also gives organizers a more complete product: a race that can test serious pilots, welcome younger entrants under defined rules and draw spectators into the action.

For Vilnius, that looks like more than a one-off race day. It suggests a drone scene moving toward a deeper, more credible market, one where sport, youth programming, safety education and civic partnerships all sit on the same track.