For Officer Cadet Charlie Morris, the attraction for joining the Air Force wasn’t the fast jets – it was the drones. It was about speed, precision and the thrill of flight. As a competitive drone racing pilot, Officer Cadet Morris has only reached greater heights since joining the Air Force.

In just his first year at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Officer Cadet Morris represented the Air Force and the ADF at large as the fastest drone pilot in events nationally and internationally.

His speed on the track saw him qualify fastest for the Air Force Drone Racing Team to represent ADF at the Military International Drone Racing Tournament held in the United Kingdom in September. The ADF team had its fifth consecutive win and Officer Cadet Morris placed fourth overall on the leader board against the world’s best military drone pilots.

“It was an incredible experience,” he said. 

“To race internationally, represent the Air Force and the ADF, and be part of the team has been an amazing opportunity in just my first year in Defence.”

Raised in Hervey Bay with his parents and two older brothers, Officer Cadet Morris’ fascination with drones began early. 

“At school, I started flying drones just for fun at first with a few mates. As I improved, I was spending all my spare time flying, learning and pushing to get faster,” he said. 

'To race internationally, represent the Air Force and the ADF, and be part of the team has been an amazing opportunity in just my first year in Defence.'

That passion quickly turned competitive and, after logging countless hours on the sticks, Officer Cadet Morris rose through the ranks of Australia’s drone racing community and began competing nationally. It was at the Drone Nationals in Townsville in 2024 that his future took a new direction.

“I remember seeing the ADF Drone Racing Team competing there,” he said. 

“They were representing Defence and flying at such a high level, and I thought, this is a great way to combine my love of drones with my career aspirations to become an engineer.” 

ADFA provided the perfect balance, offering the opportunity to study and stay on the racing track.

“ADFA has been everything I hoped for,” he said. “I get to study a subject that I’m passionate about, serve in the Air Force and still be part of drone racing at an elite level.”

Fresh from the United Kingdom, Officer Cadet Morris has gone on to compete at the 2025 Drone Racing Nationals in Brisbane, racing against some of the fastest professional pilots in the industry.

“Charlie’s speed and composure in the air are impressive. He’s brought energy and raw speed to the team,” said ADF Drone Racing Association President, Wing Commander Keirin Joyce. 

“Drone racing is all about precision, control and trust in your team and your equipment. These are the same qualities we value in our junior officers,” Wing Commander Joyce said. 

“Officer Cadet Morris is a great ambassador for the Drone Racing Team and a future leader in Air Force.”

Whether he is studying systems engineering or flying through a high-speed obstacle course, Officer Cadet Morris is proving that the sky is not the limit, it is just the beginning.