Drones.

[Icefever]

I know drones get a bad deal with some of the morons out there, but there's also a good side to drones as well.  Now one of my hobbies is photography, I'm no pro but I do enjoy it,  as do other folks going by our stop up on Wenlock edge...out came the cameras for all to snap away happily.

I've had a hankering for a small/cheap drone for a while now, imagine if you had one that would fly for maybe 10 mins.  You pull over at a beauty spot, pick the drone out of the top box switch on and fly. 

Think of the shots you would get in that 10 mins...all those foreign tours, and in good old Blighty, mountains, waterfalls, lakes.....etc etc....so do any of you guys own a drone and use it???.

[BigAlan]

Don't know about your area but down here the authorities are hot on them.

My son in law has a fancy one which has GPS and can be programmed To do almost anything and along with him completing the required three day course he has the full civil aviation licence, it cost him best part of £2k for that.

It gives some awesome images and videos, he uses it with his own media company and clients love the images on there websites etc.

Before he flies he has to go online and tell the authorities where is going, has to wear high Viz and be in control of the area watching out for members of the public.

But it's fun.

[Icefever]

It seems the basic laws on flying are,  as long as the drone weighs less than 20kg and you are not using it for commercial reasons.  Not out of line of sight,  500m (1,640ft)horizontally or 400ft (122m) vertically.   Also, it must always be flown at least 50m (164ft) distance away from a person, vehicle, building or structure....so just common sense really.

[PRD]

Problem is common sense sadly lacking these days!

[flatfour]

As I've now more free time since the sale of the business, I have started to fly model aircraft again (in addition to full - sized, where I have an uninterrupted 45 years of commitment to the activity).

We have a Drone Pilot at the local club, who also holds commercial licences and he is the only one allowed to fly them there. I have been more than surprised at quite how often the drone takes off into the distance with a mind of its own, despite it having cost over £8,000 with its associated onboard camera equipment.

A near neighbour has a hobby sized drone, he has now been forced to stop flying it following a number of unintended excursions where it decided to do its own thing!

I would think that the most important thing is very good insurance cover.

[zedmeister]

Mrs Zed does it all the time.

[Lonewolf]

If you're after a drone, get a Mavic Pro. You won't go far wrong and as long as you don't do anything stupid with it, the authorities etc will leave you alone.


You said, imagine if they would fly for ten minutes, most of them fly for about the 30 minute range.

[beegee]

Already saw some gread vids made in full nature...  But guess its esp for professionals or people who do know what they are doing...
Maybe they need a kind of 'flying license' ...
Cause of the danger it can be too

[GLA55Y]

Hi all,
logged onto the new look forum. Seems ok so far.

I've been getting a drone. DJI Mavic Mini, second hand for around £280. I have registered as an operator (£9/yr) and both the wife and I have registered as flyers. The operator registration covers us for other drones if we decide to get a larger model. I would stay with DJI as I have found the quality superb. 2.7k for video on the mini, we have yet to try it out for stills.

We had a play with it just after Christmas on North Gare near Seaton Carew and I've put the video up to youtube.

youtu.be/ewIJnGFIjhM

At 6 minutes it has been criticised as being too long from some others on a drone forum. I take their point and will reduce further videos to around 3-4 minutes.
See what you think and leave a comment if you like.

[Lonewolf]

Hi, re the drone. Are you aware the CAA introduced new regulations and laws for drones on the 31st December 2020? 

If you stick with the Mini I suspect you will be okay as it comes in at 249g, but please check, however you mentioned you might get a larger drone. Be aware that if you get a larger drone which will have a larger maximum take off mass it will fall into the next category up 500-2000g if you stick with DJI. I have the Mavic Air 2 which weighs 547g and therefore falls into a category that prohibits it being used virtually anywhere (A2) except private land currently. However I have been studying for the A2 CofC course which I am doing on Tuesday of this coming week. That permit then lasts for five years. 

This will permit me to use the drone as a legacy drone during the transitional period until the new Certified drones are available in 2023 and then I will be able under this class to use a drone up to 4kgs.  I will also be able to use it for commercial purposes if I wish.

[O.C.]

Great footage, which makes me want to buy a drone **** however I have a nice Fujifilm XT 1 mirrorless
Digital SLR which hasn't  been used much so justifying a drone would be tough

I will probably sell the XT 1 **** anyone interested ?

[GLA55Y]

Hi, re the drone. Are you aware the CAA introduced new regulations and laws for drones on the 31st December 2020?

If you stick with the Mini I suspect you will be okay as it comes in at 249g, but please check, however you mentioned you might get a larger drone. Be aware that if you get a larger drone which will have a larger maximum take off mass it will fall into the next category up 500-2000g if you stick with DJI. I have the Mavic Air 2 which weighs 547g and therefore falls into a category that prohibits it being used virtually anywhere (A2) except private land currently. However I have been studying for the A2 CofC course which I am doing on Tuesday of this coming week. That permit then lasts for five years.

This will permit me to use the drone as a legacy drone during the transitional period until the new Certified drones are available in 2023 and then I will be able under this class to use a drone up to 4kgs.  I will also be able to use it for commercial purposes if I wish.

Yes, well aware of the new rules. We will stick with the mini, much more scope to use as we wish, within the rules. That's why I posted that we are registered.

[pross]

Hi, re the drone. Are you aware the CAA introduced new regulations and laws for drones on the 31st December 2020?

If you stick with the Mini I suspect you will be okay as it comes in at 249g, but please check, however you mentioned you might get a larger drone. Be aware that if you get a larger drone which will have a larger maximum take off mass it will fall into the next category up 500-2000g if you stick with DJI. I have the Mavic Air 2 which weighs 547g and therefore falls into a category that prohibits it being used virtually anywhere (A2) except private land currently. However I have been studying for the A2 CofC course which I am doing on Tuesday of this coming week. That permit then lasts for five years.

This will permit me to use the drone as a legacy drone during the transitional period until the new Certified drones are available in 2023 and then I will be able under this class to use a drone up to 4kgs.  I will also be able to use it for commercial purposes if I wish.

Would you then be able to deliver parcels for Amazon 🤔.
Asking for a friend 

[Lonewolf]

Yes, well aware of the new rules. We will stick with the mini, much more scope to use as we wish, within the rules. That's why I posted that we are registered.

No worries, I just posted what I did as you mentioned your current registration covered you for larger drones. It does, but only up to a point.

[Lonewolf]

Would you then be able to deliver parcels for Amazon 🤔.
Asking for a friend 

Never mind parcels, I'm flying the bike upto Scotland.