DJI RC Pro Review (Everything You Need to Know)

Over the past year, there has been a lot of attention on the lower-cost DJI RC and, lately, the new DJI RC2, both with 5.5″ integrated screens.

DJI RC Pro Review (Everything You Need to Know)

Now, with the release of the Mavic 3 Pro, there has been a renewed interest in the two-year-old DJI RC Pro, currently, the best remote controller you can use with the professional powerhouse.

In this article, we’ll be doing a renewed deep dive into the professional grade DJI RC Pro’s:

  • Price
  • Build quality
  • Size and Weight
  • Sustained Screen Brightness, as well as
  • Various Features of the RC

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Benefits of the DJI RC Pro

The costly RC Pro is the successor to the ever-popular, albeit equally expensive, DJI Smart Controller.

As with the original smart controller, the RC Pro caters more to advanced drone pilots and commercial operators (professionals).

Integrated Screen

The original DJI Smart Controller perfected the Android-based, 5.5″ integrated screen, as seen in the subsequent three versions of smart controllers:

  • DJI RC Pro
  • DJI RC
  • DJI RC 2

The RC Pro continues the 5.5″ theme, however, unlike the DJI RC and DJI RC 2, the RC Pro benefits from a higher output screen, with a continued 1000-nit brightness.

» MORE: Best Drone Controllers

Convenience

As noticed when looking at the RC Pro, the screen is built into the all-in-one device.

Because of this, it is not necessary to fly with a separate cellphone or electronic device.

The DJI Fly app is already loaded onto the remote controller, along with a full internet browser and other apps. All that needs to be done is sign into DJI Fly with your current DJI login or create a new one.

Since a cell phone is not required to fly with the RC Pro, getting the Mavic 3 Pro up in the air and flying takes noticeably less time than it would to go through the steps of pulling out a cell phone, attaching the cables, turning on the RC, and then opening the DJI Fly app.

With the DJI RC Pro, the process is simply turning on the Mavic 3 Pro and RC Pro and flying. Nice and quick.

Another major convenience is that because the RC Pro is an all-in-one, self-contained controller, there are no longer cables to remember to bring, meaning one less thing to cause possible issues when flying. Cables break or get lost.

The RC Pro has none required for flight.

» MORE: Does DJI Smart Controller Work with Mini 3 Pro (Explained)

Cost/Pricing

Noticeably this Cost/Pricing section does not fall under the umbrella of the Benefits of the DJI RC Pro and with good reason.

The DJI RC Pro is a very costly investment. At close to $1100.00 the RC Pro is for serious hobbyists and drone professionals.

This pricing puts the RC Pro around $800.00 more than its sibling competitor, the DJI RC.

It has to be recognized though that quality comes at a price and the RC Pro surely demands a high price for what it offers, as we’ll be discussing shortly.


DJI RC Pro – 1000-Nit display

$1,199.00
$1,119.00

High-bright display, powerful performance, efficient control, outstanding audio, and video performance.


Buy from Amazon

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09/24/2023 05:21 pm GMT

» MORE: Is the DJI RC Controller Worth it?

Build/Design

As a longtime user and fan of the Phantom 4 Pro series, the DJI RC Pro is reminiscent of the Phantom 4 Pro’s Plus controller in that the Plus controller was a solid piece of equipment and the RC Pro for the Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Mini 3 Pro is no different in build quality, although smaller and differently shaped.

The build quality of the RC Pro is top-notch. When in hand it is solid, with quality components.

There are currently no other DJI remote controllers, for the particular level of drones the RC Pro supports, with this build quality.

You’d have to go to the Enterprise versions for better.

The RC Pro can be compared to picking up an expensive DSLR or mirrorless camera and immediately feeling the time, thought, and effort put into building it, as opposed to picking up an inexpensive simple point-and-shoot camera.

All of the buttons have a solid and definitive “click” to them, ensuring the selected input is locked in. The same goes for the flight mode switch.

The aluminum dials along the top of the remote controller are likewise quality-made and fluid.

The build quality even passes through to the exceptional spring-loaded flight sticks, which are a joy to fly with.

There isn’t much to be said about the shape of the RC Pro, as it follows the same rectangular design aesthetic of the previous Smart Controller, which has since been duplicated by the smaller DJI RC and DJI RC 2.

» MORE: Is DJI Mavic 3 Waterproof? (Explained)

Weight/Size

The weight of the DJI RC Pro is 680g, whereas the lightest DJI Smart Controller, the DJI RC is 390g. The newer DJI RC 2 is 420g.

The DJI RC Pro actually weighs more than the beloved DJI Air 2S, about 85g more with the Air 2S weighing in at 595g.

The weight of the DJI RC Pro can indeed be felt when packed in either a travel bag or a photography backpack.

As I travel with the Air 3, DJI RC 2, Mavic 3 Pro, and RC Pro simultaneously, the weight definitely adds up.

Although just a rectangle, the controller sits in hand well and is actually slightly more comfortable than the newer DJI RCs in that it is somewhat larger in size, giving it a more stable feel.

» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Air 2S vs. Mini 3 Pro: Which One is Right for You?

Screen

Outside of the size and weight of the RC Pro, another noteworthy aspect of the all-in-one remote controller is the large integrated screen.

While the 5.5-inch screen is smaller than a standard non-max iPhone screen, it does have a higher sustained brightness.

The 5.5″ screen has a sustained 1000-nits of brightness. There are many who might feel that there are cell phones out there that are much brighter, however, the key here is sustained.

While those cellphone screens might initially be brighter, after extended use, the screen will dim, like with the iPhone.

So much so, in fact, they become quite unusable in bright, summerlike conditions.

As someone who regularly shoots lakefront locales for clients, in the bright Central Florida sun, none of the Apple or Android cellphones I have used were able to offer bright enough screens for sustained shoots. They all overheat, dim, and even shut down.

The RC Pro, on the other hand (along with DJI’s RC and RC 2), never once dimmed, even at full brightness, in bright, humid, and hot conditions.

The 1000-nit screen performed admirably.

Outside of the brightness of the screen, the display is FHD, and the images streamed to it are clear and fluid, running at a beautiful 1080p 60fps.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro (Which One is Right for You?)

DJI Fly

As mentioned prior, the DJI RC Pro runs a preloaded, Android version of the DJI Fly app.

Because the RC Pro is truly an Android-based smart device (just with the addition of control sticks and external antennas), the DJI Fly app looks and works exactly like the versions one would be used to using with their Android or iOS device.

As with those versions of the DJI Fly app, the RC Pro is able to update the firmware on the remote controller as well as initiate firmware updates on the drone and batteries connected to it.

Installable Apps (and How to Do It)

The DJI RC Pro, being an all-in-one flight solution, benefits from a much-loved feature: installable apps.

This is something fans of the DJI RC and DI RC 2 are missing out on.

While it is indeed nice to be able to go out flying with just a drone and remote controller, if needing to request on-the-fly LAANC approval, or check local weather conditions with apps such as ALOFT, B4UFLY, or UAV Forecast, one would generally need to pull out a cellphone.

With the ability to use downloaded apps that supply information, one would only need to have their RC Pro tethered to (sharing data with) their cell phone and then access the apps via the RC Pro for the live data.

In addition to just accessing drone-related apps, the DJI RC Pro is able to install most apps that can be accessed from the Android Store, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Installing 3rd Party Apps (Step-by-Step Guide)

There are multiple methods that can be used to install 3rd party apps on the DJI RC Pro, most of which are fairly confusing and time-consuming.

We’ll focus on one that might be a little easier to follow than others.

This method uses Google Play address links and an APK Downloader.

Step 1: While connected to either WiFi or your phone’s hotspot, go to the main home screen when in DJI Fly), by simultaneously pressing the back button and presing up on the 5d button.

dji rc pro controller

Step 2: Open Firefox

Step 3: Type Google Play in the Firefox search bar. When you find it (also shown as play.google.com/google-play), tap on it and it will open the Google Play Store.

Step 4: Once in the Google Play store page, tap the Search icon in the upper right and search for the app you’d like. In our case, we will be looking for the UAV Forecast app.

Type UAV Forecast (or the name of the app you are looking for), scroll down to it, and hit the Return key. Alternatively, press the one you’d like with your finger.

Step 5: You should see the UAV Forecast app install screen. We will not install it from here. Instead, on the bottom of the screen you’ll see the URL (link address).

Press and hold the URL. You should see COPY. Press COPY.

Now the link is copied. We will use a different app to download UAV Forecast.

Step 6: Open a new Firefox browser window by tapping the 1 (or another number in a box) at the bottom right of the screen.

Step 7: Tap the + (plus). This will open a new window.

Step 8: Type “apk downloader” for the search URL (link) and hit return.

You’ll see various options. Choose the one that says APK Downloader [Latest] Download Directly | (Evozi Official).

Step 8: At the Generate Download Link option, Paste your saved link from prior into the URL area (by tapping and holding the area and choosing Paste) and press Generate Download Link.

Step 9: Scroll down and press Click here to download (app name) now

Step 10: If asked, allow Firefox to access photos and media. Then press Download.

Step 11: The download will proceed, and then complete. Press Open.

Step 12: Firefox (for the first time opening a downloaded app), will inform you the RC Pro is not allowed to install unknown apps… Press Settings.

Step 13: Select the slider to Allow from this source.

Go back to Install unknown apps.

Step 14: Press Install.

Step 15: The App will install. Select Open to see the app.

To locate your app for usage after installation, from any screen press the Back button and press up on the 5d button. Once at the home screen right swipe.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Pro: How to Connect/Pair RC (Video)

Compatibility

Thankfully, considering the premium price of the DJI RC Pro, it is compatible with quite a few models of flagship and advanced DJI drones:

  • Mavic 3
  • Mavic 3 Cine
  • Mavic 3 Classic
  • Mavic 3 Pro
  • Mavic 3 Cine
  • Air 2S
  • Mini 3 Pro

As seen recently, with the release of the Air 3, there are new DJI drones using a different video transmission system.

Time will tell if DJI allows the newer model of drones to utilize the DJI RC Pro, or if they will release yet another high-end RC for the newer lines of drones.

» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Here’s my Choice)

OcuSync 3.0+

As of the writing of this article, DJI has introduced an updated version of the OcuSync technology, OcuSync 4.0.

The three compatible lines of drones that currently work with the DJI RC Pro (Mavic 3, Airs 2S, and Mini 3 Pro), all utilize the OcuSync 3.0+ video transmission system.

OcuSync 3.0+ can transmit video up to a maximum range of 7.45 miles (12km).

The transmission signal supports 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands which, even in 2023, provides very strong and reliable anti-interference.

These numbers mean that, whether flying a Mavic 3, Air 2S, or Mini 3 Pro, the signal is stronger and cleaner, enabling one to fly in urban areas or areas with high interference, such as in a downtown setting or highly populated subdivisions, with confidence.

» MORE: DJI OcuSync 3.0 (Explained For Beginners)

Storage Options

The DJI RC Pro has internal storage and SD card storage. The internal storage is 32GB, while an SD card of the recommended size of 512GB can be used.

Why does the DJI RC Pro allow for two separate storage options?

The first reason is that the internal storage stores 11GB of files essential for running the remote controller and is needed for the DJI Fly app, with 21GB left over for user-defined content.

The second reason is that both the internal and SD card storage options can be used for storing screenshots and screen recordings, which are great for those who use this content for making drone-related tutorials.

Additionally, other files and content can be stored on the SD cards, which be used for 3rd party apps.

» MORE: Best SD Cards for DJI Mavic 3 (Classic / Pro / Cine)

Battery

The DJI RC Pro has a 5000 mAh battery allowing it to run for 3 hours, on the maximum brightness setting.

The RC Pro is not the longest-running smart controller in the DJI lineup, as the DJI RC is the longer-lasting of the RC Pro and RC 2, with a time of 4 hours.

To charge the internal battery, it’ll take approximately 1.5 hours for a fully depleted battery, using a 15v fast charger.

The remote controller uses a standard USB-C connection.

» MORE: DJI RC 2 Review (Everything You Need to Know)

Charging

Charging the DJI RC Pro is done by the following:

Step 1: Insert the USB-C end of the included USB-C cable into the USB-C port in the center of the RC Pro (between the SD card slot and the Mini HDMI port.

Step 2: Plug the standard USB end into a 65 or 100-watt PD charger.

The LED indicator lights on the face of the remote controller will flow and blink to signal charging.

» MORE: How Long to Charge DJI Mini 3 / Mini 3 Pro Controller (Explained)

Pairing

To Pair the DJI RC Pro to another aircraft (other than the one it came in a combo with, in this instance, the Mini 3 Pro):

STEP 1: Turn on the DJI RC Pro. After it has booted up, and at the DJI Fly screen main-screen, tap the Connection Guide button on the DJI Fly app main screen.

Step 2: Select your appropriate aircraft. For our purposes, the Mini 3 Pro.

Step 3: There will most likely be an error message saying “Firmware version inconsistent. Update firmware before use”. Choose Continue.

The firmware will update, after which there will be a message stating the aircraft may need to be relinked. Tap OK.

Step 4: Power on the aircraft (after removing the gimbal cover and unfolding the arms).

Step 5: After searching for the Mini 3 Pro for a few seconds and failing to locate it, you’ll be presented with a message in blue stating “Unable to connect to aircraft“? Tap this message.

Step 7: You will then be presented with a pairing option. Press Pair and the RC Pro will go into pairing mode.

Step 8: Immediately press and hold the power button on the Mini 3 Pro for 4 seconds. It will make a single loud one-beep noise, after which it will connect.

Follow these same steps to connect to any of the DJI drones supported by the RC Pro .

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro Not Pairing / Not Connecting (Why & How To Fix It)

Features

As the controller for DJI’s flagship and advanced drones, we’ll look at all of the buttons, switches, and dials on the remote controller, as well as the functions they perform, which is a lot.

The face of the DJI RC Pro

  • Return to Home button (RTH)
    • When pressed and held, the drone will automatically return to the location marked as home in the DJI Fly app. RTH options can be adjusted.
  • Power Button (press then long-press-hold to turn on)
  • Flight Pause Button
  • 5D (directional) Control Knob
  • Back Button
  • Confirmation/C3 Custom Button. Can be customized as follows:
    • Recenter/Tilt Down Gimbal
    • Follow/FPV
    • Auxiliary Lights
    • Cruise Control
    • AE Lock On/Off
    • Increase EV
    • Decrease EV
    • Camera Settings
  • C3 Button + Right Dial
    • Zoom In/Out
    • Adjust Focal Length
    • Adjust EV
    • Adjust Aperture
    • Adjust Shutter Speed
    • Adjust ISO
  • Cine, Normal, and Sport mode switch
    • Cine – slow smooth flight with dampened controls. Tailored for getting cinematic shots
    • Normal – straight out of the box, standard control speed
    • Sport – allows connected aircraft to fly at their maximum speeds. This mode turns off all obstacle-avoidance

» MORE: DJI Mini 2 SE Controller (All You Need to Know)

The back of the DJI RC Pro

  • C1 and C2 buttons. Can be customized as follows:
    • C1 Button
      • Recenter/Tilt Gimbal Down
      • Follow/FPV
      • Auxilliary Lights
      • Cruise Control
      • AE Lock On/Off
      • Increase EV
      • Decrease EV
      • Camera Settings
      • Switch Cameras
      • Plan Waypoint Flight
    • C2 Button
      • Recenter/Tilt Gimbal Down
      • Follow/FPV
      • Auxilliary Lights
      • Cruise Control
      • AE Lock On/Off
      • Increase EV
      • Decrease EV
      • Camera Settings
      • Switch Camera
      • Plan Waypoint Flight
  • 2 Slots to store the removable control sticks
  • 2 recessed mounting holes
  • Vent

» MORE: How Do I Update DJI RC Pro? (Step-by-Step Guide)

The top of the DJI RC Pro

  • 2 scroll wheels/dials.
    • Left dial
      • Gimbal up/down
    • Right Wheel/Dial. Can be customized as follows:
      • Zoom In/Out
      • Adjust Focal Length
      • Adjust EV
      • Adjust Shutter Speed
      • Adjust ISO
  • Video record button
  • Photo shutter button
  • 2 internal/integrated antennas
  • 2 rabbit ear adjustable antennas
  • LED Indicator Lights (Installed on the top but can be clearly seen from the Front)
    • 4 green LED: 75% – 100% battery life
    • 3 green LED: 50% – 75% battery life
    • 2 green LED: 25% – 50% battery life
    • 1 green LED: 0% – 25% battery life
  • LED Status Indicator Light Blinking Modes
    • Blinks blue: Linking with Aircraft
    • Blinks yellow: Low battery warning
    • Blinks cyan: Control sticks not centered
    • Blinks red: Smart Controller temp too high/aircraft battery level low
  • LED Status Indicator Light Solid Modes
    • Solid red: Aircraft not connected
    • Solid green: Aircraft connected
    • Solid yellow: Firmware update failed

» MORE: Are DJI Controllers Interchangeable? (What You Need to Know)

Button/Dial Modifiers

Additionally, there are modifiers or button and dial combinations that perform certain functions as well and can be changed:

  • C1 Button + Right Dial
    • Zoom In/Out
    • Adjust Focal Length
    • Adjust EV
    • Adjust Shutter Speed
    • Adjust ISO
  • C2 Button + Right Dial
    • Zoom In/Out
    • Adjust Focal Length
    • Adjust EV
    • Adjust Shutter Speed
    • Adjust ISO
  • Back Button + 5D Up – Home
  • Back Button + 5D Down – Shortcut Setting
  • Back Button + 5D Left – Recent
  • Back Button + Record – Screen Record
  • Back Button + Shutter – Screenshot
  • Back Button + Left Dial Wheel – Screen Brightness
  • Back Button + Right Dial – Sound Volume

» MORE: Can You Fly DJI Drones Without a Controller? (Explained)

The bottom of the DJI RC Pro

  • SD Card Slot
    • Can accept SD cards up to 512GB
  • Mini HDMI port – can connect a field monitor for sharing the main screen
  • USB-C Port
  • Mounting Holes – for lanyard clasps, etc.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro – How to Change Controller Settings (Explained)

Is the DJI RC Pro Better Than The DJI RC and DJI RC 2?

Looking at the DJI RC Pro from the standpoint of a part 107 certified drone operator running a multi-drone business, the RC Pro is better than any of the remote controllers out there, short of DJI’s enterprise specific controllers.

But, looking at this objectively, different people will see the DJI RC Pro differently.

For the casual hobbyiest that flies maybe a few times a month, the DJI RC Pro might not be appealing to them with such a high price tag.

Conversley, those who fly regularly, or those who rely on their drones for business purposes, the RC Pro could be the best option out there.

From a strictly feature perspective the DJI RC pro is indeed better than both the DJI RC and RC 2.

The RC Pro is 300-nits brighter than either controller.

This means that where the threshold of visibility for the RC and RC 2 in bright conditions might be in question, there is no contest with the RC Pro visibility, as it is clearly seen in all of the conditions I personally have put it through in Florida, without a matte screen protector or hood.

Then, there’s the ability to install and use 3rd party applications. While the process to install these apps is a fairly long and involved one, once it is done a few times, it gets much easier.

With the 3rd party apps, the RC Pro can finally be an all-in-one solution when flying, able to access and use the drone-related apps many of us have come to rely.

Additionally, in this regards, the controller can be used to binge media or whatever someone might want to do on it, similar to any Android or iOS smart device.

The added buttons also add quite a bit of flexibility, especially when used in conjunction with each other in combine sequences.

Once using this, it is hard to go back to “regular” controllers that do not have as much customization and flexibility options.

» MORE: DJI Avata Controller Options

Disadvantages of the DJI RC Pro

There is one glaring disadvantage to the RC Pro. That would price. Yes, the DJI RC Pro is well built and equally useful piece of equipment.

However, its high pricetag may keep some at bay.

When on a limited budget, one might opt to add to their fleet and buy a new drone instead of purchasing a DJI RC Pro.

A new Mini 3 Pro or even a standard standalone Air 3 with RC-N1 controller and 1 battery can be purchased at the price of a new RC Pro.


DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC)

$909.00
$699.99

Lightweight and Foldable Camera Drone

  • 4K/60fps Video
  • 48MP Photo
  • 34-min Flight Time
  • Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing, Integrated RC and screen


Buy from Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/25/2023 02:16 am GMT


DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

  • Tele & Wide-Angle Dual Primary Cameras
  • 46-Min Max Flight Time
  • Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
  • 48MP Photos, 4K/60fps HDR, up to 20Km Video Transmission


Buy from Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
09/25/2023 12:36 am GMT

Another disadvantage to buying an RC Pro, which is no fault of its own, is its being limited to the Mavic 3 line, Mini 3 Pro and Air 2S.

As mentioned earlier, there is no indication or hint that DJI will add backwards compatibility to the RC Pro.

However, if in the future the RC Pro works with the DJI Air 3 or newly released drone lines, limited compatibility would be a moot point.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Not Pairing/Connecting (Why and How to Fix It)

Is the DJI RC Pro Worth It?

Absolutely, without a doubt, especially for those either looking for a pro-level controller for business purposes or those who are very serious about flying their DJI drones.

The sheer amount of features on the RC Pro, coupled with it’s ergonomics and precise control make it a serious contender for those with the budget to acquire one, even being two years old.

» MORE: DJI Air 3 Beginners Guide (Step-by-Step Guide)

The New DJI Mini 4: Here’s What the Reviewers are Saying (and Why)

new DJI Mini 4New DJI Mini 4 Launches Today: Here’s What Reviewers Around the World Think

Continue reading below, or listen:

DJI has launched their newest Mini – a powerful flying camera in a tiny form factor.  Reviewers around the world published their thoughts today: and they’re overwhelmingly glowing.  “Near-flawless,” says Digital Camera World.  “Aerial perfection,” says Pocket-Lint.  “DJI’s Mini 4 Pro sets a benchmark for small drones,” says Engadget.  “…the best sub-250g drone currently available,” says TechRadar.

What’s leading to the rave reviews of the DJI Mini 4?

New Features: Great Imagery, Plus Obstacle Avoidance and More

“The Mini 4 Pro perfectly marries professional-grade capabilities while keeping its hallmark lightweight design, offering unmatched freedom and adaptability,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “This drone emerges as the ultimate all-rounder, designed to elevate your creative toolkit.”

The newest drone in the Mini series still weighs under 250 grams, to be regulation friendly.  (Remember that in the U.S., all drones used professionally must be registered, regardless of weight.)  Packaged in that small form factor is a high quality imaging package, complete with “True Vertical Shooting” capability designed for social media and smartphone playback.  Reviewers universally appreciated the image quality: “gorgeous,” was the adjective used more than once.

Slow motion action scenes?  DJI’s new Mini 4 Pro can shoot at higher framerates in 4K, and supports up to 100fps recording (an improvement over the 60fps on the DJI Mini 3 Pro.) HDR video has also been upgraded to 4K 60fps, compared to 4K 30fps on the Mini 3.

new DJI Mini 4The Mini 4 Pro also adds omnidirectional obstacle sensing, making it even easier to fly the drone safely.  “Complemented by an Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS), the drone features automatic braking and obstacle bypass, elevating in-flight security,” says the announcement.  The new sensors also improve the ActiveTrack feature, say pilots: the DJI Mini 4’s ActiveTrack 360 matches the functionality found on some of DJI’s larger drones.

The Mini 4 has an impressive flight endurance, offering up to 34 minutes of flight time or 45 minutes using the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus.  While many reviewers commented that wind is generally a problem for smaller drones, they found that the Mini 4 did better than anticipated – and was able to deliver stable images even in moderately windy conditions.  “Confidence-inspiring,” said the Digital Camera World reviewer.

Enhanced Transmission

From the DJI Announcement:

Additionally, thanks to DJI’s flagship O4 video transmission enjoy ultra-responsive control and smooth 1080p/60fps FHD video transmission capability from distances of up to 20 km5. Enhance your shooting efficiency with Waypoint Flight’s automatic route function while minimizing operation fatigue with Cruise Control for long-distance, steady-state flights. The Mini 4 Pro’s Advanced Return-to-Home system automatically navigates a safe flight route back, facilitated by the AR RTH feature for more control during return flights.

There are other improvements offered in the Mini 4: even the addition of landing feet helping the drone can take off on an uneven surface. “An excellent change,” says Pocket Lint.

The Upshot: A Great Upgrade

Almost all reviewers agree that the DJI Mini 4 Pro adds some significant functionality and features  – and is well worth it for professional photographers or pilots passionate about content creation.  The entire Mini series are favorites, however – so pilots just starting out to hone their skills may be able to get a great deal on a Mini 2 or Mini 3, which are still great drones.

Read more:

A 45 Mile, Airport-to-Airport Drone Delivery in Alaska

RadioKAOS, CC BY-SA 3.0

ACUASI Demonstrates Airport to Airport Drone Delivery in Alaska

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

Continue reading below, or listen:

The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration recently completed an important milestone in the development of a local drone industry when their SeaHunter drone completed an uncrewed flight from Nenana Airport all the way to the Fairbanks International Airport, a 45-mile journey. Conducted by a University of Alaska Fairbanks research center, the test flight, (the first airport-to-airport UAV trip in the state), was designed to show new ways to integrate UAVs into commercial air operations. ACUASI, a division of the UAF Geophysical Institute, had previously run loop routes out of Fairbanks International to practice departures, arrivals, and runway approach practice. 

The Airport to Airport Drone Delivery Demonstration

“These are some of the first steps for drone deliveries across Alaska,” ACUASI Deputy Director Nick Adkins said of Friday’s flight. “With the control tower at FAI and a route along the Tanana River, the drone and support team encountered almost all of what is needed to fly from Fairbanks to Galena, for example. A flight like this allows testing and proving of command and control links, aircraft capability, detect and avoid technologies, controlled and uncontrolled airport operations, and integration of the drones and crew into the National Airspace System.”

The SeaHunter is a twin-engine, 299-lb UAV with a 16-foot wingspan. It carries enough fuel to run for over 10 hours. Due to FAA regulations, the test flight required the use of a chase vehicle, in this case a Robinson-44 helicopter. At Fairbanks Airport, the drone was required to integrate with local air-traffic control systems, but at Nenena, which is a smaller airport, it used common radio frequencies to signal to other local pilots in the area. 

airport to airport drone delivery

The SeaHunter drone of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration flies to Fairbanks International Airport from Nenana on Sept. 8, 2023. Photo by Nick Adkins

“What we are doing is demonstrating that drones can and will be able to integrate into normal operations at airports,” Adkins said.

UAF is one of seven FAA-designated unmanned aircraft systems test sites established to develop and test drone technology. ACUASI also sponsored the first Global Autonomous Systems Conference last month in Anchorage. The 2024 conference is scheduled for Aug. 13-15 and will again be held at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center.

Read more:

Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.

FLOCON 2024 Announced: Florida’s Public Safety Drone Operations Conference

FLOCON, Florida public safety drone conference, DRONERESPONDERSDates and Location Announced for 2024 Florida Public Safety Drone Operations Conference (FLOCON)

Event will showcase new technology and educate first responders on the use of Drones For Good®

The DRONERESPONDERS Florida Public Safety Coordination Group (FLOGRU) announced today that the 2024 Florida Public Safety Drone Operations Conference (FLOCON) will be held from February 20-22, 2024, in Auburndale, FL.  FLOCON will unite first responders from across Florida and other regions who are using small, uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) for a wide variety of life and safety missions.

FLOCON 2024 will build off the inaugural event held in March 2023 by offering additional classroom education combined with targeted clinics on the tactical use of sUAS for real-world law enforcement, fire rescue, and disaster response missions.  Live demonstrations of products and equipment for the ecosystem surrounding public safety drone operations will also be featured.

“What makes FLOCON unique compared to other public safety UAS training events is that it is entirely produced by first responders for first responders,” says Christopher Todd, Executive Director of AIRT – the official home of the DRONERESPONDERS program.  “FLOCON participants will learn in a safe and productive environment enabling them to become more proficient at operating drones to help save lives and protect property.”

SunTrax, a large-scale innovative facility developed by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments, will again serve as the official host venue for FLOCON.

“SunTrax is a world-class facility that provides an ideal venue for our goal of safely and effectively training first responders and emergency services professionals in the use of drones in compliance with Florida law,” said Sgt. Robert Dooley, UAV Program Coordinator for the Florida Highway Patrol and leadership team member for the DRONERESPONDERS Florida Public Safety Coordination Group (FLOGRU).  “FLOCON 2024 will feature a robust program offering classroom-style education combined with outdoor flight clinics to provide comprehensive training for attendees.”

FLOCON has already helped train over 200 public safety agency members on how to operate drones for incident and disaster response.  Organizers say FLOCON 2024 will increase capacity to accommodate additional attendees.

“SunTrax is excited to return this year as the official host venue for FLOCON 2024,” said Pamela Foster, SunTrax Strategic Development Manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. 

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Google’s Wing Makes Key Hires as they Expand Drone Delivery

wing and Walmart drone delivery, Wing new hiresWing’s New Hires Will Lead Company to Expanded Drone Delivery Around the World

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Google’s Wing is focused on expanding drone delivery networks around the world – bringing residential drone delivery to major metro areas.  Now, the company has made appointments to 2 key leadership positions: welcoming Martín Gomez as Chief Technology Officer and Cosimo Leipold as Global Head of Partnerships.  Long-time CTO Adam Woodworth was named as Wing’s CEO last year.

Wing’s new hires will take critical roles as the company moves forward to realize the Wing Delivery Network – their operational model for high-volume drone deliery in metro areas – and to support their new partnership with Walmart in the U.S.  That partnership will being in the Dallas Fort Worth area, but represents a significant example of residential BVLOS drone delivery, enabling service for an estimated 60,000 customers.

As the FAA now estimates that a BVLOS rule may not be implemented until 2025, programs like Wing’s – and the operations enabled by recent FAA authorizations for UPS Flight Forward and Zipline – have become more important to making commercial drone delivery viable.    As the drone delivery space begins to gain speed, top players are vying for partnerships with retail and restaurant chains.  Wing’s approach of enabling independent retailers to utilize drone delivery services, as they have done in Christianburg VA and Australia, may provide them with an advantage.  “At Wing, a main focus of Cosimo’s will be helping retailers integrate automated drone delivery in a zero-friction way to realize the paradigm shift that Wing’s delivery represents,” says the company announcement.

Martín Gomez joins Wing after a long career at Aurora Flight Sciences, where he was most recently Senior Chief Engineer. He has worked as an engineer and technical leader for 40 years, across the fields of uncrewed aircraft systems, spacecraft, and embedded systems development.

Cosimo Leipold joins Wing after seven years at Nuro, a leading on-road autonomous delivery company, where he was a founding member. At Nuro, Cosimo led both the Strategy and Partnerships teams and helped the company secure multi-million dollar deals with some of the world’s best known brands, including Walmart, Kroger, and UberEATS.

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Check Out These New Features in Global Mapper v25 from Blue Marble

Top New Features in Global Mapper v25

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Blue Marble Geographic’s flagship software, Global Mapper Pro, is an all-in-one GIS package for analyzing and processing vector, terrain, image, and point cloud data. A comprehensive and easy-to-use GIS application that provides an extensive collection of tools, Global Mapper Pro is suited for any GIS user, from novice to expert. Compatible with over 380 different file formats, Global Mapper can be seamlessly brought into your existing workflow. New updates to the software include the ability to calculate and model an optimal flattened site plan in the terrain and plot the least cost path across a landscape. A notable update is the Pixels to Points improvements, including refining the wizard to streamline setup and processing speed improvements of up to 50% for some projects.

The Automatic Point Cloud Analysis tool is the new hub of point cloud classification and extraction in Global Mapper Pro. This integrated tool allows users to manage automatic classifications, segmentation, and feature extraction from one window, providing the ability to share settings and run multiple processes simultaneously. Also included are new segmentation processes for ground and noise classifications, such as the segmentation-based “Max Likelihood” methods, which were previously only available for non-ground points but are better tailored for modern point cloud generation and collection approaches.

A new Custom Feature Classification tool (Beta) lets users define additional custom classifications based on unique attributes and spatial patterns. Users can create their automatic point cloud classifications and train Global Mapper to find specific objects in their point clouds. These settings can also be applied to further train existing classification methods to tailor the tool for particular datasets and workflows.

The newly added Least Cost Path tool provides a terrain analysis method for finding the shortest and most efficient path between locations. By iterating through all possible options, it identifies the best route between specified point features across a terrain layer based on minimized terrain slope angle and avoiding unwanted areas. This simple yet powerful analysis can connect two locations, map multiple locations into a single path, or discover the most accessible site.

features GlobalMapper

Least Cost Path can find the most optimal route across the terrain, avoiding steep slopes, vector features, and more.

Other updates to version 25 of Global Mapper include the ability to compare kriging outputs to control data as cross-validation and improvements to the creation of estimated tree footprints extracted from point clouds. A few of the new tools are expansions of existing popular ones, such as Raster Painting, which allows for editing image and raster layers, and Elevation QC for applying vertical adjustments based on ground control points.

To check out the exciting new functionality in Global Mapper standard and Pro v25, download a free 14-day trial today!

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How to Get a Drone License in Kentucky (Explained for Beginners)

From Shawnee Park and Long Run Park in Louisville to Jacobson Park in Lexington, Kentucky is a favorite southern state for launching immersive drone flights. Pilots must have a license before flying.

How to get a drone license in Kentucky?

Here’s how to get a drone license in Kentucky:

  • Determine if you pass the FAA eligibility stage
  • Make an IACRA account for your FTN
  • Find your closest Knowledge Testing Center and register
  • Study for the exam
  • Take the Part 107 exam and pass
  • Send in Form 8710-13 and get your license

It sounds easy when I put it that way, but first-time pilots often find it’s anything but. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!

This guide will cover all the steps for earning a Kentucky drone license usable throughout the United States, presented in a beginner-friendly format.

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Here’s how to obtain a drone license in Kentucky

The FAA regulates aviation in Kentucky, as it does the rest of the US, and requires any drone pilot to have a license, including those flying recreationally.

The hobbyist license, known as the TRUST certificate, is rather limiting. Most pilots pursue the Remote Pilot Certificate, the FAA commercial drone license, instead.

This license gives you more liberties with your drone operations (within the parameters of FAA laws) and allows you to use your drone for profit, whether you pick up a few odd jobs on the side or make a full-time career out of flying your drone.

These steps will outline what’s required to obtain the commercial certificate.

How I Passed Part 107 (& The Course That Helped Me do That)

» MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (& The Course That Helped Me do That)

Determine if you pass the FAA eligibility stage

Before you start making plans to test for your commercial drone license, you must know if you’re eligible to apply.

The FAA doesn’t have many restrictions. Here they are.

You must be at least 16 years old. If you’re younger, you can practice provisionally, flying a drone with a licensed pilot, but you yourself can’t take the FAA commercial exam yet.

You must also be of sound mind and body, capable of making smart drone use decisions on the fly. You need a full comprehension of the English language.

Make an IACRA account for your FAA Tracking Number

Can you proceed because you meet the above criteria? Excellent!

First-time pilots require an FAA Tracking Number or FTN. This aviation identifier transcends drone use and applies to any FAA activities you might participate in.

Each FTN is unique, and you will use it throughout your aviation career to verify your identity, including to take the Part 107 exam.

The only way to apply for an FTN is through the FAA resource IACRA, short for the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application.

IACRA offers ratings and certifications, registry processing information, documentation for training, aircraft search, and more. You can register an account for free, and it only takes a few minutes.

Navigate to the login area on the homepage. You’ll find it in the upper right corner. You should see a link to register, so click that. 

The first page of IACRA registration requires you to select relevant roles. As a first-time commercial drone pilot, you should check Applicant, as you might not have other applicable roles.

If so, move on, agreeing to the terms of service. You’ll then proceed to the second and final page of registration.

The User Profile Information page begins with a request for certificate information. IACRA has a small text bubble mentioning how you can skip this section if you’re not a certificate holder, and I echo that sentiment.

Fill in your details in the Personal Information section, including your email address, gender, and full name. Next, choose two security questions from the dropdown menus and answer them carefully.

The third and final section on this page is where you create your username and password. Select unique credentials, confirm your password, and click the green Register button.

Check your inbox. IACRA will send you a confirmation email shortly. Log in, and you can review your profile details. You will have an FTN assigned to you.

You don’t have to memorize your FTN. It’s always accessible within the IACRA portal.

Use PSI to find your closest FAA Knowledge Testing Center and register

With your FTN handy, you can verify your identity on PSI, a testing resource the FAA uses for aeronautic testing.

Click the link above to visit the PSI website. Then click the white button, Create an Account. Before proceeding, you must input your full name and FTN. Then, you can create your profile following the prompts.

PSI will send you a confirmation email after creating an account. Click the link in the email or visit the PSI homepage and click the blue Sign In button.

After signing in, click the Find a Test Center menu option at the top of the PSI website. This feature allows you to find an FAA Knowledge Testing Center.

Allow me to explain. The FAA only administers the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam in person. You can take the test at a Knowledge Testing Center.

You’ll find these throughout the country, including in parts of Kentucky from Louisville to Owensboro, Frankfort, Paducah, and Bowling Green.

To search for Knowledge Testing Centers near you, type in your postal code and select United States as your country from the dropdown menu. Choose a distance between five and 300 miles depending on how far you’re willing to drive.

Next, under the Exam type, scroll all the way to the bottom of the dropdown and select Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG).

PSI will populate a list of the nearest Knowledge Testing Centers, including directions to each. Select the one nearest you and register a date and time to take the Part 107 exam.

Study for the exam

The Part 107 exam has questions about every aspect of drone flight, including airspace classifications, drone limitations, weather sources, emergency procedures, radio protocols, weather effects, and airport operations.

You must eat, sleep, and breathe FAA rules to pass. That you must pay about $165 per test attempt also ratchets up the pressure.

Why not learn from the best and increase your chances of success? Beginner-friendly online drone courses are one-stop resources for learning everything you must know to pass the commercial drone exam the first time.

These leading courses feature lessons from drone professionals (sometimes FAA pilots and flight instructors) broken down into bite-sized lessons you can review as many times as needed. Practice quizzes reinforce what you’ve learned and act as a preview for what to expect on the real exam.

Oh, and I didn’t even mention the best part. Money-back guarantees refund what you spend and give you cash toward your second crack at the Part 107 exam. You have nothing to lose.

Sounds good, right? Check out this list of recommended drone training courses for beginners. Choose your favorite school, enroll, and you’ll be ready to take the Part 107 exam.

Take the Part 107 exam and pass

Testing day has arrived. Staunch your nerves as best you can and try to keep your eyes on the prize. You’ve come this far, so now all you must do is pass.

The Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) exam has 60 multiple-choice questions. Each question has three potential answers for you to select from, with one correct. You will have two and a half hours to answer all 60 questions, so take your time and go with your gut.

You can take a protractor and electronic calculator (that only performs math) into the exam room, but not your smartphone. You will receive other materials to take the exam, such as a dry-erase marker, pencil, and scratch paper.

You must have a driver’s license or another form of government-issued ID handy before you’re allowed into the testing room.

Don’t expect instant test results. Some pilots only wait days to hear back, and others weeks. It all depends on how quickly your exam is processed.

When the time inevitably comes, you can find your test results in your IACRA portal.

Send in form 8710-13 and get your license

Did you pass the Part 107 exam? Nice job! All that hard work and studying paid off. You’re almost ready to say you’re officially a commercial drone pilot in Kentucky, but you’re not quite there yet.

You must apply for your commercial license by completing an FAA form, 8710-13. You can access this form in IACRA by selecting the prompt, Start New Application. Choose Pilot for the type of application and Remote Pilot under the Certifications section.

Completing this form is straightforward enough, as you can follow the prompts.

IACRA will send your information to the TSA. You will receive your commercial drone certificate after the TSA conducts a background check.

Let me explain something for a moment that often confuses first-time commercial pilots. The version of your certificate you receive from IACRA via email is a temporary certificate. The FAA is busily processing your data to send you a permanent certificate, but it can take a while.

Use the temporary certificate as you would any standard certificate, carrying it on your person when you fly. Switch to the permanent certificate when you receive it in your mailbox.

I have my commercial drone license in Kentucky – Now what?

Having a commercial drone license in Kentucky sure is cool, but you’re not exactly ready to fly. You still have to do a few more tasks.

First, register your drone. All commercial drones require registration regardless of weight. If you’re only flying recreationally (and have the right license to do so), you only have to worry about registration for drones exceeding 250 grams.

Make yourself privy to Kentucky’s state drone laws, which apply in addition to the federal FAA regulations. HB 540 bars drones from accessing prohibited areas.

You should also strongly consider drone insurance, even if you’re not required to have it. Insurance safeguards you against severe consequences of drone use, such as lawsuits and injuries, reducing your financial burden. We have a beginner’s guide to drone insurance on the blog here.

With that, you’re ready to fly! Enjoy your commercial drone license, which expires within two years after the FAA issues it. The FAA does this by design so pilots can stay abreast of its changing regulations.

So, does that mean you have to take the Part 107 exam all over again? It used to, but since 2021, you can now take a free online exam to renew your drone certificate. Phew!

How to Fly Holy Stone HS720E (Explained for Beginners)

The Holy Stone HS720E is a drone designed to withstand rude usage common in users who don’t know how to fly a drone.

How to Fly Holy Stone HS720E (Explained for Beginners)
  • The HS720E is easy to fly, as it always hovers, even when you don’t move the throttle joystick.
  • You only need to control the front, up, down, and side motions.
  • Thanks to intelligent flight modes, it can perform automatic flying, only needing you to tap commands on the mobile app.

In this article, we’ll explain critical steps to consider when flying, such as how to set up the HS720E before flying it and the taking off and landing phases.

So stay tuned!

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Setting up my Holy Stone HS720E (Step by step)

Before flying the HS720E, you must download the Ophelia GO app.

Your phone will serve as the camera view, so you must pair your mobile device with the remote controller and drone.

Finally, complete a step-by-step process to calibrate the drone compass.

» MORE: Holy Stone HS110D Review

Ophelia GO app

HS720E drone and rc with app

Downloading it is easy but depends on your device’s operating system.

The first method is through the HS720E user manual section 9.1: 

  1. Scan the QR code for iOS or Android. 
  2. Once the link pops up on your device screen, click it. 
  3. It will automatically link you to the mobile app store. There, click download.

You can also look for the Ophelia GO app on the App Store or Play Store.

» MORE: Holy Stone App – All You Need to Know

Device pairing

To pair your devices, proceed as follows:

  1. Unfold your HS720E arms, as the props can rotate slightly during pairing.
  2. Insert a fully charged battery into the drone battery compartment.
  3. Grab your remote controller. Then, hold down the lock/unlock button with your left thumb while you move the power switch to the right with your other thumb.
  4. Now, press the power button on your drone.
  5. Finally, go to your phone’s Wi-Fi network and search for HolyStoneEIS-******. Select it and wait until the binding is successful.
  6. Once the binding process is complete, you can open the Ophelia GO app.

Now, you will see what the HS720E camera sees.

» MORE: How to Connect Holy Stone Drone to Phone (Step By Step Guide)

Drone calibration

Another critical step for a safe flight is compass calibration.

A calibrated compass helps the HS720E understand its location to hold its position accurately and avoid undesired drifting and taking off or landing issues.

Calibrating your drone compass is quite easy and takes 10 seconds to complete. Just follow the steps below:

  1. Grab your remote controller. Move both joysticks to the lower right corner simultaneously. This action activates the calibration procedure.
  2. Hold your HS720E parallel to the ground and rotate it to the same side three times. You know the calibration is complete when the power button lights steadily green.
  3. Hold your HS720E vertically to the ground and rotate it to the same side three times.

 We attached a quick YouTube video from Holy Stone of the setup process to summarize these steps.

» MORE: Holy Stone Drone Doesn’t Want to Fly Right. What to Do?

Flying my Holy Stone HS720E (Step by step)

HS720E hovering

You can now press a button on the remote controller for your HS720E to take off.

Then, by moving the joysticks, you’ll be flying. Is as simple as that.

However, aviation entities regulate airspace, so the flight mission starts before your drone takes off.

» MORE: How to Fix My Holy Stone Drone that Won’t Start?

Pre-flight checklist

The first consideration is whether your drone can fly safely.

The way to ensure that is to install a fully charged battery, know if the drone requires an update, and calibrate its compass.

Another critical step is to understand your drone’s condition. 

How strong do the arm hinges feel? Do the propellers have excessive chips and cuts? Do the engines sound like a regular electrical motor? Or do they hum or make an odd noise?

Knowing your drone’s condition before flying is key to maintaining an acceptable level of safety when flying.

Finally, check the batteries’ condition. Do they have any swelling, leaking, discoloration, or odor? 

If you spot any of these issues, please avoid using the battery, as it can be faulty.

A damaged battery can make your drone explode or lose control in flight due to lack of power, causing damage to you or other people and property.

» MORE: Holy Stone HS720E Vs. DJI Mini 2 (Here’s My Choice)

Safety

HS720E drone, battery and controller

You must know where to fly your HS720E safely without worrying about damaging it.

This drone is beginner-friendly thanks to its flying aids, such as auto-hovering and maintaining a fixed position in the air.

However, it’s fast for a newbie, even in normal mode.

Pricier drones with these characteristics have collision avoidance sensors to stop before or bypass obstacles.

The HS720E lacks these sensors, so if you aren’t completely aware of your environment, you will surely crash it.

The best scenario to fly is at a safe altitude above obstacles.

Plan to fly your drone in a football court or in a park where you have plenty of space to maneuver.

» MORE: Drone Safety Features (All You Need to Know)

Regulations

hs720e folded drone

By regulation, you must avoid flying a drone over people.

Don’t fly low on private property. Owners can take it as espionage or an attack on their privacy.

The HS720E is only suitable for recreational flying, so you must register and take a TRUST test before flying.

» MORE: Drone Laws in the United States

Weather

This drone has a good weight for its size and comes with a double GPS module.

These are factors that improve its stability against windy conditions.

However, the drone is only suitable for flying in breezy conditions, making it very hard to fly in winds of more than 15 mph.

» MORE: Flying a Drone in Hot Weather (Things You Should Know)

Taking off

Holy Stone HS720E outdoors

You have ensured your aircraft is safe to fly. The next step is to take off. It’s a very easy process that only involves pressing one button.

  1. Turn on the GPS by sliding the GPS switch down. It’s on the right side of your transmitter.
  2. Unlock the engines by pressing the lock button below the left joystick with your thumb.
  3. Press the button above the left joystick for the HS720E to take off automatically.

Why is it important to turn on the GPS module?

Although the HS720E isn’t lightweight, strong winds move it relatively easily.

You can lose your drone, making it impossible to find it just by sight. 

Having the GPS module on guarantees you have its position on the map.

It also gives you a path on the flight logs to figure out the landing point. 

» MORE: Drone Won’t Take Off? Here’s How to Fix it

Flying my HS720E

flying my HS720E

Now, let’s dig into the fun part.

The HS720E is relatively easy to fly, thanks to its auto-hovering capabilities.

Whether you release the transmitter and leave it on a chair, the drone will continue to hover in a fixed position until its battery drains.

Then it will land automatically.

However, understanding how to move the joysticks is the tricky part.

By default, your controller comes in Mode 2, meaning the left stick controls the ascending/descending and roll movements, and the right stick controls the yaw and forward/backward motion.

The first step is to move the left stick up so the HS720E ascends to a safe altitude above obstacles. Then, move the right joystick up so the drone starts flying forward.

In the beginning, the most challenging movement is turning. The most accurate advice we can give you is to turn before moving forward.

Once you feel comfortable turning, you can do it while flying forward.

We don’t advise flying backward unless necessary, as you can lose awareness of the drone’s position and hit something.

» MORE: Holy Stone HS720 Camera Not Working (And How to Fix It)

Headless mode

Another difficulty when starting is understanding the north of the drone.

The north is always where the camera points. It sounds obvious, but if your drone is looking at you and you press the left stick up, it will fly backward instead of forward.

In this case, we recommend you start with headless mode. When you enable this feature, the drone will always go forward when you move the left joystick up.

To enable this function, proceed as follows:

  1. Tap the four squares icon on the left side of the camera view screen.
  2. Then, select the icon that shows a compass rose.

» MORE: Best Drones for Backpacking and Camping

Follow me

There are other ways to fly the HS720E, such as automatically.

The first and most famous feature is follow-me. Your HS720E follows you in this mode from a safe distance and altitude.

Let’s say you want to film yourself while riding a bicycle or simply walking. In those scenarios, you can lose awareness of the environment, so controlling the drone is dangerous.

With the follow-me feature, you avoid those inconveniences, letting the drone do all the work.

To enable this function, proceed as follows:

  1. Tap the four squares on the left side of the camera view screen.
  2. Then, select the icon that shows a drone following a person.

» MORE: Best Drones for Beginners

Landing my HS720E

Landing your HS720E is as easy as taking off.

  1. Press the button above the left joystick for the HS720E to land automatically.
  2. The engines shut down after landing. However, we always recommend you lock them by pressing the lock button. Otherwise, the propellers can start spinning without notice, and you can get injured.

After landing my HS720E

HS720E drone folded, rc and battery

The final step after landing your HS720E and locking its engines is to secure the drone.

  • Battery removal: Leaving the battery installed can damage the circuits on the drone, or the battery can drain. Remove the battery 10 to 15 minutes after your flight.
  • Charging the battery: Once you remove the batteries from the drone and they’re at ambient temperature, you must consider your next flight. If the next flight is within 24 hours, the wisest practice is to charge the battery right away.
  • Safe storage: If you don’t plan to use the drone for some time, store the battery without charging it completely. 

Charge the batteries between 50 and 65 percent or when one of the indicator lights is on. With this practice, you ensure the HS720E battery will last longer as it won’t cycle.

» MORE: Best Budget Holy Stone Drone for the Money (With Prices)

Best SD Cards for DJI Mavic 3 (Classic / Pro / Cine)

The Mavic 3 line (Classic, Pro, Cine) is DJI’s foldable professional flagship line.

Best SD Cards for DJI Mavic 3 (Classic / Pro / Cine)

Aside from stellar omnidirectional obstacle sensing, solid tracking functions, and a quality build, the Mavic 3 line has impressive cameras. 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad cameras to be exact.

An essential purchase for any Mavic 3 owner, especially the commercial pilot, will be SD cards.

Even the Cine versions, with their 1TB of internal storage, perfect for Apple ProRes files, can accommodate high-capacity 2TB SD cards.

We’ll be discussing SD card specs as well as talking about the best SD cards for the Mavic 3 line, how to insert and eject the Mavic 3 and DJI RC Pro SD cards, and how to format the SD cards in both the Mavic 3 and DJI RC Pro.

The best SD cards for the Mavic 3 line and DJI RC Pro are the SanDisk Extreme and Extreme PRO lines, Samsung’s EVO line, Kingston Canvas Go!, Angelbird, and the Lexar 1066x line.

While we will be discussing specific cards by various manufacturers, there are many, many different cards available that you might have used in the past and will work well with the Mavic 3 line.

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DJI Recommendations

While many times we might feel that companies have “recommended products” as a way to boost sales in various internal ventures or because they have business ties with other manufacturers, going by DJI’s SD card recommendation list is beneficial.

This is because DJI has spent tons of time, resources, and money planning, engineering, building, and testing its products.

DJI is in a unique position to know what 3rd party and after-market products work best for its equipment and what 3rd party products will help DJI’s products operate to their full capacity.

The SD cards DJI recommends are not problematic nor diminish the final output of the images and videos produced with its drones.

Because of this, shortly, we will be looking at quite a few card recommendations from DJI.

» MORE: Best SD Cards for Mavic 3

What to Look for in an SD Card

While most SD cards seem, to some, to be just identical tiny pieces of plastic with a label and gold-colored notches and grooves, not all SD cards have the same build quality or perform equally.

Like with many products, you get what you pay for!

When purchasing SD cards, it is important to take into consideration the SD card’s maximum space, its read/write speeds, and price, as sometimes there are large differences in price between cards that appear to be similar in specs.

» MORE: DJI Air 3 Beginners Guide (Step-by-Step Guide)

Space/Size

When it comes to SD cards, they are a middle ground or vehicle between the drone and getting content out to the public, via social media, or paying clients.

They are not oftentimes used as a permanent home for data in a professional capacity.

While yes, the Mavic 3 line is considered a professional workhorse, there are many hobbyists who use the drone in a non-commercial capacity.

As such, it is good to first consider how you plan on using SD cards.

Are you someone who regularly flies as a hobbyist, shoots in 4 or 5k, and is not in a rush to move content from the Mavic 3 to a computer, allowing videos to accumulate internally?

Or, on the other hand, are you a commercial drone pilot who shoots a lot of footage and regularly transfers the media to a computer for editing and delivering to clients?

If you leave media on the SD card for a while, shooting over and over again on the same SD card, then a high-capacity card would be the best route to go.

Thankfully, the Mavic 3 line can use cards up to 2TB.

On the other hand, if regularly offloading content to a computer or portable drive for editing, having multiple, lower-capacity, cost-effective cards might work well for client project organization.

Below is a comparison chart of the common sizes of SD cards, which should help in determining the right-sized card for your Mavic 3.

The chart is based on the Mavic 3 Pro’s three cameras: the maximum 48 MP photo option at 98MB/photo (rounded up to 100MB), 20 MP photos at 40-50MB, and the 12 MP photo option at 25MB/Photo.

Photo Storage Examples

Card Size (GB) 48MP 100MB Photo 20MP 50MB Photo 12MP 25MB Photo
32 320 640 1280
64 640 1280 2048
128 1280 2560 5120
256 2560 5120 10240
512 5120 10240 20480
1024 (1TB) 10240 20480 40960
2048 (2TB) 20480 40960 81920

» MORE: DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro: Where to Put the SD Card (Explained)

Video Storage Examples

Below is a comparison chart of how much storage is used in shooting various lengths of 4k 60fps video footage.

These numbers are being used as they are common when filming drone footage, although the Mavic 3 is capable of much higher resolution and frame rates (fps)

Video length Size at 4k/60fps – 150Mbps
60 seconds 1.09 GB
5 minutes 5.45 GB
10 minutes 10.9 GB
30 minutes 32.7 GB
1 hour 65.4 GB
5 hours 327 GB
8 hours 523.2 GB
16 Hours 1 TB 46 MB
32 Hours 2 TB 92 MB

» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Here’s my Choice)

Read/Write Speed

Having looked at how much space various cards can hold for photos and videos, we’ll look at how the actual speed of an SD card comes into play.

U1 & U3

On the front of SD cards, there will be a bucket with U1 or U3, these are the UHS speed class ratings.

UHS Speed Class 1 supports 10MB/write speed as a minimum, with UHS Speed Class 3 having a minimum of at least 30 MB/write speed.

Because the Mavic 3 line shoots such high-resolution videos, 4k and above, knowing the speed class of a card, and then using a U3 class is essential for filming such content.

Perhaps the card might not be used for videos.

Even if not planning on shooting 4 or 5k video, having U3 cards is beneficial at times for taking photographs, as there is a noticeable advantage in speed.

These speed benefits when taking pictures on the Mavic 3 come into play when doing 3-5 frame AEB (auto exposure bracketing) and burst shooting.

The images in these modes write quickly to the card, without the pauses of a slower U1 card.

If you’ve ever taken multiple shots quickly and noticed considerable lag between the burst shots and the camera finalizing them, it most likely was due to the speed class of the card.

In this case, you’ll want a U3 SD card.

For the best client and hobbyist experience possible, you’ll want to purchase the fastest, best-quality card that fits your budget.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 3 Classic: Which Drone Should You Buy?

Pricing

To go with the different types, sizes, and speeds of SD cards that are available, there are also many different pricing options.

Oftentimes there will even be various price swings between SD cards by the same manufacturer.

When looking at DJI’s recommendation list, we see cards by SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, and Lexor. Additionally, Angle Bird has been a major up-and-comer in the drone SD card market.

When it comes to SD cards, the higher the storage capacity, the less expensive per GB the SD cards get.

For instance, a SanDisk Extreme U3 128 GB card regularly sells for between $14.99 and $29.99, whereas the 256 GB version of that card regularly sells for $22.99.

The 256 GB version of the card is cheaper per GB than the 128 GB, as the 128 GB card easily exceeds the 256 GB option price.

The bright side to all of this is that SD card manufacturers have deals where there are 2-packs of SD cards on sale, and combined they are priced less per card than if you purchased both cards separately.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 QuickTransfer – How to Download Files (Step-by-Step Guide)

Recommended Cards

Below is a listing of DJI’s SD Card recommendations, as well as a higher-costing Professional Grade SD card by Angelbird, and useful manufacturer’s product information.

SanDisk Extreme/Pro Lines

The SanDisk Extreme and Extreme Pro lines are made for the conditions we might find our drones in.

They are reportedly Temperature proof, Waterproof, and Shockproof.

The Extreme series has read speeds up to 160MB and write speeds up to 60MB, perfect for 4k video recording and burst shooting on the Mavic 3 line.

These features apply to the 128 & 256 GB and even the 1 TB versions as well.

As regular users of SanDisk, we highly recommend these lines of cards.


SanDisk Extreme 256GB V30 A2 microSDXC

$22.69
$20.99

  • Up to 130MB/s write speeds for fast shooting
  • 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)
  • Rated A2 for faster loading and in-app performance


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09/21/2023 01:01 am GMT

High-Capacity


SanDisk Extreme 1TB V30 A2 microSDXC

$107.00
$101.18

  • Up to 130MB/s write speeds for fast shooting
  • 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)
  • Rated A2 for faster loading and in-app performance


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09/21/2023 12:46 am GMT

» MORE: DJI RC 2 Review (Everything You Need to Know)

Lexar 1066x

The 1066x line is specifically designed for action cameras, drones, and other high-end end electronics.

For the budget conscience, the Lexar 1066x has SD cards that come in a few dollars less than SanDisk currently.


Lexar Professional 1066x 256GB microSDXC UHS-I Card

$29.99
$20.49

  • Professional-level performance for action cameras, drones, or Android smartphones
  • Leverages UHS-I technology to deliver read speeds up to 160MB/s (1066x)
  • Designed for durability in harsh conditions


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09/21/2023 07:27 pm GMT

» MORE: Best SD Cards for DJI Mini 2 SE

Samsung Evo Select/Plus Lines

In addition to being waterproof, shockproof, temperature proof, and X-ray proof, the EVO Select and the Evo Plus series are also magnetic proof.

The Evo line has read speeds up to 100MB and write speeds up to 60MB. Additionally, as of this article writing, specific Evo SD cards on currently on sale.


Samsung EVO Select 256GB V30 A2 microSDXC

$24.67
$19.99

  • Superfast U3, class 10 rated transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s¹,²and UHS-I Interface
  • Available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
  • Complete with water⁴, temperature⁵, X-ray⁶, ⁷magnet, drop⁸, and wears⁹ out protection; Backed by a 10-year limited warranty


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09/21/2023 01:42 am GMT

» MORE: Best SD Cards for DJI Avata

Kingston Canvas Go Line

Made for action cameras and drones, the Kingston series has transfer speeds up to 170 MB and supports the A2 App Performance Class.

This series of cards is water, x-ray, temperature, shock, and vibration proof.

» MORE: Best DJI Mini 3 Pro SD Cards

Angelbird Line

The Angelbird line is designed specifically for professionals and larger video and photo productions filmed with popular commercial drones as well as action cameras from GoPro, Insta360, and DJI.

Supports Full HD, 4K, and 6K video recording and photo in a variety of rugged environments.

Professional

» MORE: Best SD Cards for DJI Mavic Air 2

Inserting/Ejecting SD Cards

The Mavic 3 line has popularized the convenient placement of the SD card removing it from behind the right leg or arm of the drone and relocating it to the rear of the Mavic 3, above the battery.

This design queue is also seen in the Mini 3 line as well as the Air 3.

With this redesign, SD cards can be quickly and conveniently removed and reinserted.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro SD Cards: How to Insert, Eject, and Format (Video)

Mavic 3

To insert an SD card into the Mavic 3:

STEP 1: Pull the rear port cover open and straight up (this houses the USB-C and SD card slots).

STEP 2: With the Mavic 3 powered down, insert the SD card, with the pins facing upward, until the card clicks into place.

inserting card into DJI Mavic 3

STEP 3: Close the rear port cover.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 Pro – How to Turn ON/OFF (Step-by-Step Guide & Video)

DJI RC Pro

As with the DJI RC and DJI RC 2, the Mavic 3’s DJI RC Pro also has an SD card slot.

Although there is 32 GB internal storage the SD card on the DJI RC Pro can be used for storing screenshots, screen recording clips, and other media.

To insert an SD card into the DJI RC Pro, while the DJI RC Pro is off, simply push the SD card, face up, into the SD card slot (the left slot), until it clicks.

Note: The SD card slots on the Mavic 3 and DJI RC Pro are spring-loaded.

If you have large fingers or your fingers slip when inserting the SD card it could cause the card to quickly eject from the slot, possibly getting lost.

Using a fingernail to insert the cards generally works well.

» MORE: DJI Mavic 3 vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro (Which One is Right for You?)

Formatting SD Cards and Internal Storage

The process for formatting SD cards and the internal storage that is in the Mavic 3 is done within the DJI Fly app, whether you have a DJI RC Pro, DJI RC, or the RC-N1 remote controller.

» MORE: How to Format SD Cards in DJI Drones (Quick Steps with Photos)

Mavic 3

To format the SD card or internal storage, after powering on both the Mavic 3 and your current RC (DJI RC Pro, RC, or RC-N1) connected to a smart device:

STEP 1: While in the DJI Fly app, go into your settings and locate the CAMERA tab.

STEP 2: Under storage, press format. You will be presented with an option to format either the SD card or Internal Storage.

STEP 3: Choose SD Card and press Format.

To format the internal storage of the Mavic 3, during Step 3 simply select Internal Storage at the Select location to format screen.

» MORE: How Do I Update DJI RC Pro? (Step-by-Step Guide)

DJI RC Pro

Unlike the SD cards in the Mavic 3 (removable and internal storage), the Mavic 3 does not need to be on to format the SD card and internal storage of the DJI RC Pro.

To format the DJI RC Pro’s SD card and/or internal storage:

STEP 1: Pull down the DJI RC Pro’s notification screen by double-swiping it down.

STEP 2: Press the settings/options gear in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

STEP 3: Tap STORAGE

STEP 4: On the bottom of the screen, under Portable Storage, you will see your SD card. Mine is currently labeled disk, as I had not yet changed it after inserting a brand-new SD card.

Tap on your SD card’s name. You’ll see your SD cards used space. Press Format.

STEP 5: You’ll then be asked to format the SD card. If you choose to format at this time, press FORMAT SD CARD or otherwise choose CANCEL.

The same steps apply to formatting the internal storage of the DJI RC Pro.

However, instead of choosing the DJI RC Pro Portable Storage, you would select Device Storage and proceed with formatting the internal storage.

» MORE: How to Pair the DJI RC Pro Controller with DJI Drone (Step-by-Step Guide)

Part 7: The Biggest Mistakes I Made As A Drone Pilot (The Right Choices Now Will Save You Later!)

Mistakes: an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’ve made a few mistakes here and there. In the business world, some mistakes can be so bad that they lead to destroying the whole entirety of a business.

Luckily, fingers crossed, I don’t have any of those. Mistakes, however, can be easy to make, and if there are enough of them – eek! It’s still the same result as one really, really big mistake.

Mistakes are tricky little devils too, where they may not seem like a mistake at the time. They are all around us, all the time. Just waiting to happen.

In this series, we’ve been looking back at my time and experiences opening and operating a small drone services business.

My wonderful editor here at Droneblog.com, Elizabeth, thought a more personal view would be interesting.

I have to say it has been a blast looking back and reminiscing about those days gone by.

This is why one’s editors are always right, Elizabeth’s always right. I should listen to her more.

Looking back, though, has led to some uncomfortable realizations on just how I could have done some things differently. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

So, in this article, we’ll be focusing on one some of the things I did that were mistakes at the time. With any luck, you, our readers, won’t fall for the same mistake trap when it springs next to you.

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Let’s get into it!

Mistake Number One

Probably by far the biggest and most regrettable mistake I made was not seeking some type of funding.

One, it is out there to be had. Two, I was in a position where I would have most likely qualified for such funding had I sought it out.

Instead, I self-funded my startup. Starting up can be pricey. Oh, so pricey! There are the things you know you’ll need, and then there are the things you didn’t think about.

All of which adds up very quickly.

Now, I was at least fortunate enough to have some money squirreled away. If you’ve been following this article series, you know I had sold and liquidated my eBay operation for funding.

This funding, however, was finite, and once gone, well, it’s gone.

Whereas by establishing a good solid relationship with a funding institution for small businesses, there may have been additional help when the initial funding had dried up.

Places like the Small Business Administration, among others, could help you further in this regard.

One of the reasons I did not consider this option is simple. I was raised that you only buy things you could afford and if you wanted something badly enough you saved for it.

That ideology has no place in the business world, just so you know. That, and some of the numbers you may encounter, are just staggering.

Mistake Number Two

Over-extending myself on equipment. This one’s a bit mixed; yes, it was a mistake. It was! Still torn on it, though.

Specifically, this would be the purchase of the Matrice 210 and the XT2 Thermal camera. Of course, the extra set of batteries and the x4s would be included in that as well.

I loved that flying cow. I really did.

The problem was I should have waited, and if I had, I could have saved a bundle on the Mavic 2 Enterprise.

For you the reader, though, it’s a good laugh and points out a whole lot of what not to do. This didn’t have to be a mistake though. What made it a mistake was how I went about it.

The 210 came out not long after I had opened the doors of D&Ds for the first time. As a new business that was just struggling and working to establish itself, making such a costly purchase was a bad idea.

It depleted funds that would be needed later and the cost-to-worth ratio just wasn’t there.

After having it for four years, it only came to cover about half of its initial cost. That’s not to say it couldn’t have worked out.

It just wasn’t the time for pushing thermal services, as many at the time had no idea what it was.

I should have plugged away at what I was already doing, as the cost of that was low.

As time went by and business increased, at that point, I could have considered extending my services to other areas such as thermal.

By then the market desire and technology would have equaled out more and it may have turned out differently. I also increased that cost as well by seeking education.

Now this one is definitely on the fence of mistake or not. I’ll just tell you what I did here, and you can decide.

Thermal cameras are different than regular cameras we use every day. Knowing this, I attended a costly training and certification course on the use of thermal cameras through ITC.

From this, I walked away with a good understanding of how to set up and use a thermal camera as well as how to tune a thermogram, once it’s been captured, so it’s as detailed as possible.

I personally never find training that you glean something from to be wasted time.

The expense however was steep and the cost-to-benefit ratio was low. So, although I spent a heavy monetary cost, I do feel it’s valued knowledge and therefore an acceptable cost.

As I said, I’ll leave you the reader to decide if that was a mistake or not.

» MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (And the Course That Helped Me Do It)

Mistake Number Three

Crashes! They do happen and sometimes the fault is on the equipment or the environment, or more to the point something outside of the pilot’s control.

Sometimes though, they’re solely the fault of the pilot in control of that aircraft. I’ve had three crashes since opening the doors of D&Ds.

Oh, wait! No there are four, that’s just one I don’t like to think about, is all.

Three of these crashes were my fault. As the pilot in command, all crashes are your fault, really.

There are some, though, that you as the pilot couldn’t do anything about at all.

» MORE: Commercial Drone Pilots in USA (Ultimate Guide)

First Crash

Let’s look at my first crash though. You’ll see some conditions right off the pad that I could have avoided easily.

My first commercial drone crash was after a large tornado hit the Nashville area.

I was hired to assist in assessing the damage to a few buildings, one of which was a large warehouse sort of a wholesale grocery provider.

The question was, was the building safe to enter or were the support pillars damaged. Going into it, I knew I might be requested to fly indoors.

Not something I really liked to do, especially in those days, back then.

So, I brought along the DJI Spark just in case that request came up. And it did, as an inspection of the exterior and roof didn’t quite reveal if it was safe to send people in.

The job was going extremely well. The city building inspector and the company representative were right beside me as I conducted the roof and wall portion of the flight.

Now for this part, I was using a DJI Phantom 4 Pro. They were discussing what they were seeing on the monitor and what, if anything, it was telling them.

Then it happened: Hey can you fly inside for us?

This is where I made the mistake. I had seen a few places where I could enter, so instead of requesting a bit of time to swap out systems, I went ahead with the Phantom.

Amazingly enough, the interior flight went really well, that is, right till it was time to get out. On the way out I got caught up in some wires hanging from the ceiling.

These wires once upon a time held signs for the employees to get around such as aisle number and such. I had noticed these since entering and was actively avoiding them the whole flight.

The moment I entered that large steel structure, I was in ATTI mode. No GPS guidance on this one.

So, I crashed and have from now till eternity to wonder if it would have been different had I just switched to the Spark as I had planned.

What we do see though is some of the conditions we’re warned about as UAS Pilots.

» MORE: How to Start a Drone Business (In 10 Steps)

Second Crash

Now this crash wasn’t so dramatic.

On this one I had grown a bit too confident in the technology and as such learned a valuable lesson. This one could so easily have been avoided; I still kick myself over it today.

On an insurance property shoot, I had completed the shoot and brought the drone back to the launch area.

As opposed to landing and reviewing the captured data, I left the drone in a hover and then went into the tablet to review the shots.

As I was doing this, the drone started a little bit of GPS drift; it wasn’t much, but it was enough.

As this was an older neighborhood, it was filled with trees. I had launched from an open area, and that was where I left it to hover.

As I allowed myself to be distracted, I didn’t notice the bit of drifting till I heard that horrible sound of one’s prop hitting something. By the time I reacted, it was too late, and the drone was in a freefall.

Now, it wasn’t a great height, but then again, sometimes it’s not the height as it is the surface, which in this case was pavement.

There was no sense to it, as I should have landed the drone in the first place. I have never repeated that mistake.

Yep, that one, much like the other, was all on me.

Things can always happen in an instant, and your reaction is always an instant too late. Or we can go with don’t allow yourself to ever be distracted while flying. As well as the importance of maintaining line of sight.

» MORE: Benefits of Drone Technology in Business and Commerce

Crash Three

Autonomous Flight is simply, hands down really, really cool. It’s also starting to play a major role in many pilots’ day-to-day operations.

So, learning how to work with and use such programs as Dronedeploy or Pix4D, programs along those lines, is a must.

Working with these programs as they were being developed and tweaked, well, it could be trying at times and downright frustrating at others.

My third crash was due to a poorly planned mapping flight. As this was a provided plan, the fault here still lies with me, although it’s shared a little bit.

In this case, the plan had two areas where the height just wouldn’t work out at 90ft.

One was a flagpole on the top of the building, and the other was high-tension power lines that stretched across the property’s parking lot.

In most cases, the height that was chosen would have cleared if it was almost any other location. That’s the thing, though; not this location.

As this was an autonomous flight, the aircraft’s obstacle avoidance caught it, and a crash was narrowly avoided.

That was the flagpole, and the plan had my Phantom flying right into it. A very lucky thing to avoid it.

On the second hiccup, not so lucky, although the damage was minimal and didn’t result in having to send it in. It was those pesky powerlines.

I was watching the whole time as, with each pass, the drone got closer and closer to those lines. From my vantage, it looked like there was a good chance it would clear those lines.

That’s the thing about your vantage point. It may sometimes lie to you. At the very first sound of a prop making contact, I hit abort.

After around two drone death-defying minutes, I did actually manage to land in an emergency landing area I had planned out.

When it was down and my hard panicked breathing started to settle, it was time to check the damage. It turned out to be two broken and nearly non-existent props, but otherwise damage-free.

New props, and it was back in the air.

» MORE: Businesses That Can Benefit From Using Drones

Forth Crash

Then there are times when you should speak up, and then maybe bad things might not happen.

My fourth crash was a doozy. One that I don’t like to remember in the slightest, so instead of sharing it, you’re welcome to just go watch it.

Oh boy! That’s it, all I’m going to say. Oh boy!

» MORE: How Often Do Drones Crash or Fly Away?

Mistakes

Cell Tower Mast K.Davis

Here’s how I see it; mistakes are going to happen. To err is human, after all. Some mistakes are big, but most are small.

Get enough small ones hanging out together, and it could lead to something much bigger. One of the most important things about any mistake is what you take away from it.

I still kick myself over that GPS drifting mistake. Since that time, I have used that experience, and determined not to repeat it and to just slow down.

The reason it happened in the first place was being in a rush.

That lesson has carried into today well. That fourth crash, ha, that guy still talks me into some precarious positions.

Having friends is tough! Seriously though, I just hope that sharing some of my own mistakes will at least keep you from possibly repeating them.

Fly Safe, Fly Always, Always Fly Safe!

» MORE: Drone Safety Features (All You Need to Know)