Drones......anyone here using one/them?
 

Don't remember seeing a thread on Drones.....I'm thinking about getting one just for screwing around. At some point maybe I'll find a good use for it even. :)

Anyone here using one?

I found some on the local Craigslist - some under $100 even....

http://daytona.craigslist.org/tag/5721154468.html

Have been a bunch of threads....

I have a DJI Phantom that I play around with. $90 seems like a deal for the Craig's list UAV.

Just as an aside... I've seen Japanese guys with big honkin' quad copter setups at several places around the world. I wonder what they're up to?

I used "Drones" as a search word and all that came up was PARF threads...lol....

Feel free to post links to the threads if you can find them, Motion...thanks!

Thanks Patrick....will look into it.....

Kids have a drone I got them for Christmas. It was only $120 bucks, has a HD camera, seems solidly built for what it is. I got it at Target. The thing is fairly easy to fly and doesn't have to be registered with the FAA, I think the larger models do. It's kinda fun to fool around with. I'm constantly teasing the boys to land it on my head but they won't try. Get a cheap one and if you dig it buy a bigger one.

Hey Baz, that's a good idea for your business. Realtors use them to make a fly around video of properties.
I'm thinking you may be able to go back to old customers and get video of your design and installation after its grown in. Careful editing could relieve security concerns of those you are shooting video of.
In the long run, some before and after videos could be a helpful tool for future customers,
To be able to visualize the possibility.

Cheers Richard

My brother has a DJ III Phantom and it is a bada$$! Somewhere north of 1k, but totally cool. Has all sorts of features like auto hover, GPS return to a set location, auto land, etc.

Long awaited Karma has been announced:

https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/19/gopro-karma-drone-hands-on/

Seahawk can hook ya up

If the "drone" or technically referred to as a "sUAV" (small unmanned aerial vehicle) as per the FAA weighs more than 8.8 ounces or 250 grams and flown as a model aircraft, the pilot MUST register himself with the FAA before operating it in the NAS (National Airspace) which is defined as from ground level to 400 feet above ground level. The fines for flying unregistered can be stiff, to the tune of $28,500. Those that plan to fly a sUAV for commercial purposes (A Realtor filming a home as part of a sales advertisement for example) must pass an exam to receive licensure as per Part 107 of the FAA regulations. Unless you are a FAA licensed Private Pilot or better rating with a current medical and current check ride. Regardless, operation within a 3 mile radius of anything considered an airport (heliports included) is forbidden without an FAA waiver and some models, specifically the DJI brand, use geofencing technology with the onboard GPS so that if you are within 3 miles of an airport chances are it won't even allow flight.

I've flown fixed wing model aircraft as a hobby for 42 years. This new registration requirement for the hobbyist is absolute bull*****. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

Labor day at Naples city beach, a guy had a quad copter with camera hovering at about ten foot above the crowd. Needless to say, there were quite a few po'd beachgoers.

What's going on here? Looks like a girl with a broom jumping on a roof.

New game..."Kill the Drone"

It is Mike's Roof Girl from Texas! :D

The FAA figures there will be many MILLIONS of drones or UAVs in the air at any moment in the near future. The sky will be buzzing. There is a video of a UAV striking the wingtip of a Southwest Airlines coming in for a landing. They were WAY above 400 feet.

They are a neat toy for lots of people but the jerks will ruin the hobby for most. We have played with them here at my office. We were flying it around our office as a demo. We are back fence neighbors to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Invitation. Two cops showed up as we were loading the images into the computer. We showed them what we were doing and they reiterated we had done nothing illegal. They were just curious.

Flying an sUAV over people that aren't connected to the operation of the sUAV is strictly forbidden by the FAA. Only when the general public realizes this will sUAV operators be held accountable. With a stiff fine from the FAA. Or a beating. Or the destruction of equipment. Pick your poison.

All of that is theory. The FAA has no "Sky cops" or enforcement officers to rush to the scene and write tickets or take action. You might find a FAA employee at an airport looking at airplanes, but not at the beach looking for drones. The Feds for sure ride in commercial airplanes, but they don't do squat to Joe public.

Until the laws are re-written to allow regular copy to take action, and provide an incentive to the cops to mess with it, nothing will happen. No local cop is going to hassle with the paperwork to generate a fine that is all federal.

This is why I don't want flying cars. As soon as the idiot masses get access to it they ruin it for the rest of us. I've always loved flying - that's why I went into it as my original career choice. Even today I take a lot of comfort knowing that every time I go up in the air I am in the company of either professionals or people who have skin in the game and take it seriously. The minute the skies are opened to every doofus who can fog a mirror (the same way our roads are) I will no longer be able to enjoy it - it will be ruined permanently, much as the "driving experience" has been ruined for those of us who used to love it.

Sad but true.

Yep. The day we have flying cars we will all have to have underground homes or concrete bunker like homes to be safe from all the cars falling out of the sky.

But but but... Flying cars will fly themselves! ;)

Drones, er quadcopters are pretty boring to fly unless you are going FPV in my experience. These fancy consumer camera drones are more for trying to get interesting pictures and playing with technology. Might as well get a 29$ toy to play with and download interesting images from google on the side.

Now if you want to have some fun racing around an (empty) soccer field FPV with goggles is a blast. For example: Mach 25 and Teleporter V4 Video Headset Bundle | HorizonHobby

Why is that? Some guy had one at Pensacola beach over July 4th weekend and everybody loved it. Countless people came up to him and wanted to see how it worked, asked for copies of the video, etc.. Everyone was waiving as he went overhead, etc.

Irresponsible drone pilots have destroyed the hobby for me. The FAA is involved, first was registration and now there is some requirement for testing.

I have a garage full of models that due mainly to this I have shifted my life priorities toward other hobbies. It is disappointing.

I spend more weekends camping with my scouts instead so I can't really complain about that but I've been flying model airplanes for 35 years.

Drones. Be responsible. I have a quad I fly in my house, it's a lot of fun so I get it. So many irresponsible folks out there who just don't care about how their actions impact so many other people. It's not limited to drones in the hobby but the ease of use and stability of the platform makes it more accessible to those with no skill and less sense.

The drone rules changed on August 29th. I do not have one or fly but thought you guys could discuss.

https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Part_107_Summary.pdf

Dave

Ups, does that mean Amazon and others cannot use drones for delivery?!
That would be cool!

EXCEPTION TO PART 107:

SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into Federal Aviation Administration plans and policies, including this subtitle, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if—
(1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use;
(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community- based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization;
(3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization;
(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and (5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation (model aircraft operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually-agreed upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the
airport)).
(b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue enforcement action against persons operating model aircraft who endanger the safety of the national airspace system.
(c) MODEL AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘model aircraft’’ means an unmanned aircraft that is—
(1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;
(2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and
(3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.

No requirement for testing for recreational use as far as I can see. Maybe there is something I'm missing.

I havent let the FAAs crap effect my safe flying and enjoyment of the hobby. I havent even read the new rules. I will continue to fly Rc helicopters and fpv over deserted fields and vacant sports parks. If somebody shows up, I put them away.

If I get issued a ticket I am hiring Johnny Cochran for deference. Its absurd, but I think I have at least 2 other rants in this forum about it already.

This is still a loong way off. Even if technology does produce a "flying car" that a moron could get in and fly you'll still have to be a licensed pilot to fly in the National Airspace System. It might even be a Sport or Recreation license at the least but you'll have to be certificated. That will (hopefully) rule a lot of idiots out.

For the recreational guys - this is out of the Advisory Circular (AC107-2) See the AC for full details...

CHAPTER 4. PART 107 SUBPART A, GENERAL
4.1 Applicability. This chapter provides guidance regarding the applicability of part 107 to
civil small UA operations conducted within the NAS. However, part 107 does not apply
to the following:
1. Model aircraft that are operated in accordance with Part 101 Subpart E, Model
Aircraft), which applies to model aircraft meeting all of the following criteria:
• The aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use;
• The aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety
guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based
organization;
• The aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified
through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety
program administered by a community-based organization;
• The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to
any manned aircraft;
• When flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the
airport operator and the airport air traffic control (ATC) tower (when an air traffic
facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation;
• The aircraft is capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere; and
• The aircraft is flown within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) of the person operating
the aircraft.