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Hey fellow pilots - Muskoka Ontario here!

Welcome to the forum! :)
 
I'm ready - prepared for that first flight...

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.


Since you live in Canada, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check to ensure these are current.


You wrote, "I'm ready - prepared for that first flight..."

Sorry to say, No You Are Not, no matter what you have read, not matter what you have watched, that moment that your new Drone rises up into the air; your view of the world will change forever!!!

Here is some more for you to read before that package arrives and while your battery is charging, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, and then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6 feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, "Home point Updated."

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3 Pro, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
 
Hello from the Crossroads of America Dronovar.

Welcome to the Forum. :cool:
 
Welcome to Mavic Pilots! :) Enjoy the forum!Thumbswayup
 
Lots of cool places to fly in your neck of the woods. You've got all summer to plan those amazing autumn shots!

Your mini is light enough that you are exempt from most restrictions as long as you fly safely (and use standard batteries). Have a look at the NRC drone site selection tool to see what restrictions apply to you, and what warnings. There's a bunch of aerodromes in the area, plus the hospital helipad.


Also note that you are subject to NOTAMs. You can check them online here:


Personally, I use Drone Pilot Canada to log all my flights and manage my checklists, as well as copies of my documentation (sRPAS pilot certificate, drone registration, manuals). It also displays maps and pulls up relevant NOTAMs for me.


Plus batteries are really nice to have, but they move your mini into a different sRPAS class (250 g to 25 kg) which required both a pilot certificate for yourself and registration for your drone. Also brings more limitations on flights.

Useful gear to consider getting:
  • A landing pad. If you're hiking a folding one is good. If you only fly close to a vehicle then a car floor mat works well. The key thing is keeping your drone away from grit and vegetation. (Some people swear by hand launching/catching. After slicing myself I'm not willing to risk that.)
  • A cover for your controller that lets you keep the sticks on in your bag/case. Not only speeds setup time, but those little suckers are hard to spot if you drop them in vegetation.
  • A better screwdriver for changing props. And spare props.
 
Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.
 
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.


Since you live in Canada, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check to ensure these are current.


You wrote, "I'm ready - prepared for that first flight..."

Sorry to say, No You Are Not, no matter what you have read, not matter what you have watched, that moment that your new Drone rises up into the air; your view of the world will change forever!!!

Here is some more for you to read before that package arrives and while your battery is charging, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, and then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6 feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, "Home point Updated."

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3 Pro, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
I appreciate every word here. I was both exicited to get airborne, but a little hesitant. A bit of trepidation at first is a good thing. I am one of those people who does the studying before the fun - doesn't matter what it is. My first flight was in my back yard, low circles around my garden ( as a reference point), purposeful straight moves in all direction, all modes (C/N/S) . Understanding the control assignments - one at a time. This activity was enough to exhaust the battery.

Youtube is a valuable study resource. Especially listening to "how I lost my drone" and "flyaway" stories.. Things to avoid.

S~
 
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This activity was enough to exhaust the battery.
If all you have is one battery, then more batteries are a must (especially before autumn)!

The Fly-More kit is the best way to buy them, as you get the charger, carrying case, and spare props essentially for free.

As I mentioned above, plus batteries are nice but standard batteries give you more flexibility in where you can fly. I have three standard batteries and four plus batteries (was supposed to be the other way round, but supply issues when I got my Fly-More kit combined with a looming trip meant my planned kit with standard batteries became a kit with plus batteries).

I frequently use all three standard batteries on a walk/trip, but have never used more than a couple of plus batteries. This is partly because I live in the GTA within controlled airspace, so am almost always flying somewhere where I must remain under 250 g. Checking the NRC map, that's of less concern for you as only the hospital helipad forbids operations; all the nearby aerodromes are legal to fly near. You would need to keep 30 m horizontal separation between your drone and people, which I suspect is way easier in Huntsville than down here! 😄

The downside (for you) is that you would have to register your drone (easy, $5) and pass the exam for a basic sRPAS certificate (harder, $10). Open book timed exam, unlimited retakes allowed (as long as you pay). There are courses, but I just studied on my own and did OK. Don Joyce has the best tutorial video I've found:

 
There are courses, but I just studied on my own and did OK. Don Joyce has the best tutorial video I've found:

Further to this, you may want to consider Don Joyce's app - Drone Pilot Canada
I've been using it for quite a while, and it's literally the only app you need in Canada. I can't recommend it enough.
 
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