Recent content by radial

Tapatalk is a smartphone app for reading and posting to forums like this one. It runs on either iOS or Android. Google for a site where you can download a free copy and see if it suits you.

Just use Tapatalk.

Yes, I'm a fan. Checking UAV Forecast is on my pre-flight checklist. Also scoping out the local airspace via Flightradar24 because I fly in a fairly congested air traffic area.

Lol, even teh Google fails us sometimes.

I reckon he meant to say epitome. Were you in doubt?

I live in a community where most of the houses are sitting on 5+ acre lots so there is plenty of separation. I don't feel too bad about flying straight up from my backyard to a reasonable altitude and then venturing off. I'm technically flying over my neighbor's property during the venturing...

I think your average American is predisposed to be put off by drones. And no wonder, really. We've been witnessing our government's use of drones as instruments of surveillance and weapons of war for many years now. Let's face it, the idea that people can be located anywhere in the world and...

One limiting factor is that you have to maintain visual contact with your drone to be flying legally. How far overhead can you fly before you can no longer see the AC with your naked eyes? Definitely not 8000 feet. And in my case not even 3000 feet.

I guess there were several questions in play, as often happens in these threads. The one I thought you were answering was the question about who to contact in the event that there was no ATC. I understand what you were saying now.

Only airports with an ATC facility? Not so sure about that.

My understanding is that the purpose of your flight determines whether you are flying under part 101 rules as a recreational flyer or under part 107 rules as a commercial flyer. So, as long as you are flying strictly for fun with no prospect of commercial gain, you are flying under part 101 and...

This thread covers the question pretty well: 400 feet: law or guidline?

"Recover" might be overstating the case, but I was able to bring it down at a rate of descent that ensured a fairly soft landing. It landed on an asphalt roadway and only sustained any damage at all because it wasn't level when it touched down. Somebody with money to burn really should run...

I lost an entire prop when I was about 50' up. Popped right off and fell to the ground. The Mavic flew like a drunken sailor, but it descended under some semblance of control and landed upright. Broke one of the other props because it came down at an angle, but no big deal. I bet the DJI...

Oh yeah. I built and flew the Estes Industries Skyhook back in the day and thought it was the coolest thing ever! There's definitely a close relationship between my model rocketry adventures so many years ago and my current interest in drones. Once you slip the surly bonds of earth, there's...