Recent content by Rich QR

I turn each motor by hand, paying attention to the feel, and comparing each one to the others. If any one of them feels different, that's a problem. It won't catch everything. But I hope it should catch mechanical issues like failed bearings and such.

It's the same with any rotorcraft. When in hover, the rotors are entirely in "dirty" air that is being pushed down by the rotors. When moving, at least part of the rotor is in "clean", undisturbed air that isn't already moving downward.

That's absolutely correct. But it's also worth repeating that if a pattern starts to appear where a particular operator repeatedly makes "strictly recreational" flights, and then makes non-recreational use of the footage, eventually the repeated pattern may cause the authorities to question...

I had to look that up. It's a definition from Minnesota State law. It is entirely irrelevant to the subject of this thread. The word "commercial" does not appear anywhere in Part 107 nor in section 44809, so it doesn't matter how "commercial" is defined. But a definition from Minnesota State...

Not exactly. If you read 44809 or pass a TRUST exam, you know that 44809(a)(8) requires that "The aircraft is registered and marked in accordance with chapter 441 of this title and proof of registration is made available ... upon request." It's just that, if you want to register an aircraft...

Why does repetition make it safe? The hard problem is rarely direct navigation from one place to another. That's easy to solve with something as straightforward as Litchi. But when the airspace becomes crowded with many delivery drones, they've got to avoid each other. They also need to...

I believe many Americans have been in favor of flying cars for around 70 years or so. Like drone delivery, it is an idea that has been pitched many times, and it sounds good until you start to look at all the practical details. The idea of me being the only one to have a flying car in current...

The TRUST certificate is required for everyone who flies under 44809, and it is required only for 44809 flights. If you have a Part 107 certificate, you have the option of doing all your flights under Part 107. You don't need a TRUST certificate to fly under 107, and part 107 allows flights...

Read 44809. It tells you exactly what the consequence is if you attempt to fly recreationally without the TRUST exam. The consequence is that the flight would fall under Part 107 rules. If you have a Part 107 certificate and are not violating any Part 107 rules, no problem! Part 107 allows...

But those are rule changes to Part 107. Those changes have no relevance to someone flying under the 44809 recreational rules, since Part 107.1(b)(2) says that Part 107 doesn't apply to 44809 flights. 44809 and Part 107 are totally separate. If you comply with the eight limitations of 44809...

I'll agree that it's a source of confusion for many. We can thank Congress for that. Section 44809 is directly from Congress, and not from the FAA's regulatory efforts. Read 44809 carefully. 44809(a) says that, regardless of other rules, you can fly a drone without a license if you adhere...

If you could see where you were going in the goggles, that's a suggestion that communication between the controller and drone wasn't blocked. I've seen the video, and clearly you were flying beneath a thick stone bridge which would block GPS, and you were above moving water, which would make...

I thought it was (somewhat) common knowledge to either fly where you have a GPS signal, or where the downward vision sensors can stabilize your flight. If you don't do that, you'll have to deal with ATTI mode, and if you're in close quarters and not expecting ATTI mode, it will probably not end...

How's the GPS signal under the bridge? How far above the underlying ground was the drone? Or was it perchance over a body of water? How much experience do you have flying in ATTI mode? My crazy guess would be that you lost GPS signal under the bridge, and the downward-looking vision sensors...

Yep. I went to an unused baseball field in my neighborhood, and practiced rounding the bases. Then I tried figure eights using coordinated turns. And circular orbits, with the camera facing me. Most drones can automatically keep the camera pointed at a fixed object while flying a perfect...