Anxiety when flying

[Mr Bowcat]

Hi all.

I've had 3 flights with my Mini 2 SE so far, is anxiety when flying normal for new pilots. I'm obviously still getting used to the controls and hoping it will pass with time.

Cheers,

B

 

[waynorth]

Anxiety when flying is normal, most new drone pilots are more or less nervous.
Read the manual twice, fly in an open area and practice some flight manouvers like circle and "number 8",
Soon you will feel more and more confident!

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[tstr14]

Actually, it's the opposite for me. I find flying relaxing and enjoyable - otherwise I wouldn't do it!

 

[Cafguy]

When I started I was always worried about crashing or losing my Drone. but then I learned the only way to get better is to forget about the Drone sometimes and just FLY. Your anxiety will pass and you may find yourself like I did, wanting more excitement. and getting more Drones. That's when you know your ready for the goggles!

 

[MS Coast]

A bit of anxiety is a sign that you're paying attention and concerned about flying well and safely. If it's overly severe, it's a sign that you're doing something you probably shouldn't be doing. It will gradually decline as you fly more, until you get too comfortable and eventually make a significant mistake. I had a flight instructor who warned of that happening and said that if that mistake didn't kill you, it would make you a better pilor.

Don't push yourself. Take your time and build some hours on the controls in a wide-open area without obstructions. As @waynorth suggested, practicing maneuvers is very helpful. Have a look at the Pilot Institute's free online videos on your specific drone model and the ones on basic drone flying skills.

Have fun, too.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

Thanks all.

I think the fact that I am flying from and around my garden may be a lot of the problem, need to get out somewhere more open.

 

[Max Headroom]

I think the fact that I am flying from and around my garden may be a lot of the problem

That will definitely not help.

I haven't flown my new Mini 2 SE much due to the recent bad weather my advice as a new pilot -

Find a place with plenty of space with as few buildings, trees, pylons, electric cables and people as possible, do all your checks make sure you have plenty of satellites and you hear the Home point updated message before flying away, keep it in cinema mode to keep everything as slow as possible and enjoy yourself.

Try changing the e settings in the video below to make video smoother my first attempts were very choppy because i had mine on the stock settings -

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[Cafguy]

TIP: Draw or place 4 circles on the ground in a box pattern. start practicing moving and stopping at different boxes first in forward then side to side and so on once you are good at that do it somemore until you are REALLY good then move on to a "subject" say a barn out in the middle of nowhere. Practice flying around the barn and keeping the camera centered as possible try inside cicles outside circles... the works...Then when you are bored with that DO it some more. There is no one good way to learn to fly. Practice carefully until you find a way to learn that you like.

 

[Max Headroom]

I have edited the post above as the correct message is Home point updated not what i posted.

 

[Mynah]

Hi all.

I've had 3 flights with my Mini 2 SE so far, is anxiety when flying normal for new pilots. I'm obviously still getting used to the controls and hoping it will pass with time.

Cheers,

B

I had the same problem, having grown up to appreciate expensive 'toys' it is part of my nature. Cameras, GPS's, microscopes and other toys I can keep an eye on but having an expensive toy like a drone cruise through air away from me and sometimes out of eyesight brings on an adrenalin rush and separation anxiety syndrome like not even parting with a kid does
What I do is to immediately ascend upon take off to above any surrounding obstacles, my reasoning being that if I need to do pics in between trees and buildings I'd rather use a 360 cam on a pole than risk a drone to do that.
Small control mistakes above obstacles won't see you crash into trees or cars or buildings.
When bringing the drone back to land switch to cine mode to slow things down and make it more controllable until you get the hang of it.

 

[Webheadfred]

Perfectly normal. When I built my first drone, there was no position hold, no return-to-home, no gps, nothing. I had never flown anything R/C ever. I literally had to stand behind the drone so it faced away from me and all the stick movements translated into drone movement. A big open field certainly helps. Eventually, I was doing figure 8’s and flying face-in. The more you practice, the less anxiety you may feel. Have fun. Fly safe. Cheers.

 

[maggior]

I had anxiety at first but it passed once I gained experience and confidence in my drone (Air 2 and Air 2S).

Flying in wide open spaces at first is a great suggestion. Even now after flying for years I try to have a nice wide open area when I take off and land.

With these drones, realize that if you get too anxious or things seem to be going out of control, just let go of the sticks. The drone will hover in place (assuming you have a good number of satellites). Take a few breaths and figure out your next move, and go from there.

Have fun and enjoy your new drone!

 

[GadgetGuy]

I had the same problem, having grown up to appreciate expensive 'toys' it is part of my nature. Cameras, GPS's, microscopes and other toys I can keep an eye on but having an expensive toy like a drone cruise through air away from me and sometimes out of eyesight brings on an adrenalin rush and separation anxiety syndrome like not even parting with a kid does
What I do is to immediately ascend upon take off to above any surrounding obstacles, my reasoning being that if I need to do pics in between trees and buildings I'd rather use a 360 cam on a pole than risk a drone to do that.
Small control mistakes above obstacles won't see you crash into trees or cars or buildings.
When bringing the drone back to land switch to cine mode to slow things down and make it more controllable until you get the hang of it.

Back in the good old days, before VLOS, during the Wild West era of drone flying, when we had to add external batteries and add transmitter mods to get the flight times and range we now have natively from DJI, you'd launch and not see your drone for 35 minutes while it was flying miles away. Eventually you'd trust your FPV display to find your way home under your control. Now, since you have keep it in view, it's a boring cakewalk by comparison! LOL!

 

[Soxer123]

Hi all.

I've had 3 flights with my Mini 2 SE so far, is anxiety when flying normal for new pilots. I'm obviously still getting used to the controls and hoping it will pass with time.

Cheers,

B

I remember when flying my Mavic Air the first time, my heart was in my mouth and I was shaking after I landed it.

 

[millbah]

And to add to all of the above, besides being slow & smooth, think that the drone will not fall out of the sky (or it shouldn't) as you are in control.

 

[MARK (LI)]

Keep the drone in sight and do not even think about using it in anything but cine mode until you are comfortable, and then only in a really wide open area...it is easy to lose sight of the minis as they gain altitude, so don't go higher than about 35 meters to get a feel for it..also ...save up for a mini 4 pro with obstacle avoidance in all directions...that takes a lot of the worry away from flying...good luck and enjoy the hobby

 

[Max Headroom]

And to add to all of the above, besides being slow & smooth, think that the drone will not fall out of the sky (or it shouldn't) as you are in control.

One thing that took me by surprise having flown a cheap toyish drone is if in doubt let go of the sticks the drone will not move until you tell it to.

 

[GadgetGuy]

One thing that took me by surprise having flown a cheap toyish drone is if in doubt let go of the sticks the drone will not move until you tell it to.

Indeed. Newer DJI drones are almost idiot proof! LOL!

 

[Max Headroom]

Indeed. Newer DJI drones are almost idiot proof! LOL!

It's a good job they are, I find mine a pleasure to fly unlike the toy one I mentioned above that was so skittish it was a nightmare to fly especially in anything more than a very light breeze.