Cold weather flying

[Richard Fiske]

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I was snowboarding in Andorra the other day, temp about freezing some days, but still managed to get some great video footage.

 

[Davros007]

Looks good. Do you try anything colder? Heading to Finland in winter, COVID19 pending. Average-5°c (23f), down to -25° (-13f) Wondering what performance would be like and if Mavic Pro camera will ice up quickly inside. Back in the day I could watch crystals grow across the lens in my digital camera and watch the battery power fall... But it’s not stormy there.

 

[akdrone]

Since I offer flying in the cold and somebody might come across this thread in the future, I thought I would toss in a few comments. My friends and I have gotten as much as 15 minutes out of a Mavic three at 40 below Fahrenheit. 40 below is where Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same temperature. I don’t suggest flying at those temperatures but we commonly fly as cold as 20 below with Mavic series drones. The key, of course is to not have your batteries at that temperature when you begin flying and don’t push battery life. Smaller drones, particularly those with exposed bar batteries like the original Avada have dramatically reduced flight times With may be only 5 to 10 minutes at 20 below Fahrenheit. Once your drone becomes cold, you don’t want the drone itself to be brought in and out of warm cars or you will have problems with condensation. It is also not suggested that you attempt to charge Your drones batteries when they are either hot or extremely cold so having multiple batteries for flights at those temperatures is important.

 

[NIghtVision]

Since I offer flying in the cold and somebody might come across this thread in the future, I thought I would toss in a few comments. My friends and I have gotten as much as 15 minutes out of a Mavic three at 40 below Fahrenheit. 40 below is where Fahrenheit and Celsius are the same temperature. I don’t suggest flying at those temperatures but we commonly fly as cold as 20 below with Mavic series drones. The key, of course is to not have your batteries at that temperature when you begin flying and don’t push battery life. Smaller drones, particularly those with exposed bar batteries like the original Avada have dramatically reduced flight times With may be only 5 to 10 minutes at 20 below Fahrenheit. Once your drone becomes cold, you don’t want the drone itself to be brought in and out of warm cars or you will have problems with condensation. It is also not suggested that you attempt to charge Your drones batteries when they are either hot or extremely cold so having multiple batteries for flights at those temperatures is important.

Great input. I’m wanting to fly the Mavic 3 Pro in temps ranging from -15 to +32 F in the near future. I imagine the props get a little brittle at cold temps too. So, batteries kept against one’s body until flight time, then bring the drone inside in a bag, not just open to the air. Any other suggestions?

 

[akdrone]

I think you got it. At the colder range of temps expect some (minor) loss of battery life but take care to get it near the landing area a bit earlier than you might normally do.

 

[Robert Prior]

Great input. I’m wanting to fly the Mavic 3 Pro in temps ranging from -15 to +32 F in the near future. I imagine the props get a little brittle at cold temps too. So, batteries kept against one’s body until flight time, then bring the drone inside in a bag, not just open to the air. Any other suggestions?

Consider the display on your control device, which is also exposed to the cold. I was flying my old Phantom with a friend and the screen on my iPad went black when it got too cold — was very glad I always fly VLOS!

 

[Chrislaf]

Consider the display on your control device, which is also exposed to the cold. I was flying my old Phantom with a friend and the screen on my iPad went black when it got too cold — was very glad I always fly VLOS!

That happened to me numerous times when flying my old P3S and like you mentioned if you are in VLOS you can bring your drone back safely.

Chris

 

[DarR-T]

Great input. I’m wanting to fly the Mavic 3 Pro in temps ranging from -15 to +32 F in the near future. I imagine the props get a little brittle at cold temps too. So, batteries kept against one’s body until flight time, then bring the drone inside in a bag, not just open to the air. Any other suggestions?

I was also concerned about condensation but never though about the bag bit. Good suggestion.

 

[DarR-T]

I think you got it. At the colder range of temps expect some (minor) loss of battery life but take care to get it near the landing area a bit earlier than you might normally do.

Good advice.
P.s. Must be fun living in North Pole Alaska at this time of year.

 

[akdrone]

Good advice.
P.s. Must be fun living in North Pole Alaska at this time of year.

Always . Thanks to global warming (keep up with the emissions, please) it no longer gets really cold. We used to get down to -70F at times but now -50F is unusual.