DJI FPV or Mavic Air 2?

BraveProgram · Mar 2, 2021

If you only get to keep one drone, would you choose the DJI FPV? or the Mavic Air 2?

Howard70 · Mar 2, 2021

Good question! I have an MA2 and an Mini 2 now. I’d been saving for the mythical Mavic 3 but am now tempted by the FPV because of the immersive flying experience of FPV is intriguing. I don’t understand the legal restrictions (United States) of flying FPV with googles - because one can’t see the drone with googles in place I’m assuming a completely legal flight protocol would require an observer to watch the drone while it was piloted by a second person. That would make casual flying of an FPV drone less convenient and could influence my decision. To be clear, I don’t mean to suggest that there is anything wrong with a requirement for an observer when pilot flies with googles. Rather it is my ignorance that causes me to suggest this might be a consideration.

Howard

rxlawdude · Mar 2, 2021

Yep, to be legal in the US you'll always need an observer. That's simply not viable for many pilots.

Thomas B · Mar 2, 2021

MA2.
predict a lot of crashes and illegal flying with the new FPV.

GadgetGuy · Mar 3, 2021

Thomas B said:
MA2.
predict a lot of crashes and illegal flying with the new FPV.

It's a self curing problem. Once crashed, no more illegal flying.

Peshoa · Mar 3, 2021

This sounds like - What I should buy, car or motorcycle.These are different devices for different needs....

spamgnome · Mar 3, 2021

Required observer might be a spouse. In other words, 2 flights at best

Bill Dunnuck · Mar 3, 2021

Not sure why DJI doesn’t make a sport drown. Flies like an FPV ie fast and can freestyle while using the smart controller. I have no desire to us goggles and find an observer.

Sheppie · Mar 3, 2021

I would be vomiting all over the place. Not for me!

Macinfo · Mar 3, 2021

Ultimately this question always comes down to what do you really want to do? Do you want to fly fast and wear googles all the time? Or do you want to capture photos and videos of places you visit where you can fly in those places? If you want to do both activities get both.. Sure you can get some cool video on the FPV, but its limited in comparison to a MA2.. (IMHO)

Course unless your the most cautious FPV Flyer on the planet, like most of the reviewers, they crashed it.. So maybe 3, an MA2 for some regular video/photo flying and two FPV's one for backup... just break out the CC with the high credit limit and get DJI Refresh and perhaps a backup policy to boot...

Piper J3 · Mar 3, 2021

spamgnome said:
Required observer might be a spouse. In other words, 2 flights at best

Good one...

hiflyer201 · Mar 3, 2021

As a long time pilot of airplanes with an absolute aversion to low flying in tight place I have zero.. 0! interest in FPV drones. you ask for an opinion and that's mine. It hasn't changed in many thousand hours.

Laborous · Mar 3, 2021

I also have the MA2 and a mini and am interested in the FPV, it looks like a lot of fun. However, I don’t think it would replace either one of my drones, it would be an addition to my fleet with characteristics the other two don’t have.

Sheppie · Mar 3, 2021

Sheppie said:
I would be vomiting all over the place. Not for me!

Piper J3 · Mar 3, 2021

Why not just do this....
Whole lot cheaper and virtually indestructible.

Kilrah · Mar 3, 2021

FPV.

hiflyer201 said:
As a long time pilot of airplanes with an absolute aversion to low flying in tight place I have zero.. 0! interest in FPV drones.

There's a good reason to have an aversion to low flying when you're actually inside - that's why we do FPV, allows to do the kind of flying you wouldn't do otherwise since the occasional "oops" only results in a bit of broken equipment

RMS001 · Mar 3, 2021

Peshoa said:
This sounds like - What I should buy, car or motorcycle.These are different devices for different needs....

Buy the motorcycle and the FPV drone.

Easy

hiflyer201 · Mar 3, 2021

Kilrah said:
, allows to do the kind of flying you wouldn't do otherwise since the occasional "oops" only results in a bit of broken equipment

I know...I thought that when I started flying drones..then I realized that I felt as bad if I put a scratch on my little Spark as if it have been a real plane. I'm just not cut out for FPV I guess.

Boyce555 · Mar 4, 2021

Macinfo said:
Ultimately this question always comes down to what do you really want to do? Do you want to fly fast and wear googles all the time? Or do you want to capture photos and videos of places you visit where you can fly in those places? If you want to do both activities get both.. Sure you can get some cool video on the FPV, but its limited in comparison to a MA2.. (IMHO)

Course unless your the most cautious FPV Flyer on the planet, like most of the reviewers, they crashed it.. So maybe 3, an MA2 for some regular video/photo flying and two FPV's one for backup... just break out the CC with the high credit limit and get DJI Refresh and perhaps a backup policy to boot...

Yes i fly FPV racing drones as well as my MA2. With FPV you find that you push yourself to get through that small gap in the trees or try new tricks and ultimately you do crash! I dont think I'd like to crash the dji one much!!
Although it doesn't look like the sort of drone you'd push!