Duds
Well-Known Member
While you abandoning a hobby you haven't really explored yet simply because you fear it is becoming overly regulated, mind selling me your car cheaply
In the USA I'm always flying over beaches, the sand and surf. Flying out to look at dolphins or follow jet skies, yachts and other things that make great videos. Drone assited fishing is really fun. The beaches in the U.S., most at least, don't have landing and take off ordinances. If they do, I just find a public sidewalk nearby, then fly over to the beach and take my shots. You may not be able to land or take off in certain parks where you live, but you can stand just outside of it and fly over the park and take video and pics. The only parks in the USA we can't take off and land in are federal and state parks. We can fly over them all we want. I don't know how strict the the rules are where you live, i'm assuming the U.K. But pounds are used in a lot of countries in Europe.I can see a ton of positive to drone flying, it's the reason I decided to jump in finally. But if I can't take off from a beach or land in a park (generalising here but that's essentially what the recreational rules mean) then I am relegated to travelling unknown distances just to find somewhere to fly. And even then you have limitations.
I live in an area that is stunningly beautiful but if you take away the recreational areas and throw in the distance limitations they are all but eliminated.
I'm not taking away the positives from drone flying, the ever increasing rules are. I don't disagree with them, but you would have to be pretty ignorant to not see the noose is getting tighter and tighter.
(Mod Removed Inappropriate Remark)My way or the highway.
I see you are from Rye. Other than the restrictions around Lydd Airport the skies are open to you up to Tonbridge, over to Brighton and so many other great places in Kent and Sussex. I can see you bought an Air 2s so you need A2 CofC and I get that. The restrictions are perfectly valid because a heavier faster drone can seriously hurt someone. If you fly a sub 250g Mini2 you can even fly close to people except large crowds. With a 4k camera you can get amazing footage, though I appreciate not as good as the bigger sensor will give you. However you say yourself you are new to drones so why not start with a Mini2 have fun and learn to fly then move on? You're talking yourself out of it before you've even begun.@BigAl07 with all respect, you claimed my original post is "90% overly dramatic"
Exactly how? I thought I was merely stating the current rules. I would argue that sentence is overly dramatic in regards to my post.
Rather than condescendingly making this about me personally maybe you could explain how it is possible to legally fly a drone now in the UK anywhere other than remote places? If there is some loophole or unspoken "common sense" rule I don't know about please enlighten me. I see you are from the USA so with all respect it seems that one thing people could do a little more if here is understand that every person has their own limitations based on geography and laws. Having someone from another country with different rules and regulations tell you you are being dramatic is a little condescending with respect.
Perhaps you never joined an RC club. Well back in the care free days, one would pay an organization like the AMA a yearly fee so that we could then ask to join a local club, so that we could pay another yearly fee for the privilege's of being a member, in the hopes that we could fly. Ah but first you would have to learn the rules and regulations of not only the AMA but the club had it's rules and regulations on top of those. Ever heard of a transmitter impound? If not there was surely a member that would remind you what you were doing wrong. . . .It seems I missed the boat and the carefree days of flying with only respectable rules are over.
I think some of the responses may be USA centric; the US rules can be inconvenient but generally there is still plenty of latitude. But perusing the UK rules, ( Current UK Drone Laws 2021 - Updated May 2021 ) wow! that's kind of awful. Just the list of required permissions is daunting; you have to call the police before every flight? Aren't they busy enough?Well after a grand total of five posts in a single thread, three days after joining and not having owned a single drone it seems my flying days are over ?.
I created this thread purely just to give a perspective from someone who is completely new and wanting to get involved in drone flight and photography. Let me tell you, it is a very depressing view right now. Maybe the future is brighter for those more established in the hobby or who live in Arizona possibly but not for me or I guess most people new to this.
After wanting to get into drones for a long time I decided now was the time to look into it sincerely and what I have been met with the last few days is a pretty bleak outlook regarding this hobby. Esentially it seems the curtain is beginning to come down pretty hard.
I watched a ton of YouTube videos, pretty much every single one of them starting with incredible shots from all over, rotating around buildings, flying over harbours and beaches. Beautiful images, enticing the viewer into this wonderful world.
None of which is now possible.
I can't get nice family shots on the beach. I can't fly over my local lake. I can't fly safely around the beautiful historic town I live in. Recreational areas are no longer possible. I never wanted to be THAT guy who broke the rules and knew if I ever took up the hobby I would abide by the rules and fly as safely as I possibly could. More importantly and some what ironically I also understand the need for such structure. There is I assume few here that would disagree we need rules in place for safety and common sense. However the fun has been sucked out of the hobby for me with such regulations. Yes I know I could grab a mini 2 and have some fun but as a professional photographer that drone was never going to be enough for me. Throw in the fact that my potential £1200 Air 2S would be void come Jan 2023 it lead me to a sour conclusion.
It seems I missed the boat and the carefree days of flying with only respectable rules are over. It's only going to become more Draconian and for me and many other out there (those that have done their research at least) thinking about this hobby it seems like it would be nothing other than a waste of time and money right now. Hopefully in a couple of years things may have ironed themselves out more, maybe there will be a 249g mini 4 with the specs of a 2s. But right now it feels like the technology is going at such a rapid pace that the authorities are struggling to catch up and in doing so are throwing out pretty severe measures just to keep some sort or order. There are very few people who actually want drones flying around.
I'm sorry for the waffle but it comes from a place of immense disappointment. I'm too late to the party, I know that and I appreciate the thread has little value other than to give an idea of the harsh reality facing new flyers. There is currently very little to entice people toward the hobby.
Thank you very much for the advice I have been given here and I'm sure you pilots will adapt, adjust and have many more years of happy flying ahead of you and hopefully the authorities will also adapt and make it more accessible for others to join in the fun.
Take care
Rich
Then buy it and start to look for the positive. That 170 quid off is God's way of telling you that you need to buy it now and start flying!
When you stated ..."while on the other 795 "90% legal" flights I didn't had any problem at all... so yep, legal doesn't mean safer or better,."...As a photographer a drone is the best landscape/architecture camera you'll ever get, being able to put the camera in any point of the three-dimensional space just feels like cheating compared to any hand held camera.
And that ability overcomes absolutely everything else.
Air2S camera is far from any FF DSLR on the image quality side, but you'll never see me doing landscapes with tripods and DSLRs again... even though I tried a few weeks ago and was just... lol, no way I'm wasting these clouds with this limited bidimensional point of view, I'm doing it with the drone.
On the practical side of things, droning is just like drivng. You pass the tests, you pick up you drone, have all the paperwork done and try to be within the rules... for the most part, and that's all. Unlike driving, you'll never get anyone killed with a sub 900g drone, flying camera casualties worldwide are still 0.
There's plenty of room to play, drones are limited but not forbidden, just use your brain and decide by yourself if the risk is worth the cost, like Norwegian philosopher Kierkegaard said, a life based on following the rules is a life lacking in authenticity.
If we stick 100% to the drone regulation active in my country (a mix of the new EASA one and the old drone regulation from 2017)... Of the 800 flights that I've done till now... only 4 or 5 have been 100% legal, and in two of those 100% legal flights I had problems with some random people (Karens) just freaking out... while on the other 795 "90% legal" flights I didn't had any problem at all... so yep, legal doesn't mean safer or better, just be smart and adapt every to the situation.
Just buy a Mini 2 and learn to fly, this **** is quite addictive so I assure you in less than a year you'll be doing photos on a Mavic 3.
When you stated ..."while on the other 795 "90% legal" flights I didn't had any problem at all... so yep, legal doesn't mean safer or better,."...
I think you meant to say "Illegal" flight and not what you have, saying Legal flights. You might want to edit that word.
I’m sorry, but that’s simply not true. I have a Mini and it’s easy with a little forethought (and surprisingly few real restrictions) to remain completely within the rules.People that think they are 100% legal all the time one of two, or are hypocrites, or just ignorants that don't know the entire rule book.
Well, I can only speak of EU regulations, and the trajectory is definitely going towards freeing up airspace ....but only in the sub 250 category. Drones over that weight are going to face more and more restrictions, the good thing is, drones in that category are only going to get better. Personally, I wouldn't be so pessimistic.Well after a grand total of five posts in a single thread, three days after joining and not having owned a single drone it seems my flying days are over ?.
I created this thread purely just to give a perspective from someone who is completely new and wanting to get involved in drone flight and photography. Let me tell you, it is a very depressing view right now. Maybe the future is brighter for those more established in the hobby or who live in Arizona possibly but not for me or I guess most people new to this.
After wanting to get into drones for a long time I decided now was the time to look into it sincerely and what I have been met with the last few days is a pretty bleak outlook regarding this hobby. Esentially it seems the curtain is beginning to come down pretty hard.
I watched a ton of YouTube videos, pretty much every single one of them starting with incredible shots from all over, rotating around buildings, flying over harbours and beaches. Beautiful images, enticing the viewer into this wonderful world.
None of which is now possible.
I can't get nice family shots on the beach. I can't fly over my local lake. I can't fly safely around the beautiful historic town I live in. Recreational areas are no longer possible. I never wanted to be THAT guy who broke the rules and knew if I ever took up the hobby I would abide by the rules and fly as safely as I possibly could. More importantly and some what ironically I also understand the need for such structure. There is I assume few here that would disagree we need rules in place for safety and common sense. However the fun has been sucked out of the hobby for me with such regulations. Yes I know I could grab a mini 2 and have some fun but as a professional photographer that drone was never going to be enough for me. Throw in the fact that my potential £1200 Air 2S would be void come Jan 2023 it lead me to a sour conclusion.
It seems I missed the boat and the carefree days of flying with only respectable rules are over. It's only going to become more Draconian and for me and many other out there (those that have done their research at least) thinking about this hobby it seems like it would be nothing other than a waste of time and money right now. Hopefully in a couple of years things may have ironed themselves out more, maybe there will be a 249g mini 4 with the specs of a 2s. But right now it feels like the technology is going at such a rapid pace that the authorities are struggling to catch up and in doing so are throwing out pretty severe measures just to keep some sort or order. There are very few people who actually want drones flying around.
I'm sorry for the waffle but it comes from a place of immense disappointment. I'm too late to the party, I know that and I appreciate the thread has little value other than to give an idea of the harsh reality facing new flyers. There is currently very little to entice people toward the hobby.
Thank you very much for the advice I have been given here and I'm sure you pilots will adapt, adjust and have many more years of happy flying ahead of you and hopefully the authorities will also adapt and make it more accessible for others to join in the fun.
Take care
Rich
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