Hello from Northern California

[djwright]

Hello. I am Dave from California, a long-time photographer but new to drones. Looking forward to learning.

 

[PanoVolo]

welcome

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America djwright.

Nice to meet you Dave.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[LoudThunder]

I am Dave from California, a long-time photographer but new to drones.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). If your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and even while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are required to register your Drone.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)

FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute

Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.

trust.pilotinstitute.com

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)

FAADroneZone

faadronezone-access.faa.gov

If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going… You will need to acquire your Part 107 Certification if you intend to sell your photographs or in anyway monetize them, such as posting them to a YouTube Channel that pays you for the visits to your channel…

Otherwise, if you are only taking the photos and videos for your own viewing enjoyment, then only the TRUST Certification (FREE) is needed…

Drone Courses - Free and Paid Drone Pilot Training

30+ free and paid classes to fly your drone. Pass your FAA Part 107 license exam, learn how to fly your drone, and more.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in California, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Federal Drone Laws in the United States (FAA) - Pilot Institute

44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice for when you decide on what make and model of Drone you will ultimately buy. YouTube Videos are great was to see all there is offered.

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Fly On and Fly Safe…

 

[RodPad]

You got a bird picked out yet?

This is a great forum!!
Stay away from Mavic Magnets () .

BTW, I still have not seen the Red Wood Tree, you can drive a car through, traveled 101 and I5 so many times, OMG next time..

Today with these birds you can fly under that canopy with out GPS.
Pick a date before 2030, we hook up and do it!

$hit Welcome to the forum!!

Rod ..

 

[Cafguy]

Howdy neighbor from down south here in Bakersfield!!

 

[Hauptmann]

Hello. I am Dave from California, a long-time photographer but new to drones. Looking forward to learning.

Hi, DJWright! Welcome to our forum, from Hauptmann in Hurst, TX!
I do most of my flying in Northern California (SF Bay Area) where my middle son (and fellow droner) lives. But then, I'm an airline retiree, so I fly free to most of the US. Knew a David Wright years ago who taught English at Chabot College in Hayward, CA. Guess he's not you. He'd be near 90 by now. BTW, Northern California is a big place--it's not like saying Central Northeastern Rhode Island. If you were more specific in your location, you'd be more likely to find other nearby droners to fly with and learn from. Glad to have you with us!