Hello from southern Utah

[Gramps44]

I have been wanting a drone for a long time. My son bought the Mavic Air 2 fly more combo for himself about 1 1/2 years ago. He lives in the big city (southern California) and found there isn't much area to fly it. I live in the mountains of southern Utah and have 1000's of acres to fly around. This past weekend my son and his wife came to visit and while he was her he gave me his complete drone package!!!!! Now I have a big learning experience in front of me. I slowly found how to change the registration and drone name (no help from DJI). Now my main plan is to learn how to fly it without loosing it in the trees. I found the "find my drone" in the app on the smart controller but I'm thinking I might want something with more battery life thats independent of the drone battery..........Marco Polo????? Not cheap but I hear good things about them. With all of the hills, mountains and trees here I think this might be the way to go. I want to fly around and in the trees looking for deer antler sheds so crashing might be an issue. does anyone have any thoughts on the Marco Polo unit??

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Gramps44.

You mentioned registration, is that the FAA registration for the MA2?

If you haven't done it yet, swing by the FAA and register the aircraft.

FAADroneZone

faadronezone.faa.gov

You should take the TRUST test too and keep a copy with you when you fly.

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

I've always wanted a Marco Polo for my Spark, but I never purchased one. Since I fly within VLOS, I figured I wouldn't need one for my MA2.

Have fun with your new hobby and share an aerial picture of your fire trucks.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama, welcome to the forum!

 

[LoudThunder]

I have been wanting a drone for a long time. My son bought the Mavic Air 2 fly more combo for himself about 1 1/2 years ago. He lives in the big city (southern California) and found there isn't much area to fly it. I live in the mountains of southern Utah and have 1000's of acres to fly around. This past weekend my son and his wife came to visit and while he was her he gave me his complete drone package!!!!!

Hi Gramps,

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar.

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…) . Your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds) and if you continue flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are still required to register your Drone.

There are many, many YouTube Videos to explain and show you how to do almost anything and everything to and for your new Baby…

I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Flyer.

Link to 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 for Drones under 250-Grams…)

FAADroneZone

faadronezone.faa.gov

If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…

Online Ground School: Aviation Classes - Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in Utah, 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.

Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

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 kitten or puppy 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, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 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."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mavic Air 2, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

DJI Air 2S - Download Center - DJI

Learn and download DJI Air 2S related apps, software, and manuals at the DJI Download Center

www.dji.com

Happy, Safe and Legal Droning…

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum

 

[msinger]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to the forum.
Please and do be sure you have read our guidelines.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .

 

[Gagey52]

Greetings Gramps, welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia. Can’t help you with the Marco Polo, I see people are using an AirTag with their drones. The only draw back with most off those devices is that they must be in internet range.
Regards

 

[Drone Master]

Welcome to Mavic Pilots! Enjoy the forum!

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.

 

[Merrill277]

I have been wanting a drone for a long time. My son bought the Mavic Air 2 fly more combo for himself about 1 1/2 years ago. He lives in the big city (southern California) and found there isn't much area to fly it. I live in the mountains of southern Utah and have 1000's of acres to fly around. This past weekend my son and his wife came to visit and while he was her he gave me his complete drone package!!!!! Now I have a big learning experience in front of me. I slowly found how to change the registration and drone name (no help from DJI). Now my main plan is to learn how to fly it without loosing it in the trees. I found the "find my drone" in the app on the smart controller but I'm thinking I might want something with more battery life thats independent of the drone battery..........Marco Polo????? Not cheap but I hear good things about them. With all of the hills, mountains and trees here I think this might be the way to go. I want to fly around and in the trees looking for deer antler sheds so crashing might be an issue. does anyone have any thoughts on the Marco Polo unit??

Hello southern Utah is one of my favorite places to fly. You live in a nice area for droning!

 

[LoudThunder]

he only draw back with most off those devices is that they must be in internet range.

Use your smartphone to hotspot to the Internet…

 

[Merrill277]

Not true. You don't have to have the internet for them to work. I know, I've been in some very secluded places definitely without internet, data or phone, and flown them around without issues. Not sure you even need satellites or GPS, although I think they come in useful. For example without GPS I'm not sure your drone could find its way back if lost.

 

[careless]

Welcome from Kentucky USA

 

[Laborous]

Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!
You'll love flying the Air 2!

 

[Don in Azores]

Bom Dia from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean where a license is not required to play with toys!

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

I have been wanting a drone for a long time. My son bought the Mavic Air 2 fly more combo for himself about 1 1/2 years ago. He lives in the big city (southern California) and found there isn't much area to fly it. I live in the mountains of southern Utah and have 1000's of acres to fly around. This past weekend my son and his wife came to visit and while he was her he gave me his complete drone package!!!!! Now I have a big learning experience in front of me. I slowly found how to change the registration and drone name (no help from DJI). Now my main plan is to learn how to fly it without loosing it in the trees. I found the "find my drone" in the app on the smart controller but I'm thinking I might want something with more battery life thats independent of the drone battery..........Marco Polo????? Not cheap but I hear good things about them. With all of the hills, mountains and trees here I think this might be the way to go. I want to fly around and in the trees looking for deer antler sheds so crashing might be an issue. does anyone have any thoughts on the Marco Polo unit??

Welcome to the forum from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! Happy and safe flying!