Long distance flight over sea, Wind?

poppeye · Jul 17, 2018

Hi !

Am been slavering about the thought to fly from My MAvic pro from the City over to an Island. I think it is about 3500m but am not sure. Tomorrow it's suposed to me arround 1,2m/s wind velosity. Any consern that i have to think about ?

Am not that keen to have a fly away or se my Mavic pro goes into the ocean ,)

InvisibleName · Jul 17, 2018

poppeye said:
Hi !

Am been slavering about the thought to fly from My MAvic pro from the City over to an Island. I think it is about 3500m but am not sure. Tomorrow it's suposed to me arround 1,2m/s wind velosity. Any consern that i have to think about ?

Am not that keen to have a fly away or se my Mavic pro goes into the ocean ,)

If you’re worried- don’t do it! The winds over that distance could vary dramatically and, your return is into a headwind, very likely that you’ll be waving goodbye to your drone!!

Dronason · Jul 17, 2018

The wind velocity is one think but the wind direction can male it you friend or your enemy.
One rule, in case if doubt, just don't do it, think how to have no doubt. And have always a plan B as rules are made to fail.

digital artist · Jul 17, 2018

InvisibleName said:
If you’re worried- don’t do it! The winds over that distance could vary dramatically and, your return is into a headwind, very likely that you’ll be waving goodbye to your drone!!

It would not happen if you followed the visual line of sight rule. I don’t understand why people are stuck on see how far they can go. There are too many variables,to contend with. If someone looses their drone because they did not follow the rules “if they dance they have to pay the fiddler.”

gnirtS · Jul 17, 2018

Thats a long way over water. You have no way of knowing the actual wind speed or the wind speed at altitude ahead of time. Winds can also be short and long term variable, they can pick in in strength for a few minutes and drop and so on. You also dont get as much from an assist by a tail wind as you get hindered by a head wind due to how the drone is coded.

The only half sane method of doing it is keep an eye on the RPM, speed and pitch of the drone to gauge the amount of work its doing in the wind. And changing direction to analyse this from a few angles during flight.

In ideal conditions you're looking at about 7 mins to get out there, 7 mins to get back. That doesn't leave long for actual filming and getting back with a reserve.

To me seems like a pointless idea. If its 3.5km away launch from somewhere close or borrow a boat.

colinfowler · Jul 17, 2018

hire a boat, its cheaper than a mavic

poppeye · Jul 17, 2018

Thx for al the advice ! ye, maybe it's just a stupid Idea!....I actually like my drone ,)

MaviCam · Jul 17, 2018

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

BerndM · Jul 20, 2018

If money was no problem and the thought of spending $1000 to replace your sunk drone is no big deal to you, then go for it.
Otherwise let common sense prevail and don't do it.

Yortster · Jul 20, 2018

I had a long career in the military and was a sniper and military free faller. Now I work for a Marine company and we use drones to film vessels. So I know only too well how winds can change over an extended range, particularly over water and near islands. A 5 knot westerly at your location could be a 20 knot easterly or more at 2000m from you over water. Then there are wind shears and gusts that happen when ocean winds go over islands. Unless you have been out to that island in a boat and made a good assessment of winds along the way, I wouldn't risk it, Especially given the extended range of over 3000m. If a 20 knot or more gust catches the drone when it's 3000m from you, no amount of RTH will save it. And if it battles a head wind on the way back, it may run out of juice.

gjmphoto · Jul 20, 2018

digital artist said:
“[...]if they dance they have to pay the fiddler.”

I just use my son's Spotify account

Marko9219 · Jul 21, 2018

If you have a spare $800 available, go for it. Let us know the end result. If it works, bravo! If it fails, you buy another drone and move on. It's all about acceptable risk. Everyone's level of "acceptable" is different. Of course there are also the "Line of sight" rules that are meant for everyone, you included.

Ian in London · Jul 22, 2018

Direction of the wind is the most importnat thing for you; the wind has to be blowing towards you from the island, so you fly out against the wind, and your return flight will be with the wind.

This video may help too

InvisibleName · Jul 22, 2018

Wellsi said:
Direction of the wind is the most importnat thing for you; the wind has to be blowing towards you from the island, so you fly out against the wind, and your return flight will be with the wind.

This video may help too

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Hi Ian, good advice. Also, just wanted to say that I find all your videos useful - thanks!

Ian in London · Jul 22, 2018

InvisibleName said:
Hi Ian, good advice. Also, just wanted to say that I find all your videos useful - thanks!

Cheers fella! Nice to hear! Just don't lose that Pro if you do go ahead with this flight

Ian

InvisibleName · Jul 22, 2018

Wellsi said:
Cheers fella! Nice to hear! Just don't lose that Pro if you do go ahead with this flight

Ian

I’m an Air user, but your advice is still relevant

Ian in London · Jul 22, 2018

InvisibleName said:
I’m an Air user, but your advice is still relevant

Well, the Air automatically turns off the sensors when the wind gets too strong or the pitch of the drone is too steep when flying fast. But range and possible interference may be your problem. Mine cuts out around 2000m, but admittedly that's in Europe so the remote is in reduced CE power mode. Good luck !

DanMan32 · Sep 16, 2018

I know where to find prop RPM on my M2Z controller, but where do you see pitch?

Bob in Savannah · Sep 16, 2018

I have NO issues flying that distance over marsh on the east coast US about 20 miles inland . I dont EVER fly with wind blowing around at eye level much less 150 feet up.. Other than that... Keep it way above anything close to water level and go for it.... Just remember you might be heartbroken trying to stress her out and lose her..

bushie · Sep 16, 2018

Do you have a "seabreeze" blowing there. Here in the warmer months it blows every afternoon. It blows towatds land at sea level but a few 1000 feet up it is blowing in ttje opposite direction