Looking for Places to Fly in Albuquerque

F22loader · Apr 13, 2018

I'm not a new member. I'm traveling to Albuquerque next week and I was looking for places to fly in or around Albuquerque, NM. I'll have a car so anything within an hour's drive is on the table.

Thanks in advance.

sar104 · Apr 13, 2018

There are endless places to fly in NM - it depends on whether you just want to fly or are looking for spectacular scenery to photograph/video. Your problem at this time of year is going to be the wind.

Siwyleeds · Apr 13, 2018

sar104 said:
There are endless places to fly in NM - it depends on whether you just want to fly or are looking for spectacular scenery to photograph/video. Your problem at this time of year is going to be the wind.

Try Walter White’s house

) LOL

Colberado · Apr 13, 2018

Drive 15 minutes in any direction and you'll end up in open space. Scenery-wise is not that spectacular unless you're going for sunsets. As another already mentioned, it's windy season off the rockies.

sar104 · Apr 13, 2018

Colberado said:
Drive 15 minutes in any direction and you'll end up in open space. Scenery-wise is not that spectacular unless you're going for sunsets. As another already mentioned, it's windy season off the rockies.

I'd have to disagree on the scenery. The Sandias have some spectacular terrain.

F22loader · Apr 13, 2018

sar104 said:
There are endless places to fly in NM - it depends on whether you just want to fly or are looking for spectacular scenery to photograph/video. Your problem at this time of year is going to be the wind.

I’m looking for scenery to video. Didn’t think about the wind. Great input.

Colberado · Apr 13, 2018

sar104 said:
I'd have to disagree on the scenery. The Sandias have some spectacular terrain.

I’ll agree with you on that, totally forgot about that range and how close it is. I guess I’ve gotten spoiled. Might as well drive up to Sante NF but that’ll be right around his hour drive limit.

F22loader · Apr 13, 2018

Colberado said:
I’ll agree with you on that, totally forgot about that range and how close it is. I guess I’ve gotten spoiled. Might as well drive up to Sante NF but that’ll be right around his hour drive limit.

I have the time to drive if it’s worth it. About how long will it take?

F22loader · Apr 13, 2018

Siwyleeds said:
Try Walter White’s house ) LOL

View attachment 35744

Colberado · Apr 13, 2018

F22loader said:
I’m looking for scenery to video. Didn’t think about the wind. Great input.

Wednesday and Thursday would be your blue bird days

Colberado · Apr 13, 2018

F22loader said:
I have the time to drive if it’s worth it. About how long will it take?

Sandias has a scenic byway you can drive up I believe. I’m sure you could do a turn around trip with a couple hours. I’ve never driven up it so Sar may know more.

sar104 · Apr 13, 2018

Colberado said:
Sandias has a scenic byway you can drive up I believe. I’m sure you could do a turn around trip with a couple hours. I’ve never driven up it so Sar may know more.

You can drive up to Santa Fe on the east side of the Sandias via Madrid, which is more scenic than I25. But the Sandias are a wedge, and the impressive scenery is on the west side, or from the top, which is accessed from the east side. Santa Fe is a 45 minute drive up I25 or nearer 90 minutes via US 14 on the east.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains dominate the Santa Fe area, rising to over 13,000 ft, but most of the high terrain is designated wilderness.

F22loader · Apr 17, 2018

sar104 said:
There are endless places to fly in NM - it depends on whether you just want to fly or are looking for spectacular scenery to photograph/video. Your problem at this time of year is going to be the wind.

Good call on the wind. I was able to fly for a bit in Madrid on Monday but the wind is blowing like hell today in Albuquerque. No way a Mavic could handle it.

sar104 · Apr 17, 2018

F22loader said:
Good call on the wind. I was able to fly for a bit in Madrid on Monday but the wind is blowing like **** today in Albuquerque. No way a Mavic could handle it.

Tomorrow will be much calmer, then more wind again after that.

KeithLa · Jun 4, 2018

@F22loader, how'd it go, discover any notable sites, capture any vids? New MPP + DJI Goggles pilot here from Seattle, heading to ABQ and Santa Fe this weekend.

sar104 · Jun 4, 2018

KeithLa said:
@F22loader, how'd it go, discover any notable sites, capture any vids? New MPP + DJI Goggles pilot here from Seattle, heading to ABQ and Santa Fe this weekend.

You are going to be somewhat out of luck at this point - Santa Fe National Forest, Cibola National Forest and all local State Parks are completely closed under Stage III fire restrictions.

KeithLa · Jun 7, 2018

Thank you @sar104. Would drones otherwise be permitted in those areas? Here in Washington, I believe wilderness areas and state parks are off limits, as are many of our Seattle area city parks.

sar104 · Jun 7, 2018

KeithLa said:
Thank you @sar104. Would drones otherwise be permitted in those areas? Here in Washington, I believe wilderness areas and state parks are off limits, as are many of our Seattle area city parks.

Wilderness and National Parks are off limits, but regular National Forest and most of the State Parks are fine. And there are no other local prohibitions that I'm aware of beyond the usual airport/airspace rules.

KeithLa · Jun 9, 2018

I'm struggling a bit to discern where official wilderness areas exist, and discern their boundaries vs. national forest on most online maps. Any suggestions how to go about this?

sar104 · Jun 9, 2018

KeithLa said:
I'm struggling a bit to discern where official wilderness areas exist, and discern their boundaries vs. national forest on most online maps. Any suggestions how to go about this?

Wilderness is clearly designated on the USGS and USFS topo maps. For example:

Topo Map, Hiking Trails, Satellite Map