Mavic 3 Range test - 30,000 ft - REPORTED TO FAA

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

I performed yesterday a range test on my Mavic 3 in sport mode with a battery that only has 1 cycle.
~~multiples spotters help me with this test~~. Thanks to my wife, daughter and friends.

The weather was perfect, 70 degrees, 1-3 Mph wind, The OccuSync3+ is incredible.
The video can be seen up to 5.1K

As you can see the battery is the limit. I may have archive another 1,000 FT but I don't want to push to much the first time without know the drone. I returned with 17% of battery left.

I need to test in normal mode but can be risky the return.

Enjoy the video !!

ADENDUM !!!! PLEASE READ BELOW !!! I have been reported to the FAA for my 30,000FT Range Test video. They leave me a comment in my YouTube channel asking for my email saying they need to talk to me. I google the agent name and found his email and phone number and I give then my information. They email me and then call me. FAA Orlando, contacted me to give me orientation about the rules of VLOS and altitude base in the rules below. I had to provide my drone registration and trust certificate. He was very professional, friendly and let me know the FAA intentions is give orientation to people flying drones and encourage continue with the hobby in a safety way. The first thing he mention was do not feel stress we are here to help and give orientation. I am keeping my video in my channel as orientation but as I mention before I am not intending to repeat the test again since I know now is violating the FAA rules. PLEASE DO NOT INTENT TO DO THIS !!! Reference: Code of Federal Regulation 107 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14...

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MARK (LI) · Nov 13, 2021

Interesting experiment ...and good that you had spotters...but do you know what VLOS is?...and that it requires the one operating the controls to have the drone in sight without any aids other than glasses?...no spotters, telescopes, binoculars?

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

Spotters in the trajectory of the flight keeping VLOS is legal yes. No binocular used. Just eyes keeping constant communication between all of them.

MARK (LI) · Nov 13, 2021

zeusfl said:
Spotters in the trajectory of the flight keeping VLOS is legal yes. No binocular used. Just eyes keeping constant communication between all of them.

Not sure where you got that information.....but it is not right...

This video by Greg from @pilotinstitute is lengthy ...but explains it in depth

jonatious · Nov 13, 2021

The only legal way to do this test is to do it from a country which does not have VLOS requirement I guess

Phantomrain.org · Nov 13, 2021

Mavic 3 video at 46 mph looks really good. We dont see to many flights gunned at top speed let alone long distance.
Its good to see you back flying , the whole VLOS thing is a mess now.

Spotters are irrelevant at this stage as they cripple long distance flights of any kind. See what happens when you leave us Zeus , the FAA pukes up now and than.

Im getting use to just making big circles.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain.

MARK (LI) · Nov 13, 2021

I don't think it was ever any different...it was just clarified a few months back

Phantomrain.org · Nov 13, 2021

MARK (LI) said:
I don't think it was ever any different...it was just clarified a few months back

Yep, : that clarification was the puke i was talking about, I to was fooled for while.

You know what they say , if you want to speed go to Germany
If you want to fly you drone far , go to a different planet.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain, Capture the Storm.

globetrotterdrone · Nov 13, 2021

Well, that's surely impressive but I never get it, what is it really for (for the hobbyist)?

There's no way I am aware of that even a tenth of this range is within VLOS rules ... still DJI promotes it.

Good thing though, transmission for video and input is very stable (but I never had problems with any earlier DJI drone in this matter).

Phantomrain.org said:
You know what they say , if you want to speed go to Germany
If you want to fly you drone far , go to a different planet.

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

I do not intend to repeat that test. Is a one time shot to see what the drone is capable to do. As someone mention, we don need 1/10 or that distance for what we do with the drone but is nice to know the capacity is there.

Like having a sport car. Having the capacity of go over 200Mph does not mean you are going to used but is nice is there.

MARK (LI) · Nov 13, 2021

You are allowed to operate from a moving vehicle...so if you found enough open road you could do it and follow it

sar104 · Nov 13, 2021

zeusfl said:
Spotters in the trajectory of the flight keeping VLOS is legal yes. No binocular used. Just eyes keeping constant communication between all of them.

That's not legal under Part 107 or the recreational exemption.

Kirill · Nov 13, 2021

Was it flown with Smart Controller 2.0 ?

thispilothere · Nov 13, 2021

zeusfl said:
I need to test in normal mode but can be risky the return.

Great test and great video! Having the last bit of the return over water would make me panic.

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

Kirill said:
Was it flown with Smart Controller 2.0 ?

Stock controller was used.

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

thispilothere said:
Great test and great video! Having the last bit of the return over water would make me panic.

It make it more interesting. LOL.

zeusfl · Nov 13, 2021

sar104 said:
That's not legal under Part 107 or the recreational exemption.

Not doing it again after read the rule carefully. Rules has been changing. It was legal before. At least I did it in a safe place with spotters thinking the rule still apply in that way. If something went wrong only trees will be affected.

sar104 · Nov 13, 2021

zeusfl said:
Not doing it again after read the rule carefully. Rules has been changing. It was legal before. At least I did it in a safe place with spotters thinking the rule still apply in that way. If something went wrong only trees will be affected.

Just to be completely clear - it has never been allowed under Part 107, the old Section 336 (Special Rule for Model Aircraft) or the current 49 U.S.C §44809 (Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft).