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Mini Newbie

Hello from the Crossroads of America Txiku.

Welcome to the Forum. :cool:
 
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Mini pilot currently based in India ... and UK.

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.


Since you live in the UK and India, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check to ensure these are current.



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

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, and 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."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini, 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…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
 
Welcome to the forum! :)
 
Thank you all for the welcome.
@LoudThunder thank you for the additional information/tips. Yes, the differences in regulations is something I am aware of. While the DGCA in India has published clearer guidelines when compared to the situation some years back, there are still some questions unanswered. To seek clarity from governmental institutions here is more painful than smashing your head against the wall all day long.

It still feels clandestine for recreational and film-making purposes (...and for non-Indian nationals it is almost impossible to bring your drone, or fly one here unless you have obtained prior permission).

While there is a lot of "drone talk" in the country at present, and the government keeps banging the drum and is encouraging commercial drone use and related technologies, for the recreational user, there have been many instances of the cops harassing pilots who are law abiding and responsible.
 
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Hi All,
Mini pilot currently based in India ... and UK.
New here, although I have been spying on the forum for a while. I've learnt quite a bit from all of you and hope to keep learning, so thank you.
Cheers.
Welcome from the west midlands (UK). The hill fort palaces of Rajasthan have been on my photographic bucket list for years, as have the step-wells and a number of other historic sites. Feet on the ground, they would be amazing.... drone in the air: awe inspiring. But Indian government hasn't really been a friend to the average drone photographer for a few years now and certainly seems to be one of the most draconian. I would imagine it all comes down to whose uncle knows whose brother and how much baksheesh changes hands.
 
Welcome from the west midlands (UK). The hill fort palaces of Rajasthan have been on my photographic bucket list for years, as have the step-wells and a number of other historic sites. Feet on the ground, they would be amazing.... drone in the air: awe inspiring. But Indian government hasn't really been a friend to the average drone photographer for a few years now and certainly seems to be one of the most draconian. I would imagine it all comes down to whose uncle knows whose brother and how much baksheesh changes hands.
Thanks @Felix le Chat
Rajasthan is where I am currently based. Agree with what you say about the way things work here. And yes, it is all rather draconian. Despite the majority of hobbyist drone pilots being "law abiding", I have come across numerous videos on YouTube, where some jokers are publicly flying over the 120m altitude limit in green zones, near airports, simply for publicity and views. This is a recipe for disaster and it would be least surprising that regulations become more stringent because of these muppets.

I find it rather amusing that the government has banned the import of "foreign" drones. DJI, specifically, is unable to setup shop in the country but most governmental organisations are using DJI. I have witnessed first-hand the Central Reserve Police Force use DJI. Because I am regularly in touch with a number of Forest Departments (as well as researchers), I know they are using DJI drones. The hypocrisy, gosh.
 
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