Minneapolis/St. Paul area

creegs · Oct 9, 2017

newguy said:
My son and I fly up at elm creek park....also Palmer park in Brooklyn Park

Where do you take off from at Elm Creek?

newguy · Oct 10, 2017

creegs said:
Where do you take off from at Elm Creek?

There’s a good spot above the disc golf coarse....by the maintenance shack [emoji1360].....wide open

mebunkeryou · Oct 15, 2017

I'm up in Anoka. Not a whole lot to see but plenty of space to cruise.

mebunkeryou · Nov 29, 2017

Got a big favor to ask. Has anyone successfully calibrated their vision sensors? I've tried on my mom Apple with no luck and don't know anyone with a Windows computer. Wondering if someone is willing to meet up or I can come to you around the metro to get this done? Or if you have suggestions on the iBook that I could try. Gets stuck at 85% every time. Thankd

pfred · Dec 2, 2017

Checking in from Houlton wi. Just across the river from Stillwater. Decent area to fly here because I am in an area of open space in between local airports. I have seen some guys flying around the Stillwater liftbridge.

microlinux · Dec 5, 2017

pfred said:
Checking in from Houlton wi. Just across the river from Stillwater. Decent area to fly here because I am in an area of open space in between local airports. I have seen some guys flying around the Stillwater liftbridge.

I've been meaning to get over to Hudson to film the St. Croix - it doesn't look like they have any anti-drone ordinances or rules in the parks. Do you know of any?

pfred · Dec 5, 2017

Outside of what is listed on the B4UFly app I am not aware of any. Downtown Stillwater is located within 5 mile of the lake Elmo airport and a route for medivac helos going to new Richmond. Although the people that live near Stillwater are a bit protective and old school. So heads up for that.

JayPeeEss · Dec 7, 2017

Hello - I'm travelling from the UK next week for work, staying over in White Bear Lake and looking for some local recommendations for where to fly.
I've a car so can travel a bit (lets say unto 2-3hrs in any direction) and have checked via B4UFLY and other than usual 'cautions' seems fine.
Is there any must-go-to locations anyone might recommend - happy with open space, water, wild-life landscapes rather than city scapes?
Cheers

jorn · Dec 31, 2017

WEOTN said:
Hoping to stimulate something here. New Mavic owner here, first 'real' drone. Would like to meet up with other pilots for an impromptu fly in within an hour's drive of the greater metro. Anyone else interested? I've only an interest to learn to share, but think it would be fun to fly with others and find new sites that are flyable.

I have Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekends, Monday too if it's a holiday. 4 ten hour days so I'm not much of a night owl anymore so early weekday evenings would work.

Post here or send a PM if you're up for meeting a new flyer.

NE Lakeville (conversationally Apple Valley) here. Love your idea.

Bru034 · Dec 31, 2017

jorn said:
NE Lakeville (conversationally Apple Valley) here. Love your idea.

This is where I am at. Pilot Knob and 170th.

crashez · Mar 30, 2018

Im in Inver Grove. I was just over in Hudson flying yesterday.

YaSureOK · Jun 2, 2018

Hi all. I have flown my Mavic Pro from the banks of the St. Croix in Stillwater and have gotten some great shots of the old lift bridge and new bridge. If you use Airmap to define where you can fly, you will see there is a sliver of space where the St. Croix is not in the NFZ but the Lake Elmo airport is on the outer edge of the 5-mile radius. I called Lake Elmo AP once and was told to call the tower at St. Paul's Holman field which is 20+ miles from there (???). Holman field tower said they didn't know why I was told to call them so I just went ahead having made my best effort to notify. In the summer there will be a lot of curious people walking around so you are likely to have many questions coming your way.

tleonhar · Jun 15, 2018

I'm in Belle Plaine, about half way between the cities and Mankato, just south of the big yellow candy store. Plenty of places to fly, closest airport is Flying Cloud, about 20 miles. We have mostly farm country and the Minnesota River Valley, so plenty of places to fly depending on what you want to see.

Menthol · Jul 17, 2018

From another noob here with my first drone. I’m looking at AIRMAP app and it lists a WALKER field as a airport in east metro. Says that it accepts electronic notification but link opens up FAA site. How does one proceed as a hobbyist?

View attachment 42218

microlinux · Jul 25, 2018

Menthol said:
From another noob here with my first drone. I’m looking at AIRMAP app and it lists a WALKER field as a airport in east metro. Says that it accepts electronic notification but link opens up FAA site. How does one proceed as a hobbyist?

View attachment 42218

In the Twin Cities you have to call towers (and MAC), they don't actually accept electronic notification despite what Airmap says.

microlinux · Jul 27, 2018

Also, if you haven't already found this - Metroairports.org - Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Menthol · Aug 3, 2018

A state registration also?? Good thing I live across the border then. And the way I read it is that if the airport I would be flying “close” to is owned/operated by MAC I need to notify the tower of said airport AND MAC? This whole controlling need is just sad. I see the need for safety based rules and support them fully but multiple registration and notification where one should be enough.

minigawa · Aug 16, 2018

dannohalsey said:
Hey WEOTN, I am a relatively new flyer, put on many hours the last month. Was flying in Senegal for a week and now off to South Africa in a week.
It would be good to know other flyers nearby, I am in Prior Lake.

I'm in Prior Lake also.

microlinux · Aug 16, 2018

Menthol said:
A state registration also?? Good thing I live across the border then. And the way I read it is that if the airport I would be flying “close” to is owned/operated by MAC I need to notify the tower of said airport AND MAC? This whole controlling need is just sad. I see the need for safety based rules and support them fully but multiple registration and notification where one should be enough.

You don't need to register with the state.

If you are flying within 5 miles of a MAC controlled airport, you need to contact the respective control tower and also MAC. The FAA dictates this, the requirement is to contact the control tower (if there is one) and the airport itself. MAC is a stand-in for the "airport" for airports under their control.

It's a little bit of a hassle, but it's easy - they are nice enough and will know what you are calling about as soon as you explain. If you fly enough, the tower people usually get to know you and make it a very quick call. MAC itself gathers more info, but they seem to have a log book and if they have your information already, that's usually quick as well.

Kneebeard · Mar 15, 2019

Hi from Corcoran!
I'm new to the MP forum and the drone adventure in MN. I was wondering about the 3 Rivers Park system and what they have by way of restrictions on drone flights. Being close to Crow Hassen there is a lot of open space out there I'd like to fly.
Other options I have pondered are basic industrial parks scattered around the cities. Not much to look at, but larger space and not much traffic.
I'd enjoy getting together if that still on anyones "radar"!