New flyer from Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[BSauce955]

Welcome to the forum from the dry lakeless hills of Lake City FL. An irony... I know. If lakes grew here as much as your knowledge will, Lake City would become an ocean.

Welcome again!

 

[B52-D]

Hey, folks. I'm a new member who decided to go to a nearby Meetup of drone flyers a month ago and ended up buying my first drone -- an Air 2S -- just a couple of days later. This past weekend, I went back to the Meetup gathering, this time with something to fly and it was great fun. For those of you nearby, I'd certaily welcome some additional suggestions for places to fly in the North Carolina ariangle area. The location in Raleigh is nice enough but the drive to and from is longer than the duration of the meetup and I'd prefer something a bit more scenic and local, if such a thing exists. Having lived in North Carolina for more than 40 years, I know it's full of beautiful places but I've never thought about them from the perspective of where you can or can't fly a drone. Don't want to break any rules or anger any property owners.

By way of introduction, I retired from UNC Chapel Hill (School of Public Health) about 10 years ago, so I have the time to pursue recreational interests. I've done photography as a hobby for decades on and off. I had my own darkroom for a number of years and worked almost exclusively in b&w before digital made working with color so easy. I haven't done too much with video but would like to do more. I see drones as a way to expand that in a new direction. I hope to get Part 107 certification just to cover whatever situations might arise and am going through the Pilot-Institute online course now to prep for the exam. It's a lot of new information, but I enjoy learning new stuff and as long as I'm patient, I think it will go well. My brother, who lives a few miles from me, is also a new drone flyer. We'd both enjoy learning from others in the area about great poaces to fly. Look forward to being a part of this group.

Hey, folks. I'm a new member who decided to go to a nearby Meetup of drone flyers a month ago and ended up buying my first drone -- an Air 2S -- just a couple of days later. This past weekend, I went back to the Meetup gathering, this time with something to fly and it was great fun. For those of you nearby, I'd certaily welcome some additional suggestions for places to fly in the North Carolina ariangle area. The location in Raleigh is nice enough but the drive to and from is longer than the duration of the meetup and I'd prefer something a bit more scenic and local, if such a thing exists. Having lived in North Carolina for more than 40 years, I know it's full of beautiful places but I've never thought about them from the perspective of where you can or can't fly a drone. Don't want to break any rules or anger any property owners.

By way of introduction, I retired from UNC Chapel Hill (School of Public Health) about 10 years ago, so I have the time to pursue recreational interests. I've done photography as a hobby for decades on and off. I had my own darkroom for a number of years and worked almost exclusively in b&w before digital made working with color so easy. I haven't done too much with video but would like to do more. I see drones as a way to expand that in a new direction. I hope to get Part 107 certification just to cover whatever situations might arise and am going through the Pilot-Institute online course now to prep for the exam. It's a lot of new information, but I enjoy learning new stuff and as long as I'm patient, I think it will go well. My brother, who lives a few miles from me, is also a new drone flyer. We'd both enjoy learning from others in the area about great poaces to fly. Look forward to being a part of this group.

Welcome,
I visit Apex NC frequently and I fly my drone at Hawk Field in Holly Springs. After looking at the map the distance from Chapel Hill to Holly Springs seems to be about the same as Chapel Hill to Raleigh. Probably no closer for you. Enjoy your Air 2S.
B52-D
Blue Sky and Happy Contrails

 

[LoudThunder]

I'm a new member who decided to go to a nearby Meetup of drone flyers a month ago and ended up buying my first drone -- an Air 2S

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.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…) . If your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds) and you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.

When I first started flying I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot. I have now passed my Part 107 License Exam and am awaiting the arrival of my Permanent License and then I will re-register my Mini 2 under Part 107.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)

FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute

Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.

trust.pilotinstitute.com

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)

FAADroneZone

faadronezone.faa.gov

If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…

Aviation School: Free & Paid Pilot Training Classes - Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in North Carolina, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

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, 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 kitten or puppy 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, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 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 Mavic Air 2s, 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…"

DJI Air 2S - Download Center - DJI

At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Air 2S

www.dji.com

Happy Droning…