New old guy with a drone ...

[motocatfish]

Hi folks, Motocatfish here. Some one else beat me to the Catfish user name, but that is how I will sign off my posts. Catfish is the nickname a motorcycle club gave me 40 years ago. I guess I ordered it for dinner a few too-many times! D'OH!

Retired EE & moto Instructor, but still a bit of a moto hooligan. ;-) As arthritis is making my riding days shorter, I found myself wanting to learn & do something new.

I've had a photography hobby for decades. Been following a couple of moto vloggers who use their drones for incredible scenery. OMG, I was hooked!

I spent many hours on YT trying to figure out which drone to buy. Decided to go with the DJI Air 3S Buy More Combo for the great cameras & better wind-stability that the mini 4 Pro I was considering. While it was being shipped, I found Pilot Institute's TRUST guide & certification process.. Got the Air Aware app on my phone & was ready for some rec flying. I got drone liability insurance also.

A friend who has his FAA Commercial UAS Pilot Cert. (Part 107) told me I should get my Part 107 cert also. I signed up for the Pilot Institute's Part 107 Study Course, and passed the FAA test with 95%! I was a bit shocked I (70yo) remembered most of those details for the test!

Been flying the Air 3S in some open Class G airspace near me for a couple of weeks. I've mostly learned the drone & controls now, but need more practice to control it as well as I would like. Video & photo quality has been excellent!

This has gotten long, sorry. Retired engineers still like details! D'OH! ;-)

Catfish ...

 

[RodPad]

Good Introduction!.

These forums are #1
You got questions, you will get answers.
If a member posts something incorrect.
Another member will post his correction, politely.

The mods keep it real!
Ignore me, I get into trouble, twisted humor.

Stay away from Mavic Magnets()

I almost forgot.
Welcome to the forum!

Rod ..

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama

 

[Mrktn]

Hi folks, Motocatfish here. Some one else beat me to the Catfish user name, but that is how I will sign off my posts. Catfish is the nickname a motorcycle club gave me 40 years ago. I guess I ordered it for dinner a few too-many times! D'OH!

Retired EE & moto Instructor, but still a bit of a moto hooligan. ;-) As arthritis is making my riding days shorter, I found myself wanting to learn & do something new.

I've had a photography hobby for decades. Been following a couple of moto vloggers who use their drones for incredible scenery. OMG, I was hooked!

I spent many hours on YT trying to figure out which drone to buy. Decided to go with the DJI Air 3S Buy More Combo for the great cameras & better wind-stability that the mini 4 Pro I was considering. While it was being shipped, I found Pilot Institute's TRUST guide & certification process.. Got the Air Aware app on my phone & was ready for some rec flying. I got drone liability insurance also.

A friend who has his FAA Commercial UAS Pilot Cert. (Part 107) told me I should get my Part 107 cert also. I signed up for the Pilot Institute's Part 107 Study Course, and passed the FAA test with 95%! I was a bit shocked I (70yo) remembered most of those details for the test!

Been flying the Air 3S in some open Class G airspace near me for a couple of weeks. I've mostly learned the drone & controls now, but need more practice to control it as well as I would like. Video & photo quality has been excellent!

This has gotten long, sorry. Retired engineers still like details! D'OH! ;-)

Catfish ...

A big welcome to the forum from the UK!

 

[PanoVolo]

welcome to the to forum

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America motocatfish.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Rchawks]

Welcome to the forum from the Midwest. Recently retired as well. It's amazing how many differnt ways there are to fly with this hobby. The A3S is a very capable drone, I have one well. You look like you're well on your way to becoming a Drone Pilot!

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Fantastic Decsion on the Air 3S drone as it has become a staple in our Fleet,
We also make a lot of accessories for that drone that allow you to fly in the Rain and Land on the Water.

Phanmtomrain.org

 

[Talldiver]

Welcome to the forum, Motocatfish from Northwest New Jersey. Trust me, 70 yo is young. Keep flying.

 

[PakNheat380]

Welcome to the forum from NW Montana

 

[Cafguy]

Welcome to the forum from Bakersfield!

 

[Nanny Ogg]

Welcome from the Pacific Northwest.

 

[LoudThunder]

Retired engineers still like details!

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

You wrote, "Retired engineers still like details!" Hope the following is just enough detail…

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…). Your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and even while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are required to register your Drone.

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-access.faa.gov

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

Drone Courses - Free and Paid Drone Pilot Training

30+ free and paid classes to fly your drone. Pass your FAA Part 107 license exam, learn how to fly your drone, and more.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in California, 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.

Federal Drone Laws in the United States (FAA) - Pilot Institute

44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...

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 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 Mavic Air 3S, 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 3S - Downloads - DJI

Download the software, user manual, and other materials related to DJI Air 3S. DJI Air 3S boasts a 1-inch CMOS primary camera and a 70mm medium tele camera, both delivering exceptional image quality with up to 14 stops of dynamic range. Both cameras support the new Free Panorama feature that...

www.dji.com

Fly On and Fly Safe…

 

[Rohn]

Welcome Catfish, from Renig in Montgomery TX.

 

[sarahb]

Welcome

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.