New Pilot in Bellvue, Colorado

[stevearends]

Hello everyone! My name is Steve and I have owned my Air2s for about 4 days now and I love it!

1. Im own a construction company here in Colorado and have been thinking about buying a drone for several years now but just never got around to it until now. I think the requirement to obtain the Small Unmanned Airman license was one main thing that put me off.
2. I studied for the part 107 beginning about 4 weeks ago and passed it two weeks ago! Hallelujah, not as bad as I thought!
3. I initially ordered a "renewed" Air2s Fly More Combo with Smart Controller from Amazon but I had to send it back as the (RC Pro) controller that came in the package had a calibration error in the joysticks that could not be fixed without sending back to DJI - I called DJI tech support but one of the joysticks was faulty - it even felt very stiff and resistant. I imagine this was why Amazon had it in their "renewed" inventory - someone had already sent it back before because of a faulty controller.
4. The good - I almost had an RC Pro controller!
5. The Bad - I had to send it back. Oh well
6. Fast forward - I then ordered an "Air2s Fly More Combo with Smart Controller" from Best Buy and received it Wednesday of last week and the setup went without a hitch!
7. I mainly ordered the drone in order to conduct building inspections (from the ground )in those situations where it is difficult (even dangerous) to get onto the roof(s) for an inspection.
8. The past few days I have been practicing building photo and video inspections using my own house as a test subject and I think it is going to work great!
9. I also have on order Mini 3 Pro Fly More with RC Controller - I have 2 additional employees studying for the part 107 and I plan to equip them with a drone to assist intheir inspection work.
10. I also ordered an RC Pro controller for all the reasons I have been reading about on this forum.
11. I am also wondering if I might eventually need to buy a Mavic 3 in order to get the clarity and detail on close up photos I want when inspecting building damage.
12. I also read where a Mavic 2 Zoom might be nice to pickup in order to get some highly detailed closeup photos.

I have learned a ton from this forum already and I thank all of you experienced and seasoned pilots here for sharing your very valuable knowledge and experience!

Steve

 

[Skywatcher2001]

Welcome aboard pilot! I too am in construction and use my birds on the sites. The Air2s is quite capable for construction. You will get better clarity from the 4/3rds sensor of the Mavic 3 but I think the 1" sensor in the Air2s is very close to it.

We are happy to have you.

 

[msinger]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[stevearends]

Welcome aboard pilot! I too am in construction and use my birds on the sites. The Air2s is quite capable for construction. You will get better clarity from the 4/3rds sensor of the Mavic 3 but I think the 1" sensor in the Air2s is very close to it.

We are happy to have you.

Thanks for your reply and encouragement! I was wondering about the Mavic 3 because I believe it has a true Zoom lens as opposed to the digital zoom in the Air2s.

 

[Skywatcher2001]

Thanks for your reply and encouragement! I was wondering about the Mavic 3 because I believe it has a true Zoom lens as opposed to the digital zoom in the Air2s.

Yes it does . . . it has a second camera that will zoom 7X optical then up to 28 times digital. The 7X zoom is definitely useable quality.

 

[LoudThunder]

I then ordered an "Air2s Fly More Combo with Smart Controller"

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. I am a Mini 2 Flyer and I know the excitement of flight. So, if I may offer some advice.

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 2. You will also find the 57-page User Manual, in case your Drone did not come with one. The User Manuals are published in different languages.

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…"

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/Mavic_Air_2/Mavic_Air_2_User_Manual_v1.6_enIII.pdf

Happy and Safe Droning…

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Welcome to the Air 2S family : Lots of inspiration for that drone on the Forum .

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Air 2S in the Rain. Land on the Water

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America stevearends.

Nice to meet you Steve.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum

 

[Gagey52]

Welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia, Steve. Look forward to your input on the forum.
Regards

 

[eaglesurfing]

Welcome to the forum from south central Florida and enjoy.

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[twickers14]

Good luck with your flying. Sounds like you will have plenty of uses for the kit. Be safe.

 

[Laborous]

Welcome to the forum from the beautiful woods of Maine!

 

[wjkrysak]

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

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama, welcome to the forum!

 

[stevearends]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama, welcome to the forum!

My sister (and her entire family - kids and grandkids) lives in Huntsville - nice area!

 

[GFields]

My sister (and her entire family - kids and grandkids) lives in Huntsville - nice area!

I do a lot of photo work in Huntsville. Yes, I love it here.

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to Mavic Pilots .
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .

 

[LoudThunder]

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Forgot to mention,,,

Here are a couple of Legal Things you need to do… Register your Drone, that can be done at the FAA Web Site. You also need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute We Site (FREE…) .

FAADroneZone

FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute