New Pilot Joining the Group

[Riich]

Hello folks. I'm located in North Dakota, USA and have discovered the joys of flying a drone from my 15 yr old grandson.

Over Thanksgiving 2024, he showed me his mini 2 and in the process he handed me the controls and I did some flying and immediately became intrigued. After spending 3-4 days playing with his setup, I went home and ordered myself the Mini 3 fly more combo.

Well, being winter in ND, cold and windy as it is during the winter months, my combo kit never even got opened until this past April when I decided it was time to open the box and learn to fly the thing. I had done enough homework watching u-tube videos and reading this forum to know how to proceed so everything went very smoothly. I spent two days just messing with the drone and learning how to operate it smoothly without fear of flying, and I am now enjoying the experience of flying very much!

One thing I would like a little advice on is the batteries. With 3 batteries I may never even use one of them. That may sound crazy but being someone with numerous hobbies this kit will sit for spells without being used. I understand the best way to store the batteries is with a 50% charge, is that the correct assumption? And then fully charge before use? That is currently how I am operating, with one battery still unused as of now. I just don't want to do something to destroy my batteries prematurely.

I'm currently in the middle of a new home construction in the Black Hills of SD and have been flying and taking aerial photos of the progression. This whole thing is super exciting! The view from the air is incredible, and since I have been into photography for years and years, this is very intriguing for me and I truly enjoy the experience. I look forward to many more hours of using the drone in the future, and living in the part of the USA where I do, drone flying seems to be a pretty carefree hobby. I have my Trust certificate, other than that I don't worry too much. So far, no problems.

I'm looking forward to hanging out here and learning more as I go.

 

[Lykus]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Cafguy]

understand the best way to store the batteries is with a 50% charge, is that the correct assumption? And then fully charge before use? That is currently how I am operating, with one battery still unused as of now. I just don't want to do something to destroy my batteries prematurely.

First You are doing your Batteries a great service by treating Them this way! I store at 60% Just remember to keep a check on them and dont let them get below the 40% mark (thats what I shoot for anyways}
Second Welcome to the forum From Bakersfield!

 

[DJ Wes]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Riich.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Hauptmann]

Hi! Welcome to the forum, from Hauptmann in Hurst, Texas!

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Welcome from Phoenix Arizona

 

[LoudThunder]

I'm located in North Dakota, USA and have discovered the joys of flying a drone from my 15 yr old grandson.

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 relatively 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…). While your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.

But if you put the big batteries in, it gets "Fat" (heavy--over 250-grams,,,) and it needs to be registered (legally speaking, but I won't tell anyone…)

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 North Dakota, 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…

First, in the photo, you notice that I've numbered my batteries, just so I can tell them apart, I just as easily could nave named them "Larry, Moe, and Curley…" or "A, B, and C…"

What I do when I fly is I always take the battery on the Left… If I only fly one battery I move the others over and that flown battery gets put in the Right most slot. This ensures that I rotate the batteries and none gets forgotten about… If you fly all three, then put them back in any order you want…



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 Mini 2 and the Mini 3, including the User Manuals.

After you read the Manuals, read them again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

DJI Mini 2 - Download Center - DJI

Learn and download DJI Mini 2 related apps, software, and manuals at the DJI Download Center

www.dji.com

DJI Mini 3 - Download Center - DJI

Learn and download DJI Mini 3 related apps, software, and manuals at the DJI Download Center

www.dji.com

Fly On and Fly Safe…