Brian,
If you are Major Brian Shul, then that Avatar Photo must have been taken 50-years or so ago… That Brian Shul, like me, we both were born during President Harry S. Truman. And that photo makes you look like you would have studied about Truman in the history books… So, something besides that photo is "fishy…" ( LoL )
But, be that as it may, the limitations of flying your Mini 2 must be very disappointing… At least with your Part 107, you can fly up in the rare air when flying over structures…
I also fly a Mini 2 and I am also Part 107'd, but my Mini 2, like the SR-71 has some enhancements…
I charge my batteries with the lightning from Thunderstorm Supercells and my props are a "special order…" They were cast from the unique Vibranium-metal alloy that the Captain America's Shield was cast from by Dr. Myron MacLain.
I live inside a Zero Altitude Zone of Langley AFB (LFI) Class D Airspace and after I call Langley's ATC to coordinate my flights, I sometimes forget myself and I fly a bit too fast and a bit too high…
One time, I was flying in Sport Mode, I did not notice that the drone was already within the Airspace because I was flying so fast (465 MPH) and so high (15,650').
I had to take evasive action to avoid the F-22, and I quickly evaded the pursuit of the F-22 by Max climbing to 80,000' , 15,000 higher than the operation altitude the Raptor…
Since my Mini 2 is not authorized ADS-B nor does my Part 107 allow me to talk to Langley or Norfolk Tower I cannot impress the other pilots as Walter did when he asked for "Ground Speed Radar Check…"
For more stories of the "Little Drone That Could" stay tuned to this station…
( LoL )…
Chief, I must say that I am already enjoying the stories of the "Little Drone that Could". I, of course, am not Brian Shul. I've only been as fast as Mach 0.862 and up to 46,300 feet. I must say that the world looks very different from up there and I can only imagine what it would look like in person at 80,000 feet.
I had a high school classmate whose father retired from the Air Force. His last assignment was at Langley driving F-15s. He still remembers the coordinates for the ramp positions that he had to enter into the navigation system.
P.S. I'm coming up on 20 years with the SC Air Guard and AF Reserve late this month. I have a few more years to go until I can retire as a "fully vested" MSGT (at least 3 years time in grade).