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oxford flying ....but where?

WannaFly247

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Joined
Jul 17, 2023
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7
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Age
46
Location
oxford
hi all - after many years of wanting to have a drone (into photography - previous SLR / digital SLR) i finally got one as a present. im very cautious of all the rules and regulations and dont want to upset neighbours / people / animals.

i have a dji mini 3 pro and have done plenty of practice landing and flying.

now the big worry: the more i read the less i think im allowed to fly *anywhere* around oxford / oxfordshire. please can someone help me / advise what is / is not allowed?

COI: hobby photographer, fly probably 1-2x a months in good weather, have plenty of favourite spots in oxfordshire i would like to capture
 
hi all - after many years of wanting to have a drone (into photography - previous SLR / digital SLR) i finally got one as a present. im very cautious of all the rules and regulations and dont want to upset neighbours / people / animals.

i have a dji mini 3 pro and have done plenty of practice landing and flying.

now the big worry: the more i read the less i think im allowed to fly *anywhere* around oxford / oxfordshire. please can someone help me / advise what is / is not allowed?

COI: hobby photographer, fly probably 1-2x a months in good weather, have plenty of favourite spots in oxfordshire i would like to capture
Welcome from Savannah, GA! You have a great bird and I hope we get to see some of your side of the word.
 
Welcome to the Forum!

"now the big worry: the more i read the less i think im allowed to fly *anywhere* around oxford / oxfordshire. please can someone help me / advise what is / is not allowed?"

I member will probably answer your question pretty soon. Thumbswayup

Rod ..
 
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

I don't have an answer for you but @old man mavic might be able to help
 
i have a dji mini 3 pro and have done plenty of practice landing and flying.

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.


Since you live in the UK, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check to ensure these are current.


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, and 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 3 Pro, 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…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
 
You are right to be cautious and concerned about the regulations. In that regard just use every available resource to learn all details of flying regulations at all levels.
On the other hand, your experience is in photography, so maintain your photography focus rather than "flying" goal. The flying part should be a way to expand your professional photography experience. What does your photography customer really want in a picture? If you want new photography options a 360 degree camera on a pole can get some great shots.
 
Welcome to Mavic Pilots! :) Enjoy the forum!Thumbswayup
 
hi all - after many years of wanting to have a drone (into photography - previous SLR / digital SLR) i finally got one as a present. im very cautious of all the rules and regulations and dont want to upset neighbours / people / animals.

i have a dji mini 3 pro and have done plenty of practice landing and flying.

now the big worry: the more i read the less i think im allowed to fly *anywhere* around oxford / oxfordshire. please can someone help me / advise what is / is not allowed?

COI: hobby photographer, fly probably 1-2x a months in good weather, have plenty of favourite spots in oxfordshire i would like to capture
Go to the app store and download Altitude Angel (Drone Assist)
 
Last edited:
hi all - after many years of wanting to have a drone (into photography - previous SLR / digital SLR) i finally got one as a present. im very cautious of all the rules and regulations and dont want to upset neighbours / people / animals.

i have a dji mini 3 pro and have done plenty of practice landing and flying.

now the big worry: the more i read the less i think im allowed to fly *anywhere* around oxford / oxfordshire. please can someone help me / advise what is / is not allowed?

COI: hobby photographer, fly probably 1-2x a months in good weather, have plenty of favourite spots in oxfordshire i would like to capture
We visited Oxford (the city) a couple of years back and did lots of drone photography, e.g., along the canal and out toward Cumnor Hill. No probs - good experience. Don't be overly put off by all the talk of encroaching bans and restrictions elsewhere - I've never found it a problem so long as you run a few online enquiries to find out about airports, barracks, special events, and so forth. Good luck - the Mini 3 Pro is a really fabulous little machine.
 
I understand your worries, but there's really no need.
The only problem in Oxfordshire to my knowledge is that you have a few military bases - Bicester is the one I know of. That should come up as a restricted zone anyway, as would any airfield. If you want to photograph landscape or villages, the best way is probably early morning, and keep relatively high. Do a recce, use OS maps, and find a quiet spot off a country lane for example to take off from.

Best of luck
 
Hi @WannaFly247,
I'm very much in the same position as you - only had my Mini2 for a few months and come to it from many (many!) years of DSLR photography. My daughter bought me a Tello toy a year or two ago and could immediately see I wanted something better :).

I live in Leamington Spa and we both have canals in our part of England. I have the Grand Union, you have the Oxford and there are others. I spoke with a guy from the Canal Trust the other week who had set up a stall on the towpath to promote the use of canals. He said as far as he knew there were no restrictions on flying drones along and over canals (safely of course). They can make pretty photogenic subjects.

BTW the Mini2 takes fantastic pictures!
 
Hi @WannaFly247,
I'm very much in the same position as you - only had my Mini2 for a few months and come to it from many (many!) years of DSLR photography. My daughter bought me a Tello toy a year or two ago and could immediately see I wanted something better :).

I live in Leamington Spa and we both have canals in our part of England. I have the Grand Union, you have the Oxford and there are others. I spoke with a guy from the Canal Trust the other week who had set up a stall on the towpath to promote the use of canals. He said as far as he knew there were no restrictions on flying drones along and over canals (safely of course). They can make pretty photogenic subjects.

BTW the Mini2 takes fantastic pictures!
thats a great tip!
 
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