Air 2 Sideways into the trees

[Geofff]

I was flying sideways along a river filming progress in a riverside park rehabilitation post flood and got caught in trees on the opposite bank of the river.
Amazingly it righted itself and was hovering inside the trees. What do I do now!
I slowly spun it around to see if there was a clear exit and decided to raise it up slowly to a clear exit and was able to fly it out. Very relieved. How good is the MA2!!
I rarely fly sideways for this very reason but couldn't resist on this occasion thinking I would be safe over the water but ....

 

[Honk]

@Geoff Wow, super lucky! Is the camera ok? I ask because a landing foot becomes visible immediately after the event, as though the gimbal has been pulled out, even though the gimbal seems to be functioning.

Just curious. Thanks

 

[dozzn]

Glad to see you made it out!

 

[Geofff]

@Geoff Wow, super lucky! Is the camera ok? I ask because a landing foot becomes visible immediately after the event, as though the gimbal has been pulled out, even though the gimbal seems to be functioning.

Just curious. Thanks

I was worried about that too but couldn't see anything broken. Restarted and the gimbal did the dance and was ok. Flew it after with no problems

 

[old man mavic]

@Geofff great tree close up ,i hope you went out and got a lottery ticket afterwards
tree (0) drone (1)
that doesn't happen very often

 

[Sky Wombat]

Well that's a clencher Goefff. I thought you might have had to swim to retrieve it there for a while.
Good recovery by the MA2.

 

[HeavenBound]

Best recovery I've seen! You kept your cool, relaxed and didn't panick and slowly looked for an exit. Good job!

 

[Crash Gibby]

You are one lucky Guy.

 

[HenryMow]

I'll say. I bet your heart was beating very fast! So glad you managed to get it back safely!

 

[Squidinc]

Way to go Geoff! That is the finest recovery from a tree collision I’ve ever seen! Well done mate. And as for the MA2 (I fly the same) you little beauty!

 

[Lets Fly]

How good is the MA2!!

As good as the pilot. Nice recovery.

 

[YVRGUY]

Best example of ‘Bush Flying’ I’ve ever seen…that’s one horse shoe used up. Nice recovery though.

 

[AVLJMA]

I was flying sideways along a river filming progress in a riverside park rehabilitation post flood and got caught in trees on the opposite bank of the river.
Amazingly it righted itself and was hovering inside the trees. What do I do now!
I slowly spun it around to see if there was a clear exit and decided to raise it up slowly to a clear exit and was able to fly it out. Very relieved. How good is the MA2!!
I rarely fly sideways for this very reason but couldn't resist on this occasion thinking I would be safe over the water but ....

Whoa! Nicely done!! Congrats on some good post-tragedy flying.

 

[twickers14]

A great relief for you-and us although we knew the outcome due to spoiler alert! Well done.

 

[Wild Drone Pilot]

I was worried about that too but couldn't see anything broken. Restarted and the gimbal did the dance and was ok. Flew it after with no problems

Why is it everyone who crashes can just fly away while
I crash and end up picking up the pieces

 

[Micky52]

Great Geoff, and its a good live example of auto-leveling (Horizon) while looking at the legs during side moves (last 30s.).

 

[Geofff]

Thanks everyone for your comments and encouragement.
This was the most serious situation in 6 years of drone experience. I have done a little "hedge trimming" in the past but never over water.
When it first happened, I thought it would tumble into the river but was super surprised it didn't get hooked up and stayed upright. Heart in mouth stuff
Very lucky that I was able to retrieve it so easily and no damage, not even the props. It lives to fly another day.

 

[SmilingOgre]

Bravo! Hats off to the cool reaction. And it came to pass that Johana was delivered from the belly of the whale.

 

[macfawlty]

Most of my crashes were the result of flying sideways… into trees. POIs forward/backward with elevation change makes for cool shots, but when you’re in the middle of the maneuver, you can’t look sideways, up or down. Recovery is key. I had one crash on an island on the opposite side of a river hundreds of yards away that required driving, dropping off a bike downstream, kayaking across and downriver, hunting for 45 minutes, ferrying (paddling) back across the river, dropping the kayaking, biking back to the car, driving back to pick up the kayak. When watching footage of the crash and tumble down through the trees, it helps to be able to identify trees by their leaves.

 

[Geofff]

Most of my crashes were the result of flying sideways… into trees. POIs forward/backward with elevation change makes for cool shots, but when you’re in the middle of the maneuver, you can’t look sideways, up or down. Recovery is key. I had one crash on an island on the opposite side of a river hundreds of yards away that required driving, dropping off a bike downstream, kayaking across and downriver, hunting for 45 minutes, ferrying (paddling) back across the river, dropping the kayaking, biking back to the car, driving back to pick up the kayak. When watching footage of the crash and tumble down through the trees, it helps to be able to identify trees by their leaves.

That 'adventure' would certainly take the shine off what was meant to be a relaxing flight
As you say, recovery is key and hope not too much damage.