Thunderstorms Look Really Cool but . . .

Phantomrain.org · Jul 8, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
I've been shooting weather and lightning for a couple of decades. You're far more likely to get blown out of the sky by the gust front and associated turbulence than a bolt of lightning. Not to mention the probability of getting some parts wet that shouldn't get wet (unless you equip your drone with a wetsuit, anyway.)

Regards those strong wind gusts, I have found that it better to be in the air before those strong gusts happen or my risk of taking off increases greatly.
The downside is I sometime miss the best part of the storm heading back to change batteries.

EricJT · Jul 8, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
I regularly go out to the Four Peaks Wilderness area during our "Southwest Monsoon" storm season. That was the last photo I took that day. It was 113 degrees and *raining* on me for a few minutes before the temperature dropped.

I have a few other photos from that day - I posted one in another thread - but that particular strike was just under a quarter-mile away, and *extremely* loud, and I decided it was definitely time to "bug-out."

Part of your forum handle can spell "cardiac"...bugging out may have saved "arrest".

Dbez1 · Jul 8, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
Those odds are just a *tad* higher for some of us.

View attachment 107249

That’s a nice shot. Is it with a drone or DSLR?

iaincaradoc · Jul 8, 2020

Dbez1 said:
That’s a nice shot. Is it with a drone or DSLR?

DSLR. With a homebrewed lightning trigger.

Dbez1 · Jul 8, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
DSLR. With a homebrewed lightning trigger.

Well done! Kind of reminds me of something Ansel Adams would do.

dronerdave · Jul 8, 2020

I've had a few close calls with lightning working on power lines over the years. I hate it. Our company always puts up the flag during several holidays and caught a few video clips on an active night. These are screen shots from my phone video...

Dbez1 · Jul 8, 2020

Very nice! The flag was exposed well as was the lightning and sky. Phone technology keeps getting better and better.

Iceman318 · Jul 9, 2020

itsneedtokno said:
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Great vids!! Thanks for sharing.

PistonPete · Jul 9, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
The recorded "World Record" is 440 miles. 709 kilometers. Wacky stuff.

As we say in the UK, BLOODY HELL!!

ajkm · Jul 11, 2020

Your aircraft is very unlikely to be hit by lightning. You are very likely, however, to have your control signal negatively affected by the magnetic interference the charges in such a storm contain. Plus, as noted above, you will have an impossible time dealing with the gust front winds.

Phantomrain.org · Jul 11, 2020

ajkm said:
Your aircraft is very unlikely to be hit by lightning. You are very likely, however, to have your control signal negatively affected by the magnetic interference the charges in such a storm contain. Plus, as noted above, you will have an impossible time dealing with the gust front winds.

We have flown in many lighting storms now with the drones, and have yet to get any Magnetic Interference , but we will keep trying .
As far as wind gusts go; It is best to be in the Air and Flying before the Gust come rather than trying to take off during the storm if possible.

The only real fear you have with the drone in the Wind is the Gimbal Tearing and with some skill and awareness you can protect the Gimbal rather well
as we have shown in many of our flights.

I have been surprised that none of the Lighting Storms we have flown in thus far has not caused any Magnetic Interference ; Not even a bleep on the screen

Below is the Lightning strike with a formation of a Tornado and yet no interference on those either , i think its going to take some thing really really close to the lighting to get an effect.
This all happens within about 60 frames of a second in a single lighting flash

I was flying closer to the clouds but the winds were a challenge and the battery low so came back.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Mavic in the Rain
Coal

G Lee · Jul 11, 2020

This storm was approx. 25miles away moving at 15mph. Just nice opp. to take photos before wind gusts started.

Len750 · Jul 11, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
Those odds are just a *tad* higher for some of us.

View attachment 107249

Four Peaks in the Background? Where were you standing?

iaincaradoc · Jul 11, 2020

Len750 said:
Four Peaks in the Background? Where were you standing?

Right here.

But if you know the area, you might like this one, too:

Len750 · Jul 12, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
Right here.

But if you know the area, you might like this one, too:

View attachment 107560

Oh yeah. Weavers Needle. So you were at the ATV/dirt bike drop off staging area. Too hot lately to be out there unless those storm clouds come rolling back in. Have you shown any video or pics of the fire damage? I haven't been out that way in a while. Not sure I want to see the destruction.

iaincaradoc · Jul 12, 2020

Len750 said:
Oh yeah. Weavers Needle. So you were at the ATV/dirt bike drop off staging area. Too hot lately to be out there unless those storm clouds come rolling back in. Have you shown any video or pics of the fire damage? I haven't been out that way in a while. Not sure I want to see the destruction.

They lifted the NOTAM/TFR for part of the area not too long ago:

G Lee · Jul 12, 2020

Iceman318 said:
So T-storms make for some great photo / video ops. Question is, what's a safe distance from those without getting blown out of the sky by a bold of lightening? Anyone have any experience with this?

You may have these already , but just wanted to pass this on. I use two apps for weather , MyRadar and Location Radius. These help me know whats coming and how far. Hope these help you. Oh and stay safe.

iaincaradoc · Jul 12, 2020

G Lee said:
You may have these already , but just wanted to pass this on. I use two apps for weather , MyRadar and Location Radius. These help me know whats coming and how far. Hope these help you. Oh and stay safe.

I'm a fan of RadarScope and NOAA Radar Pro, plus Lightning Pro for tracking the active lightning.