Waiting for this heat to let up for my first flight in TX!

[Volar Solo]

Good evening!

New remote pilot here with mostly book and classroom instruction.

After studying relentlessly for the past 2 months and successfully applying for my Part 107 license, I finally pulled the trigger and purchased my first real drone. I am now the proud owner of a DJI Mini 3 Pro, and it is a HUGE upgrade from my previous experience with a little Tello drone from Ryze Tech.

As luck would have it my drone arrived in the middle of a brutal heat wave here in TX that has me grounded until further notice. Despite my excitement to get going as soon as possible, I've taken the time to prepare for my first flight by reading over the manual, testing hardware & equipment, making sure I have flight logs, registration paperwork, etc.

Not gonna lie, I feel like I have run out of stuff to prepare for... the itch to fly is getting hard to ignore, haha!!

I'm thinking of just getting up extra early before sunrise and heading down to the local park to get my first test flight out of the way before the heat can kick in. Who knows, after a little practice flying around the park, I might just be able to get a good shot of the southern sun rising over TX.

Wish me luck, y'all!

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum
early morning and late evening are the best times to fly when its hot

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Volar Solo.

I'm thinking of just getting up extra early before sunrise and heading down to the local park to get my first test flight

That's the best time to fly for me.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Gagey52]

Welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia. Look forward to your input on the forum.
How hot does it get in Texas?
Regards

 

[Robert Prior]

I'm thinking of just getting up extra early before sunrise and heading down to the local park to get my first test flight out of the way before the heat can kick in.

That also gets you the best light for pictures, and avoids the most nosy people too.

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[Drone Master]

Welcome to Mavic Pilots! Enjoy the forum!

 

[FLDave]

It's hard to ever run out of YouTube videos to watch for learning.
What is the temperature at your location? What is the max operating temperature for the Mini 3 Pro?
If temperature is within operating range, then enjoy flying and keeping the drone moving.

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to the forum.
Please and do be sure you have read our guidelines.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .

 

[Chetk7677]

Welcome from central Florida.

 

[Jeffrush]

I'm in Houston when I have to fly jobs. I start at 6am and finish by 9am and it's still gets brutal

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama, welcome to the forum!

 

[Lykus]

Welcome to the forum. You'll like mini 3 pro as it can do much more than Tello. If you need a handy case to take your drone out, check our MM330 waterproof hard case. Have fun.

 

[Robert Prior]

The Lowepro protactic utility bag 100 AW neatly fits the Mini 3, the controller (RC in my case), and some batteries. Not a hard case, but some padding against knocks — and can be attached to a belt as well as carried on the shoulder strap.

ProTactic Utility Bag 100 AW

ProTactic modular accessory bag designed to provide versatile storage space for photo and video gear. Front zippered pocket provides convenient storage space for lens or body caps and other accessories.

www.lowepro.com

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.

 

[Steel63]

Greetings from Florida and welcome to the forum you can fly indoors also just be careful.

 

[LoudThunder]

I am now the proud owner of a DJI Mini 3 Pro,

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar.

Members map

mavicpilots.com

I'm guessing that you did in fact get your Part 107 License, so you know what you have to do…

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

Drone Laws in Texas [Updated January 26, 2024]

Drones are allowed in Texas for recreational and commercial use, subject to FAA and local regulations. Read on for details.

drone-laws.com

Now, for some Good Old Fashion Advice…

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 kitten or puppy 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, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 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…"

DJI Mini 3 Pro - Download Center - DJI

At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Mini 3 Pro

www.dji.com

Happy, Safe and Legal Droning…

 

[JimCunn]

"Welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia. Look forward to your input on the forum.
How hot does it get in Texas?"

American South doesn't get all that hot. I remember once in 1952 seeing 44°C in eastern Arkansas, but 37°C is more typical during the summer.

 

[howardK]

I'm in Houston when I have to fly jobs. I start at 6am and finish by 9am and it's still gets brutal

I'm also in Houston (Pearland). My flying is recreational for now. I like early morning out on my patio . Fly safely

 

[JimCunn]

Hottest temperature ever recorded in Texas was 49°C.