This is the classic drone crash video and it has made me laugh so many times. Could you imagine filming a bride and groom and then flying your rig straight into their faces while they are having an intimate moment? Not sure what caused this crash, but it seems like a short in the battery somewhere. The first crash happens around 35 seconds but they don't learn their lesson and a strange guy in a light blue shirt decides to become target practice for the next inevitable malfunction that happens around the 3 minute mark. I have watched this several times and I find myself wishing that copter would have landed on him.. the video probably would have gone viral with all that strange posing in the grass. Drinking all day on a boat and then buzzing your Phantom above water would always seem like a good idea at the time. Unfortunately, they are not really waterproof. Don't drink and drone, it just won't end well. At least we got a funny video out of it. I would start watching at 4:45 mark. This video starts out so cool. Pretty cliff, pretty green water, nice view but then it just goes haywire. The resulting drone crash is really more like 5 crashes in one as the phantom ping pongs down the cliff while the propless motors hopelessly try and correct the plunge back to earth. Stunning drone photography video turns into epic crash video. This looks like it starts out as a foreign language review of the phantom. Then they take it for a jolly flight around to show off its flight abilities but the pilot obviously has not spent time on his drone drills. I would like to plug my RC drone drill book here because if this guy had followed my simple training exercises he would know how to fly when the aircraft is pointed at him. Instead he sends the Phantom drone into the pavement for a nice crash we all get to enjoy. If you want a good faulty fly away Phantom video, it is hard to do better than this one. This drone goes haywire, comes in super low over the water and then bounces off the bank about 2 feet from the water and then the pilot is able to regain control before it goes haywire again and this time it doesn't bounce back into the air. In the description, they claim it just lost control and went straight up but I seriously doubt that. They just wanted to send this thing above the clouds and that is always a terrible idea. Stay under 400 feet to avoid running into airplanes! These idiots deserved to crash in my opinion. It is people like this that will ruin the hobby for everyone. His Phantom glitches out and then flies to the bottom of the lake. Luckily for us, the GoPro still works and it captures some fish. Another crash from an insane altitude. Again, it is just not a good idea to fly this high. All it is going to take is one airplane strike and the FAA is going to clamp down on us really hard. Did I miss any good drone crash videos? If so, please let me know below!
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The Phantom 2 is your choice if: 1) You are just getting into drone photography If you have not flown an RC helicopter or airplane before, you should buy a Hubsan X4 and my drone flying training book and get a little practice before you even fly the Phantom. However, if you have RC skills you will find the Phantom very easy to operate. 2) You want a small rig that is easy to transport It is hard to beat the size of the Phantom. It is small and easily fits in small cases and backpacks for transports to exotic locations. I have never had a problem getting mine on the airplane. 3) You love your GoPro If you are attached to your GoPro, stick to the Phantom series because the Inspire 1 has its own camera similar to the Vision. 4) You are on a budget DJI is offering the Phantom 2, 3 axis zenmuse gimbal, extra battery, extra props, and free shipping for $959 for the holidays. Thats a great deal to get you into the air and flying a GoPro. The inspire 1 is your choice if: 1) You are an Ace drone pilot There would be nothing worse than losing your expensive new drone photography rig because you were not a good pilot. You want to be really good at flying so you are comfortable putting your drone into the type of situations that yield amazing photography. 2) You want to operate with a two man setup For dynamic subjects and more professional video work, a two man setup really makes things easier. 3) You are comfortable with DJI products DJI products are very easy to use but those with previous experience with DJI stuff will be at a huge advantage. 4) You want to take your drone photography to the next level The Inspire 1 is the perfect mid level drone for the "Pro-Sumer" and I am planning on putting this drone to work when I get it. The ability to fly fast, snap pictures and videos from remote, fly a two man setup, and tune the flight characteristics are really going to allow me to take my drone photography to the next level. If you are like me, this is your copter! What is your choice and why? Let me know your reasons below in the comment section!
There has been some recent developments in the drone legal world. Trappy initially won his case and then lost it on appeal. You should read this NTSB brief on the appeal if you have an interest in the current legal state of drones. Two things really jumped out at me about this case that I wanted to point out, if there are some legal minded drone operators out there who have more expertise please chime in in the comment section below. What Does This Ruling Mean? 1) The government (NTSB / FAA) want a definition of exactly what an aircraft is. The initial judge said the Ritewing Zephr he was flying was not an aircraft. The way the NTSB reads it even a paper airplane would be subject to all the FAA regulations. 2) It seems the NTSB wants to focus on the unsafe flying, which is good if they don't over step. What Did the Actual Ruling Say? "At this stage of the proceeding, however, we decline to address issues beyond the threshold question that produced the decisional order on appeal: Is respondent’s unmanned aircraft system (UAS) an “aircraft” for purposes of § 91.13(a), which prohibits any “person” from “operat[ing] an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another”?" "The complaint alleged respondent operated the unmanned aircraft at altitudes ranging from the “extremely low”—10 feet above ground level (AGL)—up to 1,500 feet AGL. In the complaint, the Administrator also asserted respondent operated the aircraft, inter alia, “directly towards an individual standing on a . . . sidewalk causing the individual to take immediate evasive maneuvers so as to avoid being struck by [the] aircraft”; “through a . . . tunnel containing moving vehicles”; “under a crane”; “below tree top level over a tree lined walkway”; “under an elevated pedestrian walkway”; and “within approximately 100 feet of an active heliport.” Respondent allegedly conducted these maneuvers as part of flights for compensation, as the aircraft was equipped with a camera and respondent was “being paid by [a third party] to supply aerial photographs and video of the UVA campus and medical center.” Use Common Sense If this guy had operated under the same safety standards that DroneAbove.com recommends (Stay under 400 feet, stay away from airports and real aircraft, and don't fly over crowds) I doubt there would be any sort of a lawsuit. Regardless, that is what we have. What Does This Mean For Your Drone Business? Are you at risk for litigation? I am no lawyer, but using only this case as a reference it seems that if you go out of your way to fly safely you will probably be alright. We are at a critical time in field and any drone disasters will cause the government to make more restrictive laws. If a drone causes the crash of a full size airplane before the laws are inked, we will all pay the price. Fly safe out there and please think when you fly! |
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June 2017
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