Drone suggestion

Alien · Oct 15, 2020

True but I am allowed to fly to 400 feet and my property is a registered model flying zone.

LittleBill21 · Oct 15, 2020

everyone is allowed 400AGL unless your in restricted airspace.

Alien · Oct 15, 2020

Actually we have an exemption for 1000 ft with gliders.

ovrszd · Oct 15, 2020

It's my belief that the FAA's line of sight rule is vague intentionally. I have never thought it meant visual sight of the Drone. I've always interpreted it as written, line of sight.

So as long as there isn't an obstacle between me and the Drone I am legal.

I can see my X Star 1,000ft or so, depending on the sky.

White drones are much harder to see.

I'd like to meet the Drone pilot that has never flown illegally. I'd suggest they fly their Drone rather than leave it in the case.

buckeyefarmer · Oct 15, 2020

The term line of sight means no obstruction between the two. My tv antenna says it needs line of sight, I sure can’t see the tv tower it’s pointed towards.

dragoneggs · Oct 15, 2020

ovrszd said:
It's my belief that the FAA's line of sight rule is vague intentionally. I have never thought it meant visual sight of the Drone. I've always interpreted it as written, line of sight.

So as long as there isn't an obstacle between me and the Drone I am legal.

I can see my X Star 1,000ft or so, depending on the sky.

White drones are much harder to see.

I'd like to meet the Drone pilot that has never flown illegally. I'd suggest they fly their Drone rather than leave it in the case.

Agree on all points... I need to get mine out more.

What I should do is store it in my truck occasionally as I am bored with flying around my property and I never intentionally go out to fly it but often say... I wish I brought my drone!

LittleBill21 · Oct 15, 2020

ovrszd said:
It's my belief that the FAA's line of sight rule is vague intentionally. I have never thought it meant visual sight of the Drone. I've always interpreted it as written, line of sight.

So as long as there isn't an obstacle between me and the Drone I am legal.

I can see my X Star 1,000ft or so, depending on the sky.

White drones are much harder to see.

I'd like to meet the Drone pilot that has never flown illegally. I'd suggest they fly their Drone rather than leave it in the case.

lol you can look this up in 3 seconds, its visual line of site.

"Keep your drone within your visual line of sight, or within the visual line-of-sight of a visual observer who is co-located (physically next to) and in direct communication with you."

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/

5030 · Oct 16, 2020

LittleBill21 said:
so how do you know yours goes 5 miles? No comment was made about the FAA rules, and to be very clear, as long as you have spotters who are in direct communication with the pilot, it can be out of sight for the pilot. I'm well aware of the FAA rules.

From watching You-Tube video's of flights with my drone. Never exceeded my actual 'line of visual sight'. Of course an EVO is much easier to see than say a DJI. EVO's are grabber orange (aka: Kubota orange), easy to see. My DJI on the other hand is off white and hard to see at any distance.

dragoneggs · Oct 16, 2020

I'm thinking I should paint my Mavic black. The grey color is hard for me to see. My old white Phantom was also hard to see. I wish the blinking lights were brighter as well. Maybe that is a mod I can do?

5030 · Oct 16, 2020

dragoneggs said:
I'm thinking I should paint my Mavic black. The grey color is hard for me to see. My old white Phantom was also hard to see. I wish the blinking lights were brighter as well. Maybe that is a mod I can do?

You can buy over wraps for it in various colors and patterns including camo.... FYI

5030 · Oct 16, 2020

I also wonder how many pilots actually spend the 5 bucks and get a license as well. 5 per unit here in the USA. Took my N numbers, printed them and stuck them on the body with clear tape.

5030 · Oct 16, 2020

ovrszd said:
It's my belief that the FAA's line of sight rule is vague intentionally. I have never thought it meant visual sight of the Drone. I've always interpreted it as written, line of sight.

So as long as there isn't an obstacle between me and the Drone I am legal.

I can see my X Star 1,000ft or so, depending on the sky.

White drones are much harder to see.

I'd like to meet the Drone pilot that has never flown illegally. I'd suggest they fly their Drone rather than leave it in the case.

Not really.... Ok with me anyway. I suspect enforcement is quite sparse and only time it could be an issue is in the case of a property damage / personal injury suit. Then they might get involved. Without looking at the regs, I seem to remember that any liability over 500 bucks has to be reported to the FAA within 48 hours? You chop someone's ear off or blow through a windshield, 500 bucks is chump change.

ovrszd · Oct 16, 2020

buckeyefarmer said:
The term line of sight means no obstruction between the two. My tv antenna says it needs line of sight, I sure can稚 see the tv tower it痴 pointed towards.

Dang it. Wish I'd thought to say that. Perfect example.

ovrszd · Oct 16, 2020

dragoneggs said:
Agree on all points... I need to get mine out more.

What I should do is store it in my truck occasionally as I am bored with flying around my property and I never intentionally go out to fly it but often say... I wish I brought my drone!

This time of year I truck mine. I take a lot of pics and videos of harvest.

ovrszd · Oct 16, 2020

LittleBill21 said:
lol you can look this up in 3 seconds, its visual line of site.

"Keep your drone within your visual line of sight, or within the visual line-of-sight of a visual observer who is co-located (physically next to) and in direct communication with you."

https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/

Using that description as you interpret it, I am illegal 95% of my flights. Along with 95% of all other pilots.

dragoneggs · Oct 16, 2020

I think the question might be line of sight vs visible line of sight.

ovrszd · Oct 16, 2020

5030 said:
I also wonder how many pilots actually spend the 5 bucks and get a license as well. 5 per unit here in the USA. Took my N numbers, printed them and stuck them on the body with clear tape.

I did. Carry a copy in the Drone case.

Alien · Oct 16, 2020

My home build drones have leds I bought from Banggood as well as the ones that were on the frame. Very easy to see in daylight for about a klm and in the evening virtually many klms. It looked spectacular at the club a couple of weeks ago when we had a night fly. It lights up the ground from about 20 meters high. Not sure how you could add them to a DJI. They run on a 500 mAH 2S battery and last for hours on that so maybe you could just tape a small battery to the Drone. LEDs have self adhesive on them.
I also use these held on with Velcro. 3 pcs wireless led night light built-in battery with controller for rc airplane Sale - Banggood.com
They are VERY bright and last for hours. They have a built in battery. 3 x different blinking modes. Charge them from a USB. I swap them between drones/planes.

ovrszd · Oct 16, 2020

So if I add some good lights, and can see my Drone's lights when flying at night, am I in compliance with FAA's rule of "visual sight"???

Motorboatin · Oct 16, 2020

BigBlue1 said:
How do you clean your gutters without getting on the roof? What type of tool do you use?

Sorry for the momentary topic diversion...

Rob

I have a ranch. The highest gutter is 18 feet

Just under 400 feet of gutter and I was done in about 90min. That included blowing the gutters, launching the drone and blowing out the bad spots a 2nd time