Its very concerning that so many new owners seem to be taking a drone out to fly without reading or more importantly understanding the instructions supplied and the warnings about calibrating the electronics BEFORE attempting to fly.
This hobby is under scrutiny like no other with claims of drones being involved in near-miss incidents at 11,000ft, (yes 11,000) scaring drivers on motorways, causing stampedes of horses, cattle, cats dogs, old people etc etc etc and the press just love it.
A recent claim that a drone was buzzing jetliners on approach to London Heathrow turned out to be a black bin bag blowing across the runway, but not before a daily paper headlined the drone version.
Even the rapidly created drone "industry" is over-reacting or to be more precise, falling over each other to make money out of training courses etc that cost more than a Typhoon H.
I have flown r/c helicopters since the last century (20th) and model aircraft for 50 years before that. I also have a PPL. Now suddenly I need a test and certificate of competence to fly a much simpler and failsafe drone or a commercial licence if it has a camera, just because a few idiots treat drones like a 3d video game where a reset is instantly available and nothing gets broken.
I bought one of the first available Typhoon H and I have 100s of hours of safe and event free flight recorded and successful s/w upgrades completed simply because I read the instructions until I understand what I am doing.
Drones are going through the fad stage just like skateboards did years ago when every kid on wheels was a public nuisance, hover boards fortunately killed themselves off but make no mistake, there are those that want to see drones banned and you are playing straight into their hands if you go flying something you don't understand.
Swallow your pride, break with tradition, put your ego on hold, whatever it takes and just read the bloody instructions or ask someone who actually knows what they are talking about, not a mate of a mate who can spell the word drone.
Its not often someone old enough to be your Granddad can be so smug but I am going to enjoy my 15 mins while some of you continue to defy gravity.
Alternatively if you have £1000s to write off, I'll give you my holiday fund a/c number.
Have a happy new year and please, be safe out there.
This hobby is under scrutiny like no other with claims of drones being involved in near-miss incidents at 11,000ft, (yes 11,000) scaring drivers on motorways, causing stampedes of horses, cattle, cats dogs, old people etc etc etc and the press just love it.
A recent claim that a drone was buzzing jetliners on approach to London Heathrow turned out to be a black bin bag blowing across the runway, but not before a daily paper headlined the drone version.
Even the rapidly created drone "industry" is over-reacting or to be more precise, falling over each other to make money out of training courses etc that cost more than a Typhoon H.
I have flown r/c helicopters since the last century (20th) and model aircraft for 50 years before that. I also have a PPL. Now suddenly I need a test and certificate of competence to fly a much simpler and failsafe drone or a commercial licence if it has a camera, just because a few idiots treat drones like a 3d video game where a reset is instantly available and nothing gets broken.
I bought one of the first available Typhoon H and I have 100s of hours of safe and event free flight recorded and successful s/w upgrades completed simply because I read the instructions until I understand what I am doing.
Drones are going through the fad stage just like skateboards did years ago when every kid on wheels was a public nuisance, hover boards fortunately killed themselves off but make no mistake, there are those that want to see drones banned and you are playing straight into their hands if you go flying something you don't understand.
Swallow your pride, break with tradition, put your ego on hold, whatever it takes and just read the bloody instructions or ask someone who actually knows what they are talking about, not a mate of a mate who can spell the word drone.
Its not often someone old enough to be your Granddad can be so smug but I am going to enjoy my 15 mins while some of you continue to defy gravity.
Alternatively if you have £1000s to write off, I'll give you my holiday fund a/c number.
Have a happy new year and please, be safe out there.
