This video should be a requirement for both new and experienced drone pilots. It's highly educational, and the detailed explanations effectively convey the message. The teaching style is also commendable.
As someone starting out in drone flying that was so useful. It also explains why when I was practicing flying low over grass the mini kept going lower. I kept correcting it but was baffled why it was happening. Now I know. Thanks Rick.
Again, seems like crappy design. If there is a known issue with VIO conflicting with GPS over water at low altitudes then the system should disable VIO. There should be an option for the pilot to select over water flight which takes this into account.
Could the pilot have handled it better with knowledge and previous experience? Yes, but the system is poorly designed which is the cause. Did they not test it over water?
Justin Roysdon Guy, water is a given. Just like swimming in the ocean if you get far out from the beach it will take you out to the ocean. It’s the waves and wind the make the water more powerful.
One of the best and helpful videos I've watched. I try to be extra careful when it comes to wind and I have the Evo1. I still get nervous when flying and have to build up confidence. So far I've never had any problems, but have to learn to relax more and enjoy the hobby. I only know that any day you go home with your drone. IS A GOOD DAY. Thanks for the posting of this video.
Chasbro Chas Same here you have a way more expensive drone then I do but I know my drone can go further I’ve seen plenty UA-cam videos about that. I still fly my drone as long as I can still physically see it that’s as far as I go LOL I’ve only had it for about five days now but it’s funny I thought I was the only one now I know I’m not LOL as long as I can land my drone and go home you’re right it’s a gd day 😂👍🏼
@@TAZ0300 For the amount of times I fly. I sometimes wonder if I should of spent that much money for my drone. Still it is awesome. Going to check out your site as it's fun to watch other peoples videos. Stay well Taz.
I’ve was scared at first also. Just make sure you do a pre flight check and be sure everything’s working properly. Don’t take off on or near metal or high electric objects. I had “one” fly away back in 2015. After that I was so scared to fly I thought I was done with drones. I’m glad I didn’t..... I have hundreds of hours flying and iam confident each and every flight Uav forescast is the best advise I can give for starters it will give you great wind readings at different altitudes etc. Hope that helps.
This video should be required watching for all new pilots, and old timers as well. I personally have had one fly away (when I first got my drone and had no idea what I was doing) , but I have also since then had to step in and help with 3 different flyaways with friends. They panicked and in two cases I was able to grab their controllers and w/exception of pointing the camera down (since all were well within vlos) pretty much handled as you suggested and managed to regain control and fly home. Pretty scary stuff. All three of these flyaways were I believe EM/radio interference so hopefully you will broach that topic next. What I did notice with all 3 of them, was the EM/radio interference may have caused the flyaway, but just turning the craft and changing elevation down even 20ft. seemed to restore the connection. Where we fly is a hotspot for EM and radio frequencies with 3 airports nearby, plus Ames NASA Moffet field, plus a lot of RC aircraft in the air as well. This is a carve out zone for RC aircraft that sits in the middle of a lot of radio frequencies so, you do have to pay attention. Great vid! Cheers.
Thanks for the video, I am a new Mavic air 2 owner. (love it), and after flying it in some wind I feel I can trust it to a point. But I want spend plenty of time on the basics. When you were talking about pointing the camera straight down to check for obstacles (great idea). here is what I learned about the mavic air 2 to pass along. You can set up the grid lines to include an x in the middle, then face the camera down. use the x to position the drone over a landing area, then left stick down right on the spot the x marked. a fast way to get the gimbal looking straight down (double tap the left function key). gimbal back forward, double tap the left function button again. Keep up the videos:')
This is the first video I've seen of yours. Have to say I saw an impressive amount of professionalism and knowledge packed into a video. Great job and thanks 👍
Never experienced a fly away with my Air 2S. (Knock on wood) But, operating various sized boats on different bodies of water over the years, I’ve developed a great respect and fear of the wind. I simply don’t put my drone up or take my boat out passed the breakwater, if I think the wind might cause me problems. I do both activities to relax and have fun so on windy days I’ll simply stay home or grab my metal detector and go to the park to find some lost jewelry or pocket change. I’m a fair weather flyer. Having said that, great informative video full of good information.
Just bought the Mavic Mini and received it last Wednesday, only have about 20 minutes flying . Will sure watch the winds before flying and will practice to lower down and return . And will avoid low flying over water or elsewhere . Thanks for your great explanation you do a great job ! Just sub also 😉👍 H&S 👩❤️👨🌈 From Boisbriand Québec Canada 🇨🇦
I’m a drone newbie but I don’t fly a DJI Mavic (Mini). My chosen weapon of choice is a Holystone HS720e which I have owned since Xmas. All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart for steering me and my drone in the right direction. ❤️😎❤️
I wish I had seen this video before going to Aruba last October. I was flying low over the water, which was very still, and suddenly the drone started to descend. I was so stunned by this that I literally froze and watched as my drone went down into the water. Thanks for the excellent info.
Drone Valley I'm a New Mavic Mini owner & I haven't flown it yet & I have been watching as many Videos as I can To learn about the Mini & how the Best way To Fly it ! Thanks for such a Great Video !
I orded my Mavic Mini yesterday, i can't wait to get it. Drone Valley is a good youtube channel to watch before you get your drone so you know what to do, and not to.
Rick, I broke into droning with a Snaptain S5C and it was a good move before I bought my Mavic Mini. My first day outside with the Mini I had 3 accidents in the cemetery. Into a tree, into a granite wall and cut my thumb when I tried landing on my hand. That put me in my place and since then I've only had 2 accidents, one as recently as 2 days ago when I flew backward into a tree because I didn't have eyes on! My grandaughter saved the day by finding the quad on the ground under the tree (I did use Find My Drone). I know it must've fallen 20 feet onto the thick grass and is OK! I am subscribed to many channels but I get the most out of Drone Valley. Being an engineer myself I have the same perspective and pretty much everything you say is clear and enlightening. You speak quickly but very efficiently in your composition. It's like speed reading. Watching your altitude is a huge part of flying and makes complete sense. The first thing I do is take off straight up while yawing until I have a clear view in all directions. I note my altitude and add 20 ft. to RTH altitude. It is working for me so far. Your videos are excellent. Even my wife watches with me and she has surprisingly been very supportive of my new hobby. My only other hobby is guitar but I haven't been spending as much time with it lately. Anyway thanks for doing what you do. You're so right about how you become attached to this, like a pet that has feelings. Before I launch I think ok Mini, you better come back and in one piece or I'll really be upset. I haven't named it yet but yeah, that's coming. Thanks!
Yesterday I had the exact “wind episode “. Low battery 30 and up mph wind , dusk, couldn’t determine direction because drone was not responding “hazy conditions “. Needless to say DJI phantom 4 pro was telling me “wind warning” for quite a while. I was however “lucky “ that I was at the RC club field with no one else around. I had the “good sense” to set the phantom down and took a walk to recover. Lesson learned .... High wind screws everything up. Drone seemed to be leaving because of high winds. I also decided I need a “sun shade” because I couldn’t get a good look thru the camera because of glare on small tablet screen. You are correct “it really put me in a panic”. Several Lessons learned.... Nice video, Thanks. Dan
Great advice, Rick. I have found the UAV Forecast app (although not perfect) does give me some basis of wind & gust speed from 33 AGL to 400' AGL.. But as you point out nothing can replace practical experience, follow alerts/instructions on controller, and a contingency plan with good old common sense. Above all "DO NOT PANIC!"
Seeing this kind of video reminds me why I subscribed to your channel some time ago. They are always informative and help me, as the Boy Scouts say, 'be prepared'. I just bought my first drone (the Mavic Air 2) and this video will help keep my blood pressure down! Keep up the great work!
Rick I wish everyone would watch you. You teach me every time I watch. I brag I know a real drone genius. Hahaha I don't even know you. Had my mini 2 over 2 weeks and haven't got out of the yard yet. Went 20 feet up once and it moved about 3 feet and I didn't tell it to so down I came. Rick I'm 73 years old love the drone but can't afford to lose it. And it's my first one.
I lightly hit the side of my shed with the rear prop on mine. It still flew fine that day with a very tiny chip in the prop. I was surprised the next day when I took it up it said it had a motor error. It told me to land it and it would beep and the motor with the bad prop would vibrate. It did it and I seen the chip in the prop. I was amazed that it could tell the difference in the prop given how tiny the damage was. I changed the props on that motor and it was fine. No problems at all. This Mavic Mini is just amazing for how tiny it is.
You are spot on when it comes to keeping calm when it comes to a flyaway. Had my first one last night I got a little to high high and a good old Kansas wind gust sent it right into a tree. Major factors were pilot error had it to close to the tree trying to fly around it and race back down the street. My saving grace’s were that I had the guards on and as soon as it went into the tree I hit the Emergency stop button and got a good visual on its orientation and flew it out and landed it. Then spent the next 45 mins cleaning the green leaf spray off of the drone and having my wife and neighbor laugh at me because I got cocky.
Glad it helped! I love flying and knowing that others are enjoying these clips make putting them together worth it. Take your time and it does get easier with practice. Flyaways are super rare so worry less and have fun! Rick
Hey. This was me last year. I lost my tello drone to fly away (yes it was user error). I did replace it with Mavic Mini. I am so happy with the Mini so, I am good. I’ll be taking a course on flying a drone soon. Thanks for the content and hard work.
Thank you. Now I understand why my MINI suddenly dropped when I was flying over a blackberry bush in my 2nd attempt at flying a drone. I had to replace all of my propellers. Thanks for clearing up this mystery.
Exactly, I see people try to fly it all the way back with critical battery and crash. I'm thinking, that power tower, landmark, land it there, get in the car and go get the drone. Better than a disastrous crash. Great advice.
I am seriously considering investment in a Mavic Mini 2. I do have concerns about losing the drone, because I am in Europe, so will be flying around mountains (the Alps) and I can't afford to throw away my money. Yet, I'm after those shots of the mountain landscapes. Seeking the right balance of risk and knowledge to reduce them. Your videos are helping me substantially, by providing the technical understanding I will need while flying. Thank you very much for your explanations!
Just purchased the Mavic mini 2 and looking at videos for flying tips. Your knowledge and advice has been greatly appreciated, thanks for taking the time.🇬🇧👍
Thank you very much for the information. Very very good information. Will make sure to keep the drone above 25ft over still ware or snow and bring it down to lower elevation when there is wind warning..
Great video - I nearly lost my mini within the first 3 days due to high winds. I now understand why the drone was acting funny about 2m above pond. Keep those videos coming
"please practice" wise words. I had my M2 flying backwards, not forward at low speed. Instinctively I dropped the altitude and it slowly creeped back. Did not think of switching to sport mode as you suggested. Also like your idea of landing at a point you recognize if you run out of juice.
All good points thanks. I took my Mavic pro out today in very windy conditions, just to learn how much it can handle, and it was very good. It was a coastal area, so plenty of beach to ditch and recover, and very good practice. I prefer my P4 in marginal conditions, it is a beast with a 4 cell battery, and fights against a reasonable wind, and as per your dog ref, I am very comfortable with it. Good point about never actuate RTH if it is the wind. Been flying for 5 years and never had a fly away, and only minor altercations with trees which deliberately extend their branches to snag you.
A while back I had winds strong enough to knock down an old tree in my yard. I used my Mini to film it and went about 200ft with very strong winds and it handled it like a champ. I could barely notice the mini fighting the winds. I may have thrown it in sport mode to compensate for the strong winds, I don't exactly remember though but yes, I was impressed at just how solid it was managing what I imagine to be 25-30mph winds.
Closest encounter I had to a fly away with when I flew under power lines. I immediately lost all control. And couldn't locate my drone. So I tried to keep a clear head, and just let go of the controls to see if the Drone would just stay where it was. I was able to see where I was at and landed the Drone. And safely recovered it. Lesson learned about flying around power lines!
I am a new pilot, and I recently bought a prop guard, just so I can fly indoor. So, here's what happened, I was flying indoor so I could test the prop guard in a room with smooth white tiled flooring, and it was dark (low light condition), with no GPS (atti mode). Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew my drone and went out of control, Luckly that prop guard saved me and did an emergency landing. My guess is that the VIO had difficulty working in a low light environment and that fact that you mentioned about the importance of the terrain you're flying. Thank you for sharing this information.
Very good, I never knew about VIO. I was always afraid to fly over water, but now I know what's going on! Not long ago I was flying with a friend. It was his first time. I showed him the map option on the DJI Fly App, and the RTH option of his Mini 2. Thanks to this brief knowledge he was able to bring the drone home after he lost sight of it! Still, after 3 years of droning flying it always give a certain 'tension', but that makes you alert, I think!
I had a Mavic Mini fly away and got a motor error on the display. Scared the the heck out of me. Will wait until your next session to elaborate. I did land it safely. 🤗
I had this 'Motor Error' message on several flights after updating the firmware to Version 0500. I really though that it was a firmware issue, but later found the RH rear props were slightly deformed. I changed both sets of rear props (as a precaution) and haven't seen the 'Motor Error' message since. Be very careful when you stow the Mini in the DJI case supplied as part of the Combo. I am considering changing to a Pelican case to provide more space. Cheers
@@davidhbedenham4951 I think you are right on David. My left rear propellor must have been slightly damaged and I didn't realize it. I replaced it and it seems to be doing fine. I too thought it was the Firmware upgrade but that doesn't seem to be the case. I purchased a new case this morning.
Well explained. I lost a Spark on rth, because up at 40 meter the wind was way stronger, and, being a total beginner I panicked, I lost it. And yes, that was the sea and a hill involved
Thanks for the post and I appreciate the details. Some valleys near water can be the worst and most dynamic locations. Unfortunately they are also the most beautiful so it's always a challenge to fly in these areas.
Excellent instruction. As you know, UAV Forecast is an excellent app to gauge whether it is safe to fly. I set the wind mph at 18 mph at 200 feet, so if the wind reaches this speed, the app says "Not Good To Fly" and I never disregard this warning. If your subscribers do this, they will keep their drones longer.
Thank you ! I’ll keep it above 25 feet. Live next to lakes and wanted to take it low. Glad l found Drone Valley ! I’ll heed the warnings. Adirondack New flyer.
I’m new to drones. Mavic Mini is my first drone and only had 2 weeks at this point. After a week flying with no issues I was feeling pretty good. Then I had a flyaway over water trying to film a covered bridge. Scared me because it went down and I missed the river by about a foot. I do have video of it. What’s what weird about it is as soon as it was over the water about 15ft above the surface the drone just went down, It wasn’t even responding to the control stick even though I was pushing straight up. I’m just glad I was saved. Lesson learned. Thank You for this video! Also to resist hitting that return to home in high winds. That’s something I’ve been tempted to do when I see the warning.
Wow...very informative video. Another example of the truth of the old proverb ...To the man (pilot) who can't (won't) read... (or watch you tube videos)....the world is a closed book. You have no doubt saved this pilot from a crash or a flyaway. P.S. I was planning on a very low flyover our community pond.....will now stay above 25'. Thank you Rick
Enjoyed the video as I'm a new pilot learning the basics of flying my Parrot Anafi and how to avoid crashes, not to mention flyaways. I'm saving it to review periodically. Just became a subscriber.
I really appreciate your videos. Gives me more confidence that I can handle whatever comes my way. I got my Mavic Mini in February, but I have only flown it once. When I flew it from my backyard, all I kept thinking was there goes $400.00 if you screw up. I will keep watching your videos, so I can gain the confidence I need to just have fun. Thanks.
thanks for the video , im on my 3rd mini , crashed two since feb 2020. totalled one and one is still on the roof of my apartment, #3 is safe and sound. no crashes since.Ive set a personal range record at 5.23 miles over lake toledo bend in texas ...gimme a shout . looking forward to hearing from you. im working on my 107.
Great video Rick, especially the part about the bottom sensors "VIO "and the gps controlling the drone. Take the mini out at night in a dark area push takeoff and when it rises to the 6 foot hover spot , you better raiise-up fast so the gps takes over, or the mini will take off on you without proper lighting
I'm a brand new pilot to the hobby, I fly a Mavic Mini. I had my first flyaway a few weeks after I got my drone, purely pilot error. I saw all these clips about how great the mini was and I see everyone pushing their limits, so I decided to take it up to about three hundred feet and at the time I had no knowledge of the wind variations at different altitudes. I also made the mistake of flying out with the the wind instead of against it so I'd have the wind helping me get home. Well, my battery got too low and I was attempting to fight the wind to come home, and she got taken by the wind and blow about 400m away from where I started trying to head home. My battery ended up way too low trying to fight it's way back home and my drone did a forced emergency landing due to insufficient power. Luckily, I was able to locate my drone with the dji fly app find my drone feature. I didn't do any damage to the drone itself but I did break one of the propeller guards. It was the scariest situation I've been in as a new pilot.
You are a breath of fresh air and appreciate the lack of ego. You can’t have analytical thinking with an ego. Well done. Very helpful information which I hope I never have to use, but if I do, I’m going to pull this out of my memory bank. Thank you for your videos and sharing your experience!
I love the brevity and clarity of this man for this channel. I've been cool with drones for a bit, flown a few, it's nice. Finally bought my Mavic Mini. Had error 40002 gimbal issues out the box, but it's working now. Can't wait to see what I can do with this drone. Thanks for this channel and the way you present information, I love it.
Great info there. I had a Bugs 4 land in a tree when trying to take shots from above. I lowered down for a better shot.... BAM!!!!!! Think quad thought it was landing... After scrapes, bumps and bruising I managed to get her back.
Great information and could not agree with Free California more ! I had to learn the expensive way when my first Evo flew away and I panicked where if I had stayed calm I would have retrieved my drone. After the incident I analyzed what had happened or actually after tromping through the woods for hours looking for my $1000 dollar drone tracking the map but never found it. What freaked me out was the mechanics of the drone were completely reversed and I had no control what so ever but it did eventually go into a hover about 1/2 a mile from the launch but as I lowered the camera I saw it was directly over a fairly busy road and I could see traffic . That freaked me out so I managed to gain enough control to get it over the woods where it should have crashed as the battery life was drained battling heavy heavy winds with a freak storm that rolled in. Went back a few times and scoured the woods but never found it so I accepted it as a very very expensive lesson and ordered a new one which I have been flying since. What I could have done was to simply get into my truck and drive the 1 minute to where it was hovering and set the drone down in the line of sight safely. Certainly there are many things to be aware of prior to and during the flight of your drone and this is some great information that every drone operator should read . Thanks for the information
Pretty new to drone flying, and just watched a video in which there was a drone fly away. I went frantically searching for what caused them to do that. So glad I found you.
Hi Rick, another Brilliant video, I have learnt so much about drone flying from your videos,your a top guy, gained so much confidence from you, I have a mavic pro 2 and getting to grips with it.A college at work sold me his dji spark, so now can do more flying. Thanks
Linville Falls Basin in North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The seduction of capturing the beauty in the Gorge section with hopes of flying up close to the falls which is forbidden to swimmers caused me to almost have a certain fly away. I think 2 things were at play here. Lack of GPS and sensors. After take off from a large flat rock it moved over the rocky river water at about 10ft and then it just went nuts. Somehow I maneuvered it back to the rock fighting it the whole way. The panic anxiety was nothing I've ever experienced. I had the feeling of not wanting to fly it for a while but regained my confidence. This video explanation of the sensors and GPS and wind are essential to future flights for me now.
You know Rick, 57 YEARS ago, when I began flying Single Channel RC aircraft, which were basically high wing free flight aircraft with simple left/right radio control installed, the one thing that all the "old guys" who were mentoring me back then (none of those guys are around anymore .. nor any of the U.S. competition pilots I used to admire) would tell me: "Bill, NEVER NEVER NEVER let your plane/aircraft get down wind .. you'll lose it!" There were a few times when I got a couple years older (still a teen) when I thought I could handle the wind. I can recall one flight with such a simple aircraft (powered by an Enya .15 r/c methanol burning motor), when the ENTIRE FLIGHT was in about 10 feet of air space movement. I hand launched into the wind. It ascended vertically, never able to penetrate the wind. When it got up higher, it stated losing to the wind and started going backward. I used LEFT/RIGHT rudder to swing it back and forth, because back then, we had no Elevator control. Doing a hard turn caused the nose to drop & pick up speed. By sashaying the craft back & forth, keeping its nose down & into the wind, I was able to keep it in virtually the same place. When the fuel ran out, I started losing altitude as well, which allowed me to just descend (like an elevator), just using rudder. I landed it at my feet and said, "Well, this is no fun .. time to go home." Jump forward many decades, and when I first started flying toy grade drones (think Syma X5C-1, etc.), I quickly learned that a 75 GRAM drone had no chance, even against a mild wind .. so my mantra went back all those many years as I kept telling myself; "FLY UPWIND! Never let it get downwind!" That, along with actually learning orientation made me a pretty decent quad pilot (I did reach Competition level as an aircraft aerobatic & racing pilot). I have noticed my P3A get 'drifty' over water ... I don't fly my Evo 1 down a few feet above the water, if I can help it. One situation I wound up in with the DJI Spark, which I still feel was due to their lousy firmware programming, caused my only crash. I was flying a Spark in PRECISION MODE, which, as you know, limits the Spark to about 2 mph, even with full stick deflection. I was flying over a creek, getting good cinematic video, when, all of a sudden, my Spark dropped from about 10 satellites to 8 or less satellites. This cause my Spark to drop OUT of GPS mode (and into ATTI mode), which ALSO made it drop out of Precision mode. I'd had my right stick full fwd to inch up the creek at 2 mph. Suddenly, it leapt forward at full speed (about 22 mph for a Spark) and slammed itself into the side of a rocky cliff which was along side the creek, coming to rest upside down in 2-3 inches of water. I told DJI, in no uncertain language, that I would have been fine had it just went to ATTI mode. However, for it to shift from Precision mode to 'normal flight speed' instantly was the result of crappy programming in their FW. They didn't agree, called it "Pilot Error" and asked me for $350 to send me a refurbished Spark, since they didn't then (or now I presume) repair Sparks (mine needed a new gimbal assembly .. that was all). I basically told them to stick their Spark & Company where the 'sun don't shine', sold the Spark for what I could get, and vowed not to buy another DJI craft (which I haven't, and which prompted me to buy the Evo 1). There are a LOT of guys flying now, who did not have the training I had as a kid, and feel that as long as they can spend $1000-$1500 for a GPS quad, they will be able to handle it just fine .. and then make all kinds of negative posts when they have a flyaway or crash. I've told a lot of them, put your expensive new GPS quad away, go out & buy a $50 toy grade quad and actually learn how to fly, including orientation. Some do ... some don't. Hopefully, some will listen to your advice here. Cheers.
Bill thanks for the post and it looks like you've had a long and varied history with the hobby. I've been flying (and driving) RC gear since I was a kid as well and am blown away by how the tech has matured and changed. The wind is still the same danger it was way back when I first started flying and with the new "smarter" qauds they can actually trip you up more than the simpler ones we flew 30 years ago. I appreciate you relating your experiences and hope you'll stop back soon for more updates. Rick
Great advice. Love my mavic mini. I live in AZ. On very windy days, it usually won’t let me go very high. But it does ok in slight wind and gives excellent warnings when it is windy at higher levels. And I never will fly down wind without at least 75% battery due to the fear of not enough power to fly back into the wind.
The first flight on my Mini yesterday after only having flown a Pro before. I thought I'd try out RTH. On the way up to its 20m RTH height the wind got hold and away it went. Of course it went down wind and over the water spinning in circles. Eventually it recovered which was probably once it reduced height and wind speed reduced. At least now I know why it did this and can restore some confidence.
Had a lightweight drone get taken away by the wind while flying at 100’ but I did drop altitude and bring it back by sheer luck. Thanks for this information! Always entertaining and worth watching! Love your products as well!
I had a flyaway with my HS720. I think after watching this I may very well have created the perfect storm. I was flying below 25ft, over a grass field,and in tight on a tree getting shots of the tree, when I rounded the corner I didn't realize my drown was being sheltered from the wind by the tree. The wind grabbed the drone drifted about 30ft to the left really quickly, I over corrected and ended up slamming right into the tree.
I agree with Rick, I have had three flyaways with my Mavic Mini. All three I have been able to return home safely. One of my flyaways was especially interesting. I was flying in an area with high trees recording businesses on a property when all of a sudden the drone was not responding to anything I was doing on the controls. I was about 20 feet away from the drone and it was flying at about 12 feet high so nowhere near a dangerous distance. This was late at night showcasing the highlights of the resort while it was empty at 2 in the morning. The drone must have lost satellite connection and the ground has the same exact pattern throughout the property so I am assuming that both Satellites and VIO both were confused as drone just began to fly erratically. Once I experienced this I wanted to ensure this did not happen again. I took strong measures to ensure I fly in places that Satellite or VIO have no issues because I need something to help maneuver. Then I signed up to Airdata UAV which gives me tons of info on accurate weather and best times for Satellite coverage, Not to mention tons of in-flight data for me to review after each flight. If I encounter in-flight problems such as wind or anything else I have the data recorded to improve my response in the future. Even though the Mavic Mini is an easy drone to fly, you still need the experience to fly safely and effectively. Rick, we appreciate your insight into these topics that truly make people aware of the unseen problematic scenarios that can arise on a whim. For those who do not have the experience to return home safely or ground their drone, this is an awesome tutorial of what can actually happen if you are not careful and ignore practicing these real possible scenarios!
I enjoyed your informative video. i’ve been wanting to get a drone for sometime and have been doing a little due diligence about the DJI Mavic mini. Then I saw a review from PC mag that complained about connectivity issues and that causing me to become a little leery of the Mini. The good info you provided has me back open to considering the money. Thanks for the info
I just got the Mavic mini for my son, and he is loving it. I appreciate your info. On this video I don’t have a drone of my own and this is my sons first and just doing some research this video actually covered very important information I am going to share with my son. Thanks.
I agree and folks that have been flying for a while will usually be very honest. Some newer pilots might want to talk about mistakes but it's important we do since we all learn from each other.
Enjoy your presentations so much! So concise and well rehearsed. Now please consider phone issues: my smart phone has shut down and even dropped the app. So with a blank screen I was glad I had line of sight to return home. I had to land, shut down, and reboot app and the equipment. Then I was flying again but sinced learned I needed to change phones or better yet, fly with the DJI smart controller. Thanks always for your videos!
Thanks for an excellent tutorial! As a newbie to drones I greatly appreciate this sort of content. I look forward to the additional vids you plan on this topic. Also, please consider doing other vids that deal with other issues drone pilots might encounter. There's plenty of equipment reviews, but few that I've found on the nuances of flying drones. This vid impressed me enough that I liked, subscribed, and turned on notifications - thanks again!
I’m new at this hobby and today I received a Mavic Mini. I plan to get it up in the air tomorrow. In preparation, I’ve been watching your videos which I find very educational on this field. I’ve already subscribed and want to thank you for your knowledge and will to share it.
Awesome information. I'm new to the hobby and I'm trying to be sponge and get all the information I can from you experienced pilots so I can avoid destroying me investment. Thank you!!
Didn’t know about VIO effects under 20/25 feet and why flying over still water and snow confuses it. Also didn’t know about the island bay vs ocean thing. Lots to learn. Thanks for this video. Great stuff. FYI When I first went parachuting the training course was all about training your muscle memory to react correctly in an emergency. The instructor shouted out an emergency on the ground and you had to react correctly immediately. I remember somebody got it wrong on the first day when the instructor shouted ‘hang up!’. A student pulled his reserve. The instructor said “congratulations, you’ve just killed everyone on the plane”. Thinking about this I would imagine it would be a good idea if a friend shouted out a fly away emergency type every now and then during normal flights and you had to do the right thing immediately. A sort of training programme like the parachuting thing described above. I’m sure it would help train the correct responses for that time you really need them.
LOL Great video... you hit an issue at the end.. I had low cost drones and my wife bought me the Mavic Air 1... I wrecked my others.. so I was SOOOOOOO scared to fly the Mavic Air... its cost was far greater than my others... I finally broke out and forced myself to fly it... OOoohhhhh it was so much fun.... The tech that keeps it stable is far greater than my others.. instant confidence.. When I was done my only thought was... I need more more more batteries LOL
This video should be a requirement for both new and experienced drone pilots. It's highly educational, and the detailed explanations effectively convey the message. The teaching style is also commendable.
As someone starting out in drone flying that was so useful. It also explains why when I was practicing flying low over grass the mini kept going lower. I kept correcting it but was baffled why it was happening. Now I know. Thanks Rick.
Thank you for what you said about flying over water.
Again, seems like crappy design. If there is a known issue with VIO conflicting with GPS over water at low altitudes then the system should disable VIO. There should be an option for the pilot to select over water flight which takes this into account.
Could the pilot have handled it better with knowledge and previous experience? Yes, but the system is poorly designed which is the cause. Did they not test it over water?
@@The_Summit_Wanderer I'm still fighting the temptation to fly over the farm pond.
Justin Roysdon Guy, water is a given. Just like swimming in the ocean if you get far out from the beach it will take you out to the ocean. It’s the waves and wind the make the water more powerful.
Mini Gps Locater' & - Zip Tie a Painted 'Sealed' Nerf Football To The Top of Your Drone if Over Water ' No Sinky! -😶
One of the best and helpful videos I've watched. I try to be extra careful when it comes to wind and I have the Evo1. I still get nervous when flying and have to build up confidence. So far I've never had any problems, but have to learn to relax more and enjoy the hobby. I only know that any day you go home with your drone. IS A GOOD DAY. Thanks for the posting of this video.
Yup ,Chasbro Chas ,me too I try to be very careful now cause these things ain't cheap.
Chasbro Chas
Same here you have a way more expensive drone then I do but I know my drone can go further I’ve seen plenty UA-cam videos about that. I still fly my drone as long as I can still physically see it that’s as far as I go LOL I’ve only had it for about five days now but it’s funny I thought I was the only one now I know I’m not LOL as long as I can land my drone and go home you’re right it’s a gd day 😂👍🏼
@@TAZ0300 For the amount of times I fly. I sometimes wonder if I should of spent that much money for my drone. Still it is awesome. Going to check out your site as it's fun to watch other peoples videos. Stay well Taz.
I’ve was scared at first also. Just make sure you do a pre flight check and be sure everything’s working properly. Don’t take off on or near metal or high electric objects. I had “one” fly away back in 2015. After that I was so scared to fly I thought I was done with drones. I’m glad I didn’t..... I have hundreds of hours flying and iam confident each and every flight Uav forescast is the best advise I can give for starters it will give you great wind readings at different altitudes etc. Hope that helps.
This video should be required watching for all new pilots, and old timers as well. I personally have had one fly away (when I first got my drone and had no idea what I was doing) , but I have also since then had to step in and help with 3 different flyaways with friends. They panicked and in two cases I was able to grab their controllers and w/exception of pointing the camera down (since all were well within vlos) pretty much handled as you suggested and managed to regain control and fly home. Pretty scary stuff. All three of these flyaways were I believe EM/radio interference so hopefully you will broach that topic next. What I did notice with all 3 of them, was the EM/radio interference may have caused the flyaway, but just turning the craft and changing elevation down even 20ft. seemed to restore the connection. Where we fly is a hotspot for EM and radio frequencies with 3 airports nearby, plus Ames NASA Moffet field, plus a lot of RC aircraft in the air as well. This is a carve out zone for RC aircraft that sits in the middle of a lot of radio frequencies so, you do have to pay attention. Great vid! Cheers.
I think the bottom censers can be the blame too if there not working right and just drift off.
I'm surprised it doesn't just return to hone
I always keep the drone within visual line of sight and rarely below 25% battery capacity. That way, many problems are avoided. (25% on landing).
Thanks for the video, I am a new Mavic air 2 owner. (love it), and after flying it in some wind I feel I can trust it to a point. But I want spend plenty of time on the basics. When you were talking about pointing the camera straight down to check for obstacles (great idea). here is what I learned about the mavic air 2 to pass along. You can set up the grid lines to include an x in the middle, then face the camera down. use the x to position the drone over a landing area, then left stick down right on the spot the x marked. a fast way to get the gimbal looking straight down (double tap the left function key). gimbal back forward, double tap the left function button again.
Keep up the videos:')
This is the first video I've seen of yours. Have to say I saw an impressive amount of professionalism and knowledge packed into a video. Great job and thanks 👍
Never experienced a fly away with my Air 2S. (Knock on wood) But, operating various sized boats on different bodies of water over the years, I’ve developed a great respect and fear of the wind. I simply don’t put my drone up or take my boat out passed the breakwater, if I think the wind might cause me problems. I do both activities to relax and have fun so on windy days I’ll simply stay home or grab my metal detector and go to the park to find some lost jewelry or pocket change. I’m a fair weather flyer. Having said that, great informative video full of good information.
Just bought the Mavic Mini and received it last Wednesday, only have about 20 minutes flying .
Will sure watch the winds before flying and will practice to lower down and return . And will avoid low flying over water or elsewhere .
Thanks for your great explanation you do a great job ! Just sub also 😉👍
H&S 👩❤️👨🌈
From Boisbriand Québec Canada 🇨🇦
I’m a drone newbie but I don’t fly a DJI Mavic (Mini). My chosen weapon of choice is a Holystone HS720e which I have owned since Xmas. All I can say is thank you from the bottom of my heart for steering me and my drone in the right direction. ❤️😎❤️
Situation awareness is the key. Future drones will have it.
I wish I had seen this video before going to Aruba last October. I was flying low over the water, which was very still, and suddenly the drone started to descend. I was so stunned by this that I literally froze and watched as my drone went down into the water. Thanks for the excellent info.
Drone Valley I'm a New Mavic Mini owner & I haven't flown it yet & I have been watching as many Videos as I can To learn about the Mini & how the Best way To Fly it ! Thanks for such a Great Video !
I haven't got mine yet but thanks to Rick and others on UA-cam I'm learning so I won't have a flyaway 🙂
I orded my Mavic Mini yesterday, i can't wait to get it. Drone Valley is a good youtube channel to watch before you get your drone so you know what to do, and not to.
Rick, I broke into droning with a Snaptain S5C and it was a good move before I bought my Mavic Mini. My first day outside with the Mini I had 3 accidents in the cemetery. Into a tree, into a granite wall and cut my thumb when I tried landing on my hand. That put me in my place and since then I've only had 2 accidents, one as recently as 2 days ago when I flew backward into a tree because I didn't have eyes on! My grandaughter saved the day by finding the quad on the ground under the tree (I did use Find My Drone). I know it must've fallen 20 feet onto the thick grass and is OK!
I am subscribed to many channels but I get the most out of Drone Valley. Being an engineer myself I have the same perspective and pretty much everything you say is clear and enlightening. You speak quickly but very efficiently in your composition. It's like speed reading.
Watching your altitude is a huge part of flying and makes complete sense. The first thing I do is take off straight up while yawing until I have a clear view in all directions. I note my altitude and add 20 ft. to RTH altitude. It is working for me so far.
Your videos are excellent. Even my wife watches with me and she has surprisingly been very supportive of my new hobby. My only other hobby is guitar but I haven't been spending as much time with it lately.
Anyway thanks for doing what you do. You're so right about how you become attached to this, like a pet that has feelings. Before I launch I think ok Mini, you better come back and in one piece or I'll really be upset. I haven't named it yet but yeah, that's coming.
Thanks!
Yesterday I had the exact “wind episode “. Low battery 30 and up mph wind , dusk, couldn’t determine direction because drone was not responding “hazy conditions “. Needless to say DJI phantom 4 pro was telling me “wind warning” for quite a while. I was however “lucky “ that I was at the RC club field with no one else around. I had the “good sense” to set the phantom down and took a walk to recover. Lesson learned .... High wind screws everything up. Drone seemed to be leaving because of high winds. I also decided I need a “sun shade” because I couldn’t get a good look thru the camera because of glare on small tablet screen. You are correct “it really put me in a panic”. Several Lessons learned.... Nice video, Thanks. Dan
Great advice, Rick. I have found the UAV Forecast app (although not perfect) does give me some basis of wind & gust speed from 33 AGL to 400' AGL.. But as you point out nothing can replace practical experience, follow alerts/instructions on controller, and a contingency plan with good old common sense. Above all "DO NOT PANIC!"
Correct ,Doug Crum.
Seeing this kind of video reminds me why I subscribed to your channel some time ago. They are always informative and help me, as the Boy Scouts say, 'be prepared'. I just bought my first drone (the Mavic Air 2) and this video will help keep my blood pressure down! Keep up the great work!
Rick I wish everyone would watch you. You teach me every time I watch. I brag I know a real drone genius. Hahaha I don't even know you. Had my mini 2 over 2 weeks and haven't got out of the yard yet. Went 20 feet up once and it moved about 3 feet and I didn't tell it to so down I came. Rick I'm 73 years old love the drone but can't afford to lose it. And it's my first one.
I lightly hit the side of my shed with the rear prop on mine. It still flew fine that day with a very tiny chip in the prop. I was surprised the next day when I took it up it said it had a motor error. It told me to land it and it would beep and the motor with the bad prop would vibrate. It did it and I seen the chip in the prop. I was amazed that it could tell the difference in the prop given how tiny the damage was. I changed the props on that motor and it was fine. No problems at all. This Mavic Mini is just amazing for how tiny it is.
newbie here,,, just 3 flights on a hubsan 501s and now i have a mini mavic,, yet to fly it but this is a nice learning curve,,
You are spot on when it comes to keeping calm when it comes to a flyaway. Had my first one last night I got a little to high high and a good old Kansas wind gust sent it right into a tree. Major factors were pilot error had it to close to the tree trying to fly around it and race back down the street. My saving grace’s were that I had the guards on and as soon as it went into the tree I hit the Emergency stop button and got a good visual on its orientation and flew it out and landed it. Then spent the next 45 mins cleaning the green leaf spray off of the drone and having my wife and neighbor laugh at me because I got cocky.
I've just purchased a mini as my first drone and I'll admit to being apprehensive about flyaways. This video has helped me a lot ,thanks
Glad it helped! I love flying and knowing that others are enjoying these clips make putting them together worth it. Take your time and it does get easier with practice. Flyaways are super rare so worry less and have fun! Rick
Hey. This was me last year. I lost my tello drone to fly away (yes it was user error). I did replace it with Mavic Mini. I am so happy with the Mini so, I am good. I’ll be taking a course on flying a drone soon. Thanks for the content and hard work.
Thanks. I just got my Mavic Mini on Amazon Day and you just got a bunch of the mistakes I was about to make out of the way.
Just ordered my first drone, a dji mini2, I’m sure I will see all your vids before it arrives and I already thank you for your great advice.
As a new pilot this information was very helpful and builds confidence.
Great info. I'm a new pilot and have yet to even attempt to fly over water. This was most helpful. Thank you.
Excellent video. I am LOVIN’ my MM! Insane that we have access to this kind of tech in our time. Don’t take anything for granted!
Thanks....I did not know about the VIO.. .......I won't forget. !!
Thank you. Now I understand why my MINI suddenly dropped when I was flying over a blackberry bush in my 2nd attempt at flying a drone.
I had to replace all of my propellers.
Thanks for clearing up this mystery.
Exactly, I see people try to fly it all the way back with critical battery and crash. I'm thinking, that power tower, landmark, land it there, get in the car and go get the drone. Better than a disastrous crash. Great advice.
I love the wind explanation its a seductive conversation love that. Great Video thanks
I am seriously considering investment in a Mavic Mini 2. I do have concerns about losing the drone, because I am in Europe, so will be flying around mountains (the Alps) and I can't afford to throw away my money. Yet, I'm after those shots of the mountain landscapes. Seeking the right balance of risk and knowledge to reduce them. Your videos are helping me substantially, by providing the technical understanding I will need while flying. Thank you very much for your explanations!
Just purchased the Mavic mini 2 and looking at videos for flying tips. Your knowledge and advice has been greatly appreciated, thanks for taking the time.🇬🇧👍
As a new pilot ( Mavic 3) the info in this video is invaluable. Kudos to you sir. Subscribed
Thank you very much for the information. Very very good information. Will make sure to keep the drone above 25ft over still ware or snow and bring it down to lower elevation when there is wind warning..
Great video - I nearly lost my mini within the first 3 days due to high winds. I now understand why the drone was acting funny about 2m above pond. Keep those videos coming
"please practice" wise words. I had my M2 flying backwards, not forward at low speed. Instinctively I dropped the altitude and it slowly creeped back. Did not think of switching to sport mode as you suggested. Also like your idea of landing at a point you recognize if you run out of juice.
All good points thanks. I took my Mavic pro out today in very windy conditions, just to learn how much it can handle, and it was very good. It was a coastal area, so plenty of beach to ditch and recover, and very good practice.
I prefer my P4 in marginal conditions, it is a beast with a 4 cell battery, and fights against a reasonable wind, and as per your dog ref, I am very comfortable with it.
Good point about never actuate RTH if it is the wind.
Been flying for 5 years and never had a fly away, and only minor altercations with trees which deliberately extend their branches to snag you.
You are a very knowledgeable individual. Wish I would have found your channel 6 weeks ago when I got my mavic mini
A while back I had winds strong enough to knock down an old tree in my yard. I used my Mini to film it and went about 200ft with very strong winds and it handled it like a champ. I could barely notice the mini fighting the winds. I may have thrown it in sport mode to compensate for the strong winds, I don't exactly remember though but yes, I was impressed at just how solid it was managing what I imagine to be 25-30mph winds.
Closest encounter I had to a fly away with when I flew under power lines. I immediately lost all control. And couldn't locate my drone. So I tried to keep a clear head, and just let go of the controls to see if the Drone would just stay where it was. I was able to see where I was at and landed the Drone. And safely recovered it. Lesson learned about flying around power lines!
My Mavic Mini is on it's way, so as a going to be new pilot this was very helpful...thank you.
I am a new pilot, and I recently bought a prop guard, just so I can fly indoor.
So, here's what happened, I was flying indoor so I could test the prop guard in a room with smooth white tiled flooring, and it was dark (low light condition), with no GPS (atti mode). Suddenly a strong gust of wind blew my drone and went out of control, Luckly that prop guard saved me and did an emergency landing.
My guess is that the VIO had difficulty working in a low light environment and that fact that you mentioned about the importance of the terrain you're flying. Thank you for sharing this information.
Very good, I never knew about VIO. I was always afraid to fly over water, but now I know what's going on! Not long ago I was flying with a friend. It was his first time. I showed him the map option on the DJI Fly App, and the RTH option of his Mini 2. Thanks to this brief knowledge he was able to bring the drone home after he lost sight of it! Still, after 3 years of droning flying it always give a certain 'tension', but that makes you alert, I think!
I had a Mavic Mini fly away and got a motor error on the display. Scared the the heck out of me. Will wait until your next session to elaborate. I did land it safely. 🤗
I had this 'Motor Error' message on several flights after updating the firmware to Version 0500. I really though that it was a firmware issue, but later found the RH rear props were slightly deformed. I changed both sets of rear props (as a precaution) and haven't seen the 'Motor Error' message since. Be very careful when you stow the Mini in the DJI case supplied as part of the Combo. I am considering changing to a Pelican case to provide more space. Cheers
@@davidhbedenham4951 I think you are right on David. My left rear propellor must have been slightly damaged and I didn't realize it. I replaced it and it seems to be doing fine. I too thought it was the Firmware upgrade but that doesn't seem to be the case. I purchased a new case this morning.
Well explained. I lost a Spark on rth, because up at 40 meter the wind was way stronger, and, being a total beginner I panicked, I lost it. And yes, that was the sea and a hill involved
Thanks for the post and I appreciate the details. Some valleys near water can be the worst and most dynamic locations. Unfortunately they are also the most beautiful so it's always a challenge to fly in these areas.
Thanks this video was great to help as I begin to start flying my mavic mini.
Excellent instruction. As you know, UAV Forecast is an excellent app to gauge whether it is safe to fly. I set the wind mph at 18 mph at 200 feet, so if the wind reaches this speed, the app says "Not Good To Fly" and I never disregard this warning. If your subscribers do this, they will keep their drones longer.
Thank you ! I’ll keep it above 25 feet. Live next to lakes and wanted to take it low. Glad l found Drone Valley ! I’ll heed the warnings. Adirondack New flyer.
I’m new to drones. Mavic Mini is my first drone and only had 2 weeks at this point. After a week flying with no issues I was feeling pretty good. Then I had a flyaway over water trying to film a covered bridge. Scared me because it went down and I missed the river by about a foot. I do have video of it. What’s what weird about it is as soon as it was over the water about 15ft above the surface the drone just went down, It wasn’t even responding to the control stick even though I was pushing straight up. I’m just glad I was saved. Lesson learned. Thank You for this video! Also to resist hitting that return to home in high winds. That’s something I’ve been tempted to do when I see the warning.
Wow...very informative video. Another example of the truth of the old proverb ...To the man (pilot) who can't (won't) read... (or watch you tube videos)....the world is a closed book. You have no doubt saved this pilot from a crash or a flyaway. P.S. I was planning on a very low flyover our community pond.....will now stay above 25'. Thank you Rick
Enjoyed the video as I'm a new pilot learning the basics of flying my Parrot Anafi and how to avoid crashes, not to mention flyaways. I'm saving it to review periodically. Just became a subscriber.
I really appreciate your videos. Gives me more confidence that I can handle whatever comes my way. I got my Mavic Mini in February, but I have only flown it once. When I flew it from my backyard, all I kept thinking was there goes $400.00 if you screw up. I will keep watching your videos, so I can gain the confidence I need to just have fun. Thanks.
thanks for the video , im on my 3rd mini , crashed two since feb 2020. totalled one and one is still on the roof of my apartment, #3 is safe and sound. no crashes since.Ive set a personal range record at 5.23 miles over lake toledo bend in texas ...gimme a shout . looking forward to hearing from you. im working on my 107.
Great video Rick, especially the part about the bottom sensors "VIO "and the gps controlling the drone. Take the mini out at night in a dark area push takeoff and when it rises to the 6 foot hover spot , you better raiise-up fast so the gps takes over, or the mini will take off on you without proper lighting
I'm a brand new pilot to the hobby, I fly a Mavic Mini. I had my first flyaway a few weeks after I got my drone, purely pilot error. I saw all these clips about how great the mini was and I see everyone pushing their limits, so I decided to take it up to about three hundred feet and at the time I had no knowledge of the wind variations at different altitudes. I also made the mistake of flying out with the the wind instead of against it so I'd have the wind helping me get home. Well, my battery got too low and I was attempting to fight the wind to come home, and she got taken by the wind and blow about 400m away from where I started trying to head home. My battery ended up way too low trying to fight it's way back home and my drone did a forced emergency landing due to insufficient power. Luckily, I was able to locate my drone with the dji fly app find my drone feature. I didn't do any damage to the drone itself but I did break one of the propeller guards. It was the scariest situation I've been in as a new pilot.
You are a breath of fresh air and appreciate the lack of ego. You can’t have analytical thinking with an ego. Well done. Very helpful information which I hope I never have to use, but if I do, I’m going to pull this out of my memory bank. Thank you for your videos and sharing your experience!
Oh I love nerdy explanations. I learned something new in this video. Thanks.
I am new and just ordered the fimi x8 se 2020 have not got it yet but it is my very first drone so thank you for the very useful information
Your extensive knowledge really helpful for the beginners like me. TYSM for all your time and efforts. 😊
Well done. If we pay attention to what you have much less chance of a fly away. Thanks
Mandatory video for all drone pilots. Tnx a lot .
Excellent..... simple as that, thanks
I love the brevity and clarity of this man for this channel.
I've been cool with drones for a bit, flown a few, it's nice.
Finally bought my Mavic Mini. Had error 40002 gimbal issues out the box, but it's working now.
Can't wait to see what I can do with this drone. Thanks for this channel and the way you present information, I love it.
Great info there. I had a Bugs 4 land in a tree when trying to take shots from above. I lowered down for a better shot.... BAM!!!!!! Think quad thought it was landing... After scrapes, bumps and bruising I managed to get her back.
Great information and could not agree with Free California more ! I had to learn the expensive way when my first Evo flew away and I panicked where if I had stayed calm I would have retrieved my drone. After the incident I analyzed what had happened or actually after tromping through the woods for hours looking for my $1000 dollar drone tracking the map but never found it. What freaked me out was the mechanics of the drone were completely reversed and I had no control what so ever but it did eventually go into a hover about 1/2 a mile from the launch but as I lowered the camera I saw it was directly over a fairly busy road and I could see traffic . That freaked me out so I managed to gain enough control to get it over the woods where it should have crashed as the battery life was drained battling heavy heavy winds with a freak storm that rolled in.
Went back a few times and scoured the woods but never found it so I accepted it as a very very expensive lesson and ordered a new one which I have been flying since. What I could have done was to simply get into my truck and drive the 1 minute to where it was hovering and set the drone down in the line of sight safely. Certainly there are many things to be aware of prior to and during the flight of your drone and this is some great information that every drone operator should read .
Thanks for the information
Pretty new to drone flying, and just watched a video in which there was a drone fly away. I went frantically searching for what caused them to do that. So glad I found you.
Hi Rick, another Brilliant video, I have learnt so much about drone flying from your videos,your a top guy, gained so much confidence from you, I have a mavic pro 2 and getting to grips with it.A college at work sold me his dji spark, so now can do more flying.
Thanks
I always learn something when watching your videos. Today’s word is “VIO”. AND NOW I KNOW!
Linville Falls Basin in North Carolina is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The seduction of capturing the beauty in the Gorge section with hopes of flying up close to the falls which is forbidden to swimmers caused me to almost have a certain fly away. I think 2 things were at play here. Lack of GPS and sensors. After take off from a large flat rock it moved over the rocky river water at about 10ft and then it just went nuts. Somehow I maneuvered it back to the rock fighting it the whole way. The panic anxiety was nothing I've ever experienced. I had the feeling of not wanting to fly it for a while but regained my confidence. This video explanation of the sensors and GPS and wind are essential to future flights for me now.
You know Rick, 57 YEARS ago, when I began flying Single Channel RC aircraft, which were basically high wing free flight aircraft with simple left/right radio control installed, the one thing that all the "old guys" who were mentoring me back then (none of those guys are around anymore .. nor any of the U.S. competition pilots I used to admire) would tell me: "Bill, NEVER NEVER NEVER let your plane/aircraft get down wind .. you'll lose it!" There were a few times when I got a couple years older (still a teen) when I thought I could handle the wind. I can recall one flight with such a simple aircraft (powered by an Enya .15 r/c methanol burning motor), when the ENTIRE FLIGHT was in about 10 feet of air space movement. I hand launched into the wind. It ascended vertically, never able to penetrate the wind. When it got up higher, it stated losing to the wind and started going backward. I used LEFT/RIGHT rudder to swing it back and forth, because back then, we had no Elevator control. Doing a hard turn caused the nose to drop & pick up speed. By sashaying the craft back & forth, keeping its nose down & into the wind, I was able to keep it in virtually the same place. When the fuel ran out, I started losing altitude as well, which allowed me to just descend (like an elevator), just using rudder. I landed it at my feet and said, "Well, this is no fun .. time to go home." Jump forward many decades, and when I first started flying toy grade drones (think Syma X5C-1, etc.), I quickly learned that a 75 GRAM drone had no chance, even against a mild wind .. so my mantra went back all those many years as I kept telling myself; "FLY UPWIND! Never let it get downwind!" That, along with actually learning orientation made me a pretty decent quad pilot (I did reach Competition level as an aircraft aerobatic & racing pilot). I have noticed my P3A get 'drifty' over water ... I don't fly my Evo 1 down a few feet above the water, if I can help it. One situation I wound up in with the DJI Spark, which I still feel was due to their lousy firmware programming, caused my only crash. I was flying a Spark in PRECISION MODE, which, as you know, limits the Spark to about 2 mph, even with full stick deflection. I was flying over a creek, getting good cinematic video, when, all of a sudden, my Spark dropped from about 10 satellites to 8 or less satellites. This cause my Spark to drop OUT of GPS mode (and into ATTI mode), which ALSO made it drop out of Precision mode. I'd had my right stick full fwd to inch up the creek at 2 mph. Suddenly, it leapt forward at full speed (about 22 mph for a Spark) and slammed itself into the side of a rocky cliff which was along side the creek, coming to rest upside down in 2-3 inches of water. I told DJI, in no uncertain language, that I would have been fine had it just went to ATTI mode. However, for it to shift from Precision mode to 'normal flight speed' instantly was the result of crappy programming in their FW. They didn't agree, called it "Pilot Error" and asked me for $350 to send me a refurbished Spark, since they didn't then (or now I presume) repair Sparks (mine needed a new gimbal assembly .. that was all). I basically told them to stick their Spark & Company where the 'sun don't shine', sold the Spark for what I could get, and vowed not to buy another DJI craft (which I haven't, and which prompted me to buy the Evo 1). There are a LOT of guys flying now, who did not have the training I had as a kid, and feel that as long as they can spend $1000-$1500 for a GPS quad, they will be able to handle it just fine .. and then make all kinds of negative posts when they have a flyaway or crash. I've told a lot of them, put your expensive new GPS quad away, go out & buy a $50 toy grade quad and actually learn how to fly, including orientation. Some do ... some don't. Hopefully, some will listen to your advice here. Cheers.
Bill thanks for the post and it looks like you've had a long and varied history with the hobby. I've been flying (and driving) RC gear since I was a kid as well and am blown away by how the tech has matured and changed. The wind is still the same danger it was way back when I first started flying and with the new "smarter" qauds they can actually trip you up more than the simpler ones we flew 30 years ago. I appreciate you relating your experiences and hope you'll stop back soon for more updates. Rick
EXCELLENT explanations. Learn more in one of your videos than in entire playlists of other channels
Tks for sharing Rick, it will aware us on environment for our next fly
Thanks So MUCH, Rick! I fly over lake erie a lot and never knew VIO could betray me trying to get those low boat shots!
Therapist: Rick, what is the problem?
Rick: Relation ship with my Mini is not what it used to be..... 🤣
Great great video! Thank you for the positive support.
Great advice. Love my mavic mini. I live in AZ. On very windy days, it usually won’t let me go very high. But it does ok in slight wind and gives excellent warnings when it is windy at higher levels. And I never will fly down wind without at least 75% battery due to the fear of not enough power to fly back into the wind.
Drone Valley.........Class Act
Thanks for the tips Rick! I have a Mavic Mini & this really helps in trying to being prepared.
The first flight on my Mini yesterday after only having flown a Pro before. I thought I'd try out RTH. On the way up to its 20m RTH height the wind got hold and away it went. Of course it went down wind and over the water spinning in circles. Eventually it recovered which was probably once it reduced height and wind speed reduced. At least now I know why it did this and can restore some confidence.
Had a lightweight drone get taken away by the wind while flying at 100’ but I did drop altitude and bring it back by sheer luck. Thanks for this information! Always entertaining and worth watching! Love your products as well!
I had a flyaway with my HS720. I think after watching this I may very well have created the perfect storm. I was flying below 25ft, over a grass field,and in tight on a tree getting shots of the tree, when I rounded the corner I didn't realize my drown was being sheltered from the wind by the tree. The wind grabbed the drone drifted about 30ft to the left really quickly, I over corrected and ended up slamming right into the tree.
I agree with Rick, I have had three flyaways with my Mavic Mini. All three I have been able to return home safely. One of my flyaways was especially interesting. I was flying in an area with high trees recording businesses on a property when all of a sudden the drone was not responding to anything I was doing on the controls. I was about 20 feet away from the drone and it was flying at about 12 feet high so nowhere near a dangerous distance. This was late at night showcasing the highlights of the resort while it was empty at 2 in the morning. The drone must have lost satellite connection and the ground has the same exact pattern throughout the property so I am assuming that both Satellites and VIO both were confused as drone just began to fly erratically. Once I experienced this I wanted to ensure this did not happen again. I took strong measures to ensure I fly in places that Satellite or VIO have no issues because I need something to help maneuver. Then I signed up to Airdata UAV which gives me tons of info on accurate weather and best times for Satellite coverage, Not to mention tons of in-flight data for me to review after each flight. If I encounter in-flight problems such as wind or anything else I have the data recorded to improve my response in the future. Even though the Mavic Mini is an easy drone to fly, you still need the experience to fly safely and effectively.
Rick, we appreciate your insight into these topics that truly make people aware of the unseen problematic scenarios that can arise on a whim. For those who do not have the experience to return home safely or ground their drone, this is an awesome tutorial of what can actually happen if you are not careful and ignore practicing these real possible scenarios!
I enjoyed your informative video. i’ve been wanting to get a drone for sometime and have been doing a little due diligence about the DJI Mavic mini. Then I saw a review from PC mag that complained about connectivity issues and that causing me to become a little leery of the Mini. The good info you provided has me back open to considering the money. Thanks for the info
I just got the Mavic mini for my son, and he is loving it. I appreciate your info. On this video I don’t have a drone of my own and this is my sons first and just doing some research this video actually covered very important information I am going to share with my son. Thanks.
You spot on regarding Pilot Error. We must accept responsibility. It’s a matter of Character.
I agree and folks that have been flying for a while will usually be very honest. Some newer pilots might want to talk about mistakes but it's important we do since we all learn from each other.
Enjoy your presentations so much! So concise and well rehearsed. Now please consider phone issues: my smart phone has shut down and even dropped the app. So with a blank screen I was glad I had line of sight to return home. I had to land, shut down, and reboot app and the equipment. Then I was flying again but sinced learned I needed to change phones or better yet, fly with the DJI smart controller. Thanks always for your videos!
Terrific infos, never heard it so clearly explained. I'm a better pilot just listening to your
advice and explanation. Thanks so much
thanks for the info about flying over the water
Lost my connection with my mini yesterday, scared, but it did a perfect RTH. But it is scary. Now I check my RTH altitude before every flight.
Wow glad to hear you didn't lose it btw how far were you when you lost connection?
Thanks for an excellent tutorial! As a newbie to drones I greatly appreciate this sort of content. I look forward to the additional vids you plan on this topic. Also, please consider doing other vids that deal with other issues drone pilots might encounter. There's plenty of equipment reviews, but few that I've found on the nuances of flying drones. This vid impressed me enough that I liked, subscribed, and turned on notifications - thanks again!
I’m new at this hobby and today I received a Mavic Mini. I plan to get it up in the air tomorrow.
In preparation, I’ve been watching your videos which I find very educational on this field. I’ve already subscribed and want to thank you for your knowledge and will to share it.
Very informative. Flawless delivery. Thanks
Watching another good piece of content from your channel. Very relevant information again! Like.
Awesome information. I'm new to the hobby and I'm trying to be sponge and get all the information I can from you experienced pilots so I can avoid destroying me investment. Thank you!!
Same here 😁
Didn’t know about VIO effects under 20/25 feet and why flying over still water and snow confuses it. Also didn’t know about the island bay vs ocean thing. Lots to learn. Thanks for this video. Great stuff. FYI When I first went parachuting the training course was all about training your muscle memory to react correctly in an emergency. The instructor shouted out an emergency on the ground and you had to react correctly immediately. I remember somebody got it wrong on the first day when the instructor shouted ‘hang up!’. A student pulled his reserve. The instructor said “congratulations, you’ve just killed everyone on the plane”. Thinking about this I would imagine it would be a good idea if a friend shouted out a fly away emergency type every now and then during normal flights and you had to do the right thing immediately. A sort of training programme like the parachuting thing described above. I’m sure it would help train the correct responses for that time you really need them.
Good advice, the wind is some thing you have to respect
LOL Great video... you hit an issue at the end.. I had low cost drones and my wife bought me the Mavic Air 1... I wrecked my others.. so I was SOOOOOOO scared to fly the Mavic Air... its cost was far greater than my others... I finally broke out and forced myself to fly it... OOoohhhhh it was so much fun.... The tech that keeps it stable is far greater than my others.. instant confidence.. When I was done my only thought was... I need more more more batteries LOL