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Drone Busters: Best Drone Strobe Lights?
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- Опубліковано 18 сер 2024
- In this second episode in our Drone Busters Series, we test strobe lights and their visibility from 3 statute miles, as required by the regulation.
Blog post with tables: pilotinstitute...
00:00 Introduction
00:32 7 Strobe overview
02:24 Testing area description
03:06 New night regulation recap
04:21 Lume Cube Strobe
05:23 Firehouse Arc-2
06:21 TopSun Cree
07:02 TopSun Dome
07:42 Ulanzi DR-01
09:01 Ulanzi DR-02
09:49 FireHouse Arc V
10:49 Test Method
12:40 Field Testing Begins
13:25 Lumecube DLOS test
15:09 FireHouse Arc 2 DLOS test
16:33 TopSun Cree DLOS test
17:20 TopSun Dome DLOS test
18:12 Ulanzi DR-01 DLOS test
20:00 Ulanzi DR-02 DLOS test
20:30 Arc V DLOS Test
21:09 Top ILOS Tests Begin
21:40 Lume Cube Top
22:15 Firehouse Arc 2 Top
23:57 TopSun Cre Top
25:10 Topsun Dome Top
25:56 Ulanzi DR-01 Top
26:43 Ulanzi DR02 Top
27:16 Arc V Top
27:28 The Clear Winner
29:08 Summary & Final Thoughts
We purchased all the strobe lights we could find on Amazon (and a few we had in stock already) and ended up with 7 models. Come find out which is the best drone strobe light on the market.
1. LumeCube Strobe: amzn.to/3uGcFf6
2. FireHouse Arc II: tinyurl.com/78...
3. TopSun Cree: amzn.to/3q2oEA9
4. TopSun “Dome”: amzn.to/2OaJWhy
5. Ulanzi DR-01: amzn.to/2OebuD2
6. Ulanzi DR-02: amzn.to/3dUokAV
7. FireHouse Arc V: amzn.to/3r4CIdL
Find more about each light, which one we preferred, which one performed better when mounted in the front and on top. More importantly, we tested the anti collision lights to see if they all meet the FAA requirements to be visible from 3 miles.
Finally, we looked at which anti collision lights are weigh the least, their size, and their battery life. Watch the full video to find out which lights are the brightest. You can now fly your drone at night as a commercial Part 107 drone pilot as long as you do the free training on the FAA website. Recreational pilots can generally fly at night too with a anti-collision light.
- Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: amzn.to/30CLtBw
- Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. bit.ly/2AkRWq0
- Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. bit.ly/3dVT55T
- Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. bit.ly/2XUy3Pc
- Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. bit.ly/3hkWkG3
- Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. bit.ly/37oOfeG
#dronestrobes #FireHouseStrobes #dronebusters #anticollision
Every test: "Yup, yup. I can see it."
Me: "I can't see shhhh." 😂
Really glad you did this test. I really had a hard time seeing the lights on camera as the length of time and focus you allowed the viewers to try to find it was so brief. But with that said I can only say firehouse leds were really good. Very much appreciated the test.
I received my Firehouse V in the mail last week. Have flown it twice at night. The lights on my Mavic Air 2 plus the Firehouse white light really light up nicely. I just watched the video and was happy to see the strobe I bought did the best AND it's MADE IN THE USA !!!!! I ordered a 2nd one for my motorcycle.
They also have motorcycle stuff too speaker attachments and other goodies
Bought the Firehouse Arc "V" based on your recommendation.
My retinas will never be the same!
Also should be noted the Arc "V" now comes in a tri-color model...which actually has four color modes, three flash patterns for each color as well as steady.
The only way this could be any better is if it had a light sensor and turned on automatically.
Thanks for doing that test! I bought my Firehouse Arc V after doing some research and looking at options before I got my 107.29 waiver. I have been impressed with it and being made in USA it is a great value. I have been planning on getting a second one for the bottom of my M100 for night flights and during the day to help it to be seen. Once again excellent job on the test.
Thanks for this, Greg! I have been waiting patiently for this video to drop before making a purchase.
Thanks, Greg! I gave two Arc V lights, one for the front arm of my Mavic 2 Pro and one for the rear. I use them during the day and they’re excellent! I can see my drone in the sky so much better and so much further away with these lights.
By far, this is the most informative UA-cam channel on drones ever. Most drone channels don’t have a clue. Thank you!
Thank you, Sam, this means a lot!
I have the dome (center one) and Im happy with it, its 5 LED in a solid case and the clip works on battery straps as well as undermount gimbal plates on large drones
The Arc 5 is the one I purchased for my Mavic3 and never lost visual line of site while flying at night. It’s very bright!
I have 2 of the Arc Vs, one red/blue, and one white, that I run on my MA2. The 3 different colors give me great positional awareness of the aircraft. They also work great during the day to increase the distance of your VLOS. Outstanding equipment.
Thanks for creating this video. I just purchased my own firehouse arc v anti-collision strobe light. Appreciate your recommendation
Outstanding as usual. I definitely hooked up with the right company to get my Part 107 cert and so much more! Well done Greg and Crew!
Thank you all for the test! Been running the FHT Arc 2 the last couple of years. Had one of the arm mount break so am upgrading to the FHT Arc V now. Keep putting out the great videos!
Awesome! Made in the USA...It's Firehouse ARC V for me. Thanks for doing this video!
Thanks for this very informative review, I went with the Arc V and heading out tomorrow for a test flight.
Thanks for the comment on not placing the strobe on top of the GPS receiver. I had not even considered the location of it!
You got it!
Is the GPS receiver always located at the center of the unit? As light as these strobes are, it would seem that to remain balanced, the light should be still be centered on the drone. How significant will the GPS signal be affected if the drone light is located over the GPS receiver. (I have a DJI Mavic Mini)
Jim Williams I also fly a MINI. The battery is the main issue, multiple layers of metal. Put the strobe on the very front, above the gimbal or back over the batter to avoid the issue. If the strobe weight gets too great you will notice increased noise as the drone increases power to stay level. I use a 5 LED circuit board on top and the ARC V on the bottom to meet FAA anticolission light requirements and allow me to maintain VLOS at greater distances night and day.
@@dennisbrooks240 thanks for the feedback
Thank you so much for spending the time to do this demonstration. This makes me share your site to my drone family.
Thanks for the test! Already had the Firehouse Arc 2 and Arc V so I glad to see they both did well.
OMG, that was such a cool experiment on testing the various strobe 4 drone. So nice 2 have a team getting back w/ the results. Thx 4 sharing Utube.
I actually own 2 Firehouse Arc V's and they are all I have ever used for strobes. And the biggest bonus is that they are manufactured in the USA. I HIGHLY recommend the ARC V...
Honestly, I couldn't see a single one. I didn't even know where to look, but I'll watch the video another ten or fifteen times to try and figure it out. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Greg! As one of your latest graduates I’m ordering the Arc V now.
This was great. I bought the Arc V for my DJI Mini 2 and love it.
Great test. I was pleased to see the ARC V placed first. Also, the Firehouse ARC V comes with documentation regarding visibility testing.
Thank you for this. I ordered the Firehouse Arc V today for my Mini 2 to help me with daytime flight.
I wish I had seen this about 2 weeks ago! Oh well, I bought the Lumicube strobe and it tested pretty well without the red or green covers so, it is legal and works well. If I need a replacement I know which one I should get next.
That's the one I got too, been using the green filter cap but I think going forward I will remove it. Had mine for several months.
Lumecube is "legal" ??
Well, it's unanimous, just ordered the Firehouse Arc V 4 my Skydio 2. Thx 4 testing all the strobes 4 us newbies, like me. Thx 4 sharing on Utube.
Great practical info for the user. Thanks, Greg!
Thank you for performing such a great test and posting the testing and results for the rest of us to benefit from. Keep up the great videos & once again, thank you !.
Just bought the firehouse arc V based on your recommendation. Thanks for the review
Thank you, Greg! Wonderful video! I wondered if the lights were truly visible from 3 statute miles. And, if there was cheaper option than "Lume Cube." Firehouse Arc V is awesome!
Thanks for the test, Greg. I appreciate it. On the downside, though, I think you caused the Arc V to sell out. LOL
I got the Lucorb T-T3 on Amazon for $30. It's been nice and I like how it has positional lights that are sectioned off. Makes it easier for manned aircraft to see which direction you're heading.
Great review. Very helpful. I was about to purchase the Lume Cube and your review changed my mind. Great pointers on where to place the strobe as well.
Great video Greg. Thanks for the test. I fly with three Lume Cubes. Green to Starboard, red to port and white on top. Red lights have the shortest wave length and therefore the shortest range. Underwater, red is the first color to fade the deeper you go. And yes, that is THUMB (some) Butte! LOL
"Red lights have the shortest wave length" Blue light has shortest wavelength at 400 nanometers, red the longest wavelength at 600 nanometers. scied.ucar.edu/image/wavelength-blue-and-red-light-image
"Blue light has a higher frequency and carries more energy than red light."
Assuming, of course, that you put the same energy into blue or red light in the first place.
Your eyes have peak sensitivity at yellow.
"It has been established that the maximum spectral sensitivity of the human eye under daylight conditions is at a wavelength of 555 nm, while at night the peak shifts to 507 nm."
Or in other words yellowish-green.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_sensitivity
@@thomasmaughan4798 I got it backwards. But red light is the first to “fade” at a distance.
Thanks for the test! I have been flying 2 LumeCubes which have been good but will definitely get a few Arc V’s to add to the kit.
Awesome information video Greg! I really appreciate you and your crew taking time to do this! Thank you!
Enjoyed the review, especially since the Firehouse Arc V is the one I purchased. They actually sell a “navigation pack” with one red, one green, and two white. They also sell a combination strobe that will cycle between red, green, and white or set it to only one color. There is another company that sell mounts for these strobes that allow mounting on the landing legs in front and arms on the back (I use it on a Mavic Air 2). I have not used them at night yet, and I have not tried mounting all four. I have used on one back arm during the day, and it did help increase visibility of the drone significantly. I also recommend this brand.
Thanks Greg for testing and sharing this video, much appreciated!
Bought Arc V, White for top, Red Arc V for bottom (actually got a green one too, that way I can see it from below and the bright one is on the top). They work GREAT! I bought a Lume Cube domed also, and true to Greg's reviews, not nearly as bright. I thought it would work on the bottom of my Mavic Air 2 as my "from below" visibility. Problem was, the way to turn on / off the light is by pushing the dome. So you had to have it "off" for it to be "on" when you took off from the ground. The weight of the drone presses the dome enough to turn it on and off. Hence I went back and got the Arc V as they were thinner too. Thanks Greg for the great review.
I got a Lume Cube the other day and put it on my Potensic Dreamer 4K and took it out to the beach the other night. The weather was clear and wind was out of the east about about 10 mph (per my Kestrel). I placed it on both the top and bottom of the drone. I lost sight of the strobe almost immediately when mounted on the top, which I anticipated. When I placed it on the bottom I took it out to about 4500 feet, at which point the drone turned around and RTH because the signal got weak. I saw both the strobe and red and green collision lights all the way out to 4500 feet. I have another one coming so I can place one on both the top of the drone so both I and any pilot flying above it can see it.
I bought the Firehouse ARC V for my DJI Mini 4 Pro. It's Super Bright! Testing how long it lasts on Strobe now.
I fly my drone with a Firehouse ARCV using red and white lights and I always use the flash+triple flash mode. Love it
Thanks for the comparison info Greg. Its definitely helpful. I was unaware of the GPS receiver location on the 2Pro. Good to know. Thanks too, for your reason for mounting the strobe on the battery, and dedicating one battery for that use.
Cheers
I also bought multiple brands. I charged when they arrived, put in my office turned on and checked to make sure they were still working at the end of the stated time. All made the limit advertised. I also used my environmental meter to check lumens and as you found, the ARC V is the clear winner by 3 orders of magnitude. I will try with a piece of material or a scuffed lens for reflective or diffused visibility, but why no bottom mounts? No place that works and does not obscure. The drone will "bounce" on landing every time the strobe fires at night and the sensors see the landing surface, so be aware and adapt!
We tried to measure the light from each strobe with a light meter but the flash was too fast for the meter to register. I'm impressed you were able to get measurement.
Pilot Institute Expensive meter from back in the days when I worked and wrote evaluations for multiple countries and international magazines.
The meter gives Max, Min, Median, Modal and Standard Deviation. Over a short period of time it records the maximum strobe lumens and the lower flash lumens (as the Modal).
Thanks, Greg and team. You always put out great, useable material.
Did my own test in arizona desert , 1. Lumecube, 2. Firehouse Arc V and Ulanzi, craft used Inspire 11
Just picked up the Firehouse V, great video thank you
Thanks, Greg. I've been looking at lights, and have been looking for a trustworthy source for recommendations.
Great test, Greg. Thanks for sharing!
ua-cam.com/video/m8ngVPq7OBg/v-deo.html - mini with lights
Finally a real world test for all these brands, THANKS! Going for the firehouse V's when they come back in stock.
Check on their website directly too, I think they are available there.
@@PilotInstitute SUBSCRIBED, Thanks!
Great video! Thank you for the effort. Now, time to go shopping. Thanks again .
Thanks for conducting this test. Very helpful in making my decision. I recently signed up and can’t wait to get started on the course.
Great video and great information for all of us! Thank you for doing this. Very thorough!!
Good and informative video for drone strobe lights. The comparison between different type models is very helpful.
I also bought a two pack of the ARC V. One had a connection issue...the button to turn on was too recessed. They replaced the unit. Great product and service!!!!!
I have a DJI Phantom 3 Advanced, and the only place to mount the strobe is on the top center of the drone. I though this might affect the GPS reception so I did a test. I mounted the Ulanzi DR-02 strobe with velcro, directly above the GPS antenna of my Phantom and a check of the GPS did not show any significant degradation of the signal. I flew my Phantom for about 30 minutes with the strobe on it, and had no problems.
Excellent review! Just what I needed to help me choose the right model. Well done and thanks!
Thanks so much for doing these tests! So helpful!
Fly toward your observer. As the drone dips in forward flight the strobe "shows" more surface. Have you tried scuffing the clear covers so it looks like a "soft white" light bulb? You will be able to see the refraction off the dome. We, my club, used to paint the reflectors on our brake lights with flat white paint rather than gloss chrome. You could see, or recognize, the "jack-o-lantern" type light much further away than with a regular reflector tail light. The light is diffused but try the test for what the eye will see!
Just my preference. It I don’t like Velcro attached lights or mounted on the top. I searched and found those Firehouse ARC II strobes and purchased them with arm mounts. One Red on left front arm facing forward and one White right rear arm facing backwards. Works incredibly well. They give me not only the position as required but it’s orientation which means I can tell which way it’s facing just by the lights. Because they are facing at about a 45° angle on the arms it makes it easy to see from the sides and which side is towards you. Extremely happy with the lights and arm mounts which go on and off quickly and easily. This was all good information especially when it comes to the ARC II or even the ARC V strobes which are exceptional. Also I’ve tested straight above me at 400 feet and I can see the lights underneath it which means they can be seen from above.
Thanks for the review. Information indicates I made the best choice. Not cheap lights but extremely bright and makes it legal for night time flights with rating at 3 mile visibility. Enjoy......
I also have an Arc II in an arm mount on my Autel. Facing the rear and it is ungodly bright... no problems seeing it! Will get the Arc V for the top
Man this is a fantastic video.
I've been running a Lume Cube on my Mini 1. I just got a new drone and was looking for a light to run on that.
My issue with the Lune Cube is that because of the bubble switch sometimes it gets turned on in my bag and when I go to use it the battery is drained.
This was a super helpful video.
Nice and thorough! Howdy from North Phoenix!
I know this is over 2 years old but, as a newbie to drone life, I couldn't see the lights because not enough time was spent on the drone. What I did see was spending 10-20 secs on the crew at the locations and 2-4 secs on the actually drone at 3 miles away. It should be the opposite. Less time on the crew and more time on the drone. All in all, great review. Even 2 years later, your results are still good!!
The reason we did it that way is because it was difficult for the camera to pick up the light in the sky, so instead we relied on the crew's narrative. You would have looked at 10-20 sec of dark sky instead. Cheers!
I will give you props for the cold. Here in Texas with the amount of humidity and DFW smog, it is harder to see and enough particulates in the air to wear, at times even sand, to wear on the LED's, covers.
With you being a manned pilot also, it would be interesting to have some video of these strobe lights from a real-world point of view! From like a mile, then two, then three. I know that would be expensive but if the opportunity ever presents itself...
Or he could just stand on a hill and have someone, from 1, 2, 3 miles away, hold the stobe, and use walkie talkies to confirm visual.
Glad to see this review. I bought the Lumecube, but I’m always skeptical of manufacturer’s claims.
I had the lumecube too. It's technically visible from 3SM but there are better options out there.
@@PilotInstitute I just ordered the Firehouse ARC 5 two pack. I’ll use the Lumecube on something else or in daylight.
Great video! I wish there was some indication on where the drone was when videoing from the garage because I couldn't see any of them until that last one lol
Yes, sadly it was very difficult to film and even show the brightness.
@@PilotInstitute oh well, still good information. Thanks!
You should do another video in the mountains in an area with no lights/traffic, if that's even possible :) And maybe circle where the drone is in the video, I didn't see it a lot of times. Would be cool to have the camera mounted on a pole and take a picture of each one same spot, same height and post all the pictures together on a web page or still video shot so we can compare.
Whats the FAA requirement for the light. Can it be always on or does it have to flash? Certain flash speed? Does the 3 statute mile light have any regulations on colors? Is there a certain mount point it's supposed to be? Top, bottom, front, back, side?
Are there any regulations on colors at this time for any other lights on the drone; not the 3 mile one?
Is there any requirement for any other lights on the drone? Whats the spec for regular airplanes? one color in front? one in back?
They don't have any of these lights with the led flipped to the side. so it's actually facing an aircraft instead of pointing to the top of the sky?
Do you have a page that shows the best place to put the light on each different drone made so as to not block GPS, WIFI, Bluetooth, ETC.? I have the DJI Mav Air 2.
Are any of these able to turn on and off with WIFI yet or our controller?
We thought about trying to do photos but weren't sure it would be visible. It's definitely hard to see on the image, that's why we wanted the spotters to explain everything they were seeing.
The FAA regs are pretty simple, says it has to be flashing but that's about it. No flashing speed requirements, no color requirements. Because it's an anticollision, it needs to be visible by manned pilots, which leaves only one logical position: the top.
No other requirements for other lights. For regular airplanes, there are a few requiremnts, including a flashing white strobe light, steady navigation lights (green on left, red on the right, white on the back), and landing lights.
All the Mavic drones have the GPS in the "head" of the drone (sort of on top of the camera) so I would avoid mounting it there. None of the lights we tested had wifi or Bluetooth connections, which wouldnt' be recommended to prevent interference.
I hope this is still valid. I trust your video more than Amazon reviews so I just ordered the Arc V. Keep up the great work!
Arc V are still our go-to!
Well I got my Firehouse Arc V the other day. Without even putting the strobes on my drone the brightness winner was clear. After testing them at night on my drone in various positions the winner was confirmed. The $14 single LED RCGEEK strobe was definitely brighter than the $34 five LED Firehouse Arc V! The Arc V was a little better when mounted on top and viewed from the side I guess because of the domed beveled clear plastic top but when mounted on the bottom or the side of the drone the RCGeek strobe light was definitely brighter. Needless to say I ordered a few more of the RCGeek strobe from Amazon. The Firehouse has more flashing modes but as a strobe it just wasn't as bright as the RCGeek.
Awesome video, thanks! My ocd couldn’t stop staring at the shelves in the back lol
Interesting, Greg, thanks for doing that. On the M2P I’ve been running an ARC-2 on the bottom and an ARC-XL on top. Sounds like the ARC-V must be a successor to the XL.
Can you add the ARC-2 the MA2?
@@TaniaGail I don’t have the MA2 so can’t be sure. But the ARC-2 is very small, so if there’s a space maybe 1”x1” it should be fine. It does need a bit of vertical clearance to avoid hitting the ground - probably a half inch or so should be OK. I fasten mine with self-stick “hook and loop” fastener.
Thanks for the very thorough and excellent review!
Velcro is good for mounting lights. You can make pretty much any light fit with it. I also use bicycle lights, camera lights and a headlamp light I use as a spotlight
Nice job on the testing. I know what I want now, without wasting money. Thank you
Wish there was a circle on at least the first one so could tell where I was suppose to look. Not enough time to scope the whole area out. Tnx for the work. You might want to set the camera to manual focus and leave it.
Wonderful video, fine job guys
Arc V is on my Christmas List 😉
I'm a new student, and I love that you operate out of Prescott, which I'm familiar with.
Put markers (chapters) on your video timeline/progress bar that show when you are using each strobe.
Fantastic video and test of strobe lights. During my research of strobes, I decided to purchase the ARC ''V" also. Not sorry. GREAT product!!
You do a great job with all your videos!
great video! I currently have the lume cube strobe. I will purchase the firehouse Arc V .
Great video as always from Pilot Institute. The only thing I didn't hear was any interference from the strobe lights onto photos or video.
Nice job. I was glad to see the Firehouse ones worked so well - I've been using the old model for a couple of years without any problems. I think I'll grab the Arc 5 upgrade though.
I have the DR-01 ULANZI and Lume Cube. The DR-01 ULANZI works if you can get it to turn on. It has a button to turn it on and change modes that works 50% of the time. I don't use it. The Lume Cube works well(white, fastest strobe setting) however, you do have to be careful if you store it in a bag. Any pressure on the Lume Cube may turn it on so it flashes while in your travel bag. By the time you get to the location where you plan on flying the Lume Cube battery may be dead. Storing the Lume Cube in a container or carrying separately would be wise. Otherwise they work well. I put one on top (for manned aircraft to see the quad) and usually use a quad that has a flashing utility light on the bottom. In addition to comply with CBO guidelines I use a quad that has navigation lighting that I can clearly see my orientation visually from the ground. I have 3 arc 5 lights on order.
Watched it on my phone, then when I got home tried again on large screen, still could not see the strobes very well from the Parking garage view.
Update: After watching twice I can see where I "think" they are at. I was looking to high in the dark sky.. I am surprised how you Can-NOT see it so well.
I agree. It would’ve been helpful if “creators” indicated where the drones were during the editing process. I had to rewind and still couldn’t see the strobes.
its the big strobing light above the trees, there not going to 400 ft
and by "big strobing light" @ J N means the single white pixel that blends in with the other white lights on the horizon that also look like they might be blinking, especially when the camera is held still or in-focus. My eyes were looking around in the dark sky, somewhere in the center of the frame... it wasn't until that brightest strobe test that I was finally able to see their reference point.
I realize within FAA legal constraints, they couldn't exactly pop up to 2000' AGL for a more realistic visual test. Manned-aircraft shouldn't be swooping down for nighttime barnstorming runs at
I couldn't see any of them from the garage view either. But what the camera "sees" can be quite different than what the human eye can see in real life.
Thanks for taking the time to do this test! It’s really good to know which lights work the best. The majority of the time I fly I run the Ulanzi DR 2 one facing back on one leg with one color and one facing forward so myself or the visual observer can see it clearly and know which way the drones facing at all time.
Thanks again and when I upgrade I’ll definitely get the ones you recommend. 🙏🏻
GOOD JOB MY FRIEND , THANKS
It was a good test but I couldn't see any of the strobes at altitude in the video, I personally have purchased the Firehouse strobes and they are bright.
Same... Watched it on my phone, then when I got home tried again on large screen, still could not see the strobes.
You missed another option in anti collision lighting. The brand is called EasyLight and is sold in sets of three (Red, Green and White). They were developed for Hobbyists model aircraft but also work with any UAS. I haven’t did a proper test with them but they are considerably brighter than the Ulanzi DR-1 that I also own. Amazon pricing compares to the other lights you featured in your video. I have a video on my channel for the EasyLight set.
Thanks for sharing this comparison video, it’s answered questions about strobes and their effectiveness.
Any reason you did not include the FireHouse Arc XL?
Thanks for doing this comparison and test!
I had been wondering about the Ulanzi DR-02 for a while, and my own research had indicated the Firehouse ARC II and ARC V were among the top performers (though I never tested them personally), so it was good see see both in a real world test. I have a DR-02 that I picked up for around $15, and recently found them in the Ulanzi Store on AliExpress for $12. Now if asked, I can point to your test showing the DR-02 is visible at 3 statute miles (at least when flashing white)!
The other strobe I'll be using initially was one you didn't test, the Firehouse "Dual". The manufacturer specs it for 3+ statute miles, so I'm not so worried about compliance on it. But I'd be willing to send you a Firehouse "Dual" for doing a follow up video on more strobes if you returned it when you were done, if you are interested.
I have a question to you as a full-size aircraft pilot. Using the lighting for the video cameras destroyed the night vision of the spotters, meaning it was more difficult for them to spot a pin-point flash of light at 3 miles than if they had been night adapted. This is a good thing, IMHO, as it a higher bar these strobes needed to meet.
My question is whether a pilot in a manned aircraft would normally be night adapted (at least somewhat) when flying in the dark, making the strobes that much easier to see? Or would they typically not be night vision adapted when flying at night?
Thanks!
They would be. Cockpit instruments at night are lit up by red lights. The indicators within the instruments are reflective white and look white even when the red light is hitting them. Of course your instrument panel is 12" from a pilots face. The white city lights are bright but at such a distance that your red cockpit keeps most of your night vision intact. It takes about 20mins to adapt. From pre-flight check to taxi to run up you've typically adapted by take off. I can tell you night vision is not ruined by other strobes because taxiing near other aircraft with strobes is a light source so minimal compared with your whole cockpit area that it's insignificant. These drone strobes would also be insignificant beyond 1000 feet.
One correction Greg on dates. The new test didn’t actually start with night material until this past Tuesday April 6th. I tested Monday the 5th, and had no night questions, and was told by the Procter that that night material would be added the following day on the 6th.
Yes, they delayed the exam from March 16 until April 6 after we published the video. Glad you got the exam done before!
Had absolutely no idea that you were out of prescott! Hope to run into you!
Is there any more of the led footage in the air? I kept trying to look for it, but then the scene would cut away
Where would you place your light if you had a mavic air 2?
Great comparison, thank you!