Flying in lightning?!

RocketBrew · Jul 29, 2016

I went out to test my new split-battery mod, but by the time I got out and flying a monsoon storm rolled in. I saw the dust devil on the FPV, and was turning back so didn't realize I captured the lightning until I viewed the video at home!

MikeyOnline · Jul 29, 2016

Like others suggest, I'd stay at least a mile away. Often you get better lightning shots from a distance anyway. And you won't need a direct strike to knock out some electronics. Lightning bolts carry EMP's strong enough to knock out at least some of the electronics for several hundred meters from the actual bolt.

Mike

Yusuf Amod · Jul 30, 2016

theTastyCat said:
Great vid! As you have demonstrated here, there is a difference between being *in* a storm, which would be lunacy and the rain alone would ruin your bird, and *filming* a storm. I've gotten some beautiful lightning strikes from a storm that was maybe 10 miles away. If the conditions and visibility are good enough to see exactly where the storm is and isn't, go for it. Just be aware which direction things are moving - and that the wind may well be going quite fast at higher altitudes!

Agree. The footage you get from far away is beautiful. Also the lightning strikes may be to bright to capture from super close by

Yusuf Amod · Jul 30, 2016

RocketBrew said:
I went out to test my new split-battery mod, but by the time I got out and flying a monsoon storm rolled in. I saw the dust devil on the FPV, and was turning back so didn't realize I captured the lightning until I viewed the video at home!

View attachment 61008 View attachment 61009

Amazing stuff man!

dgd3 · Jul 30, 2016

Nice combo shots... lightning and fireworks.

lmaupin · Jul 30, 2016

Jake Deer said:
I captured this but was several miles away.View attachment 60720

Sent from my SM-N900P using PhantomPilots mobile app

Awesome photo!

HawkeyeImaging · Jul 30, 2016

RocketBrew said:
I went out to test my new split-battery mod, but by the time I got out and flying a monsoon storm rolled in. I saw the dust devil on the FPV, and was turning back so didn't realize I captured the lightning until I viewed the video at home!

View attachment 61008 View attachment 61009

That was freaking awesome!!!

Yusuf Amod · Jul 31, 2016

dgd3 said:
Nice combo shots... lightning and fireworks.

Thanks so much man!

AlmostaJoker · Jul 31, 2016

I filmed this several month ago.

Yusuf Amod · Jul 31, 2016

AlmostaJoker said:
I filmed this several month ago.

Awesome

Yusuf Amod · Aug 1, 2016

MikeyOnline said:
Like others suggest, I'd stay at least a mile away. Often you get better lightning shots from a distance anyway. And you won't need a direct strike to knock out some electronics. Lightning bolts carry EMP's strong enough to knock out at least some of the electronics for several hundred meters from the actual bolt.

Mike

Agree. lightening is unbelievably powerful

Jake Deer · Aug 2, 2016

skyhighdiver said:
any idea on settings was it auto or preset

here are the settings I used.

Sent from my SM-N900P using PhantomPilots mobile app

skyhighdiver · Aug 11, 2016

Jake Deer said:
here are the settings I used.

Sent from my SM-N900P using PhantomPilots mobile app

TY

Van · Aug 15, 2016

AlmostaJoker's Jul 31, 2016 looks like a US desert southwest monsoon shot. Nicely done!

Shot the one below on my P3S (didn't want to take up the P4 in a lightning storm) and got what I wanted visually, but haven't got the right tweak for the camera on the P3S for night shots. 2.7K isn't as awesome as the 4K on the P4, but it presents well in daylight...

Any suggestions on video menu custom settings on the P2S welcome...

DocL · Aug 15, 2016

I have been on the outskirts of a lighting storm and it was pretty cool. I have flown through rain 3 or 4 times with zero problems. One of the rainstorms was VERY heavy rain and the P3A flew flawlessly for an entire battery (about 20 min). Afterwards I brought it inside and let the motors run at idle speed for 10-15 minutes to help dry things out. No problem at all. I am not "recommending" it but I can tell you I have done the rain a few times without an issue.