How close to things you fly?

jephoto · Sep 26, 2016

ussvertigo said:
I like to get myself in a position so to fly close to an object or water surface and still have a visual of the separation. This video has some neat close quarters stuff for example. I have posted this video before and can't bragg on it due to some poor camera settings in some scenes, but might give some inspiration, love that close in stuff. Example at 1:30

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Nice stuff. You're braver than I...
Trees and I don't get along well. Flying under low branches just makes me queasy as I know how the Phantom can bob slightly up or down.
Also I have problems with it driving slightly sideways when flying close to things. Maybe I'm going too slow and a bit more speed would stabilize it.

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MaxLawrry · Sep 26, 2016

I usually try to keep a good distance between my bird and around obstacles. However, eyes can sometimes be tricked and misjudge distance/height so it's a thing you usually learn with a few crashes

Or a few near-miss that get your heart beat pretty fast!!

ELHEAPO · Sep 27, 2016

ussvertigo said:
I like to get myself in a position so to fly close to an object or water surface and still have a visual of the separation. This video has some neat close quarters stuff for example. I have posted this video before and can't bragg on it due to some poor camera settings in some scenes, but might give some inspiration, love that close in stuff. Example at 1:30

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Wow great video you are one brave person balls of stell!!

Thoth · Sep 27, 2016

I just got the P3A to learn with and have been staying in my yard navigating through small trees and other obstacles just to practice manually flying. I understand any mistakes on my part might be costly, I do think it will make me a better pilot in the long run. Now I have only had the P3A for a few weeks so take my opinion for what its worth.

brivers222 · Sep 29, 2016

Great_Lakes said:
I try not to fly too close to anything on purpose. However, here is one of my first flights after I got the phantom! I got lucky that day!

totally not ragging on you (just learning).... when you say in the vid that "at this point I can't see the Phantom" doesn't that go against the VLOS restriction? I am just curious.

ElGuapo · Sep 29, 2016

Interesting, in this video at the 51 - 52 seconds I was not flying as close as it seems, yet the video show that i was really close.

ElGuapo · Sep 29, 2016

Great_Lakes said:
I try not to fly too close to anything on purpose. However, here is one of my first flights after I got the phantom! I got lucky that day!

You should have gone out on that day and buy a lottery ticket, it was your lucky day.!

GadgetGuy · Sep 29, 2016

ElGuapo said:
Interesting, in this video at the 51 - 52 seconds I was not flying as close as it seems, yet the video show that i was really close.

What's at 51-52 seconds in? Are we watching the same video?
Seems like you are 200-250 feet above, not near anything.
What am I missing?

Great_Lakes · Sep 30, 2016

brivers222 said:
totally not ragging on you (just learning).... when you say in the vid that "at this point I can't see the Phantom" doesn't that go against the VLOS restriction? I am just curious.

The drone was technically within VLOS, only about 100 feet away, but it was just out of my sight for a few seconds when it went behind the house and flew through the tree.

GadgetGuy · Sep 30, 2016

Great_Lakes said:
The drone was technically within VLOS, only about 100 feet away, but it was just out of my sight for a few seconds when it went behind the house and flew through the tree.

Since we are being technical, VLOS is within your actual VLOS...
If you didn't, or couldn't see it, it was out of VLOS, no matter how close it was to you.

Great_Lakes · Oct 3, 2016

Ok. So it went around the house and went behind a tall tree! It was out of my VLOS! Exactly what is your point? Are you going to arrest me?

The original post is someone asking how close people fly to things. I answered it and included a video of a close call. Now I'm sorry I did!

GadgetGuy · Oct 3, 2016

Great_Lakes said:
Ok. So it went around the house and went behind a tall tree! It was out of my VLOS! Exactly what is your point? Are you going to arrest me?

The original post is someone asking how close people fly to things. I answered it and included a video of a close call. Now I'm sorry I did!

Relax! You stated it "was technically within VLOS."
Just clarifying that VLOS means you must actually be able to see the aircraft. You agree with me. Point made. That's it. No value judgments at all by me being made about flying beyond VLOS! I do it all the time! It is an academic discussion only.

maxwell smart · Oct 4, 2016

So if I fly with my eye box on [ googles] I am not VLOS.? Dont tell anyone.

Mark The Droner · Oct 4, 2016

Originally I think, it was LOS. But the moon is LOS. So they added a V.

I think flying behind buildings or whatever could be something like XLOS just to remove any confusion...

Loz · Oct 4, 2016

Yes [emoji33] and therefore illegal here in Australia (for example)

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Richard R · Oct 4, 2016

Great_Lakes said:
Ok. So it went around the house and went behind a tall tree! It was out of my VLOS! Exactly what is your point? Are you going to arrest me?

The original post is someone asking how close people fly to things. I answered it and included a video of a close call. Now I'm sorry I did!

Actually, the FAA addresses this specific situation. Only require that the pilot reacquire visual los again as soon as possible. They go on to say that the pilot is still responsible for avoiding other aircraft, etc.

maxwell smart · Oct 4, 2016

I get this close.

And here is another close call.

acherman · Nov 17, 2016

I forgot about this. I get this close...

https://instagram.com/p/BMKAa7_BJOZ/

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Richard R · Nov 20, 2016

Two things to keep in mind when trying to get 'close'. First, any lag in video transmission might mean that you don't see that branch until after you hit it! And, similarly, any lag on sending controls signal to the bird or soft braking may increase the time and distance it takes the bird to respond.

GadgetGuy · Nov 21, 2016

Richard R said:
Two things to keep in mind when trying to get 'close'. First, any lag in video transmission might mean that you don't see that branch until after you hit it! And, similarly, any lag on sending controls signal to the bird or soft braking may increase the time and distance it takes the bird to respond.

Soft braking may be great for smooth video, but it's definitely risky for aircraft survival while using FPV. Ever hear of overdriving your headlights at night? Same thing!