Playing with Drones

Purchasing the Drone

I bought a DJI Mini SE from Amazon for ~$280 back in June. I figured it would be a good purchase to get while I am in Tucson for my summer internship, as the landscape here is beautiful and much more dynamic than back home in Florida. I got a carrying case and some propeller guards for the drone.

Learning about Regulations

I have had a micro drone in the past, and knew about the FAAs 250g registration limit, so I was happy to know that the DJI Mini SE was just under this limit, at 249 grams. However, because there is no wiggle room there, adding anything, including wing guards, to the drone while it is in flight violates this non-registration limit. So, I just didn't use the guards. I also downloaded an app to show me where I can and can't fly in my area, and looked up Pima County's regulations regarding drones.

First Flights

I flew the drone a little bit above my condo in Tucson and was immediately amazed at how crisp the video looked, and how well the drone handles. It wasn't very windy, but there was definitely a small breeze. The drone was unaffected, though. My favorite part about the DJI is its stabilization and hover capabilities. I can fly up 400 ft and then come back down and land in the same spot without moving the other joysticks. I flew my drone at Tucson's only "drone friendly" park, on the west side of town: Christopher Columbus Park. See the video below!

Flying in the Catalina Mountains

During my time in Tucson, I visited the San Catalina mountains many times, driving up on the Mount Lemmon Highway from Tucson. I managed to get many videos by pulling off and making sure I fly in an approved zone (not the wildlife area). The views are mesmerizing. I even managed to get some videos and pictures of nearby storms.