I like scenery, and hiking, and wilderness, and epic landscapes.
I like aerial photography too, and have taken up videography {ground-based} the last few years.
One lazy Sunday a few weeks ago I stumble across this:
Phantom 2 Vision -- Your Flying Camera
The site has a schmaltzy video clip that shows what their product can do:
DJI - Where the Road Meets the Sky
And I was hooked. Suddenly I knew what my next recreation hobby "could be." All of a sudden my many years of talking-down "Drones" was in jeopardy -- because they had a use and product, that appealed to my varied interests.
All of sudden "Quad Copters" looked "Kool." (Advocates prefer calling them "Quads" rather than "Drones" -- in an effort to re-brand their image, I suspect.)
And then Today they had to go an ruin it with this ... Half the fun of flight was relying on the Remote Cameras -- and then having the "freedom" just go explore.
FAA unveils drone rules; Obama orders policy for agencies
by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY -- February 15, 2015
[...]
The FAA proposal would allow drones weighing up to 55 pounds to fly within sight of their remote pilots during daylight hours. The aircraft must stay below 500 feet in the air and fly less than 100 mph.
People flying drones would need to be at least 17 years old, pass an aeronautics test and be vetted by the Transportation Security Administration, but a certificate wouldn't require the flight hours or medical rating of a private pilot's license.
[...]
Drones "are a potentially transformative technology in diverse fields such as agriculture, law enforcement, coastal security, military training, search and rescue, first responder medical support, critical infrastructure inspection and many others," according to a White House statement. "The administration is committed to promoting the responsible use of this technology, strengthening privacy safeguards and ensuring full protection of civil liberties."
[...]
The FAA has been granting certificates for drone flight to public agencies such as local police departments for years. And in September, the FAA began granting waivers for commercial uses such as filming on closed television and movie sets, bridge inspections and agricultural surveys. So far, 28 waivers have been given.
[...]
Oh well. I guess I can always just watch the youtubes of,
other people flying, instead ...
Some other people flying ...
Flying FPV with my DJI phantom quadcopter above the clouds
Link to clip.
DJI PHANTOM VIDEO CONTEST - EAGLE EYES
Link to clip.
The most insane DJI Phantom 2 fly away, crazy, out of control!
Link to clip.
DJI Phantom -- High Altitude Run 2350 ft.
I wonder how long it will be, before Dominoes, and Amazon, and Fed Ex, etc. etc.
-- all start using Drones er "Quads" in lieu of those pesky humans, to deliver their wares?
The local air space is that last "public domain," remaining to be leveraged for all its worth, afterall.
Looks like I'll probably be sitting out this next Tech-rush too. (He said, as one of the last persons on Earth in the US, never to have owned a Cell-phone.)