JOIN IN WITH OTHERS

THERE’S A WHOLE FLYING COMMUNITY

Not everyone has caught the quadcopter bug yet, but so many people have that you will be able to find someone out there who has answers to your questions.

They’ll have them because they’re likely to have been through the issue you’re facing. Groups are brilliant for offering information on the different types of drones and the best ways to use them. You’ll find that there are groups of people online who are interested in very specific machines or uses, such as owners of Phantom products or people who are into shooting location video. There are also groups that are much more general, and people belong to one or more of both sorts.

Note that not all online groups (for any subject) are always welcoming to absolute beginners. Don’t take it personally, though. The majority will be excited to welcome you on board and show you the ropes. Take your time looking into the various groups out there, and get a feel for which one(s) would benefit you. It’s definitely worth joining one, and a good place to try is the Facebook group My First Drone Beginners

Group. It’s a private-interest group, so it’s closed, but you just need to request to join it.

Quadcopter users also tend to go outside into the real world. They would, wouldn’t they? It’s the only place to fly. So, while you will find online resources a boon, use them to find out where there are local flying groups.

If there is anything better than hearing from someone about exactly how they use their quadcopter and what problems they’ve solved, it’s seeing them use it in front of you. You’ll improve your flying skills, and get entirely new ideas for what you can use drones for.

Perhaps consider entering your drone into competitions. It’s about pitching your flying technique against other people and also your brand of quadcopter against others. If you have any competitive spirit, you’ll have a blast, but you’ll also see useful results. For example, if a Phantom UAV wins every time, you know to take a look at that company’s models.

Any local groups you can find will also feature demonstrations of new equipment. You can expect knowledgeable advice about legal issues, which is particularly important as you will find that they’re constantly changing.

These groups are also a first-class source for details about buying and selling UAVs. Members will discuss deals they find, and know where you can get spare parts. They’ll also be a boon to you when you want to move up to a new UAV and keep your controller.

So, it’s clear that joining a group can have lots of benefits, but above all, it can be great fun too. Try one out and you’ll see how you will receive all the practical benefits as well as meeting with like-minded people.

ACCELEROMETER: An electronic instrument used for measuring acceleration on a given path.

ATTITUDE: If you’re new to flying, don’t mix this up with altitude (height). Attitude is the orientation of the UAV, whether it’s tilting forward or flying upside down.

AUTONOMOUS: Not subject to outside control, this refers to when a drone is flying by itself on a set path using GPS or other means, rather than actively steered with a controller.

BIND: Connecting your controller to your drone. This is like pairing your phone to your earpiece, except it doesn’t normally use Bluetooth of course.

CASA (CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY): Australia’s body in charge of all flight issues and licences. When you read American forums or books, you’ll see reference to their equivalent, the FAA or Federal Aviation Authority.

CONTROLLER: The device you use to fly the UAV. They can be exactly the same as old-style helicopter remote controls, or you can use apps on your phone. Without exception, a device is better than using your phone.

DOWNDRAFT: The force of the wind from the rotor blades when they’re spinning. It’s partly that which gives lift,

partly the shape of the blades and how the air flows over them. But it’s an issue when you’re hovering near the ground, because the force reflects up and makes flying trickier.

FPV (FIRST-PERSON VIEW): A way of controlling your drone which lets you see what the drone is seeing in the air in real-time. By using goggles or a display, the view from the drone’s camera is relayed to you. Particularly useful for racing and to get a view from the sky.

GIMBAL: The type of mount that lets a camera stay steady on a UAV while turning and when in high winds.

GPS: The same as the global positioning system used in your satnav, but here how certain drones can know and record their position. Some will act on the GPS coordinates so that, for instance, they don’t fly too far away from you.

GYROSCOPE: You could not fly your UAV straight and steady if it didn’t include a gyroscope that could detect when it was level.

LITHIUM POLYMER OR LIPO: Currently the best batteries for drones due to their great power given their relatively small size. They do hold more than a regular battery, though, and they do require some care when disposing or recharging.

MULTIROTOR: A general name for a drone with several rotor blades

PAYLOAD: Anything a UAV is carrying that isn’t needed for flight, which is usually a camera.

PITCH: Together with roll and yaw, this is a description of the UAV’s movement in flight. Pitch is when it is tilted up or down.

QUADCOPTER: A four-bladed drone, perhaps the most common basic type, because that number of blades gives more stability.

ROLL: Together with pitch and yaw, this is a description of the UAV’s movement in flight. Roll is when you wiggle the drone as if you intend to twist it all the way around its central axis.

UAV (UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE): This description covers all drones and is what the Civil Aviation Authority calls them.

YAW: Yaw is when the drone is turning slightly left or right.

4K VIDEO: The best (and most expensive) drones come with cameras that will shoot video at 4K resolution. They tend to stream back 1K video during flight so that you can see what you’re filming, but they will be recording full strength on board.