DowntownRDB Posted at 2-29 03:28
I prefer to fly in twin or quad engine planes but the single engine ones can be a bit more fun at times.  Always a bit scary to think what would happen if your only engine failed during flight.  At least with twin or quad engines you should have enough power to make a regular landing or emergency landing if needed.

That is true.
I guess we don't fly that much here in NL, as we are only a small country.

Montfrooij Posted at 2-29 03:31
That is true.
I guess we don't fly that much here in NL, as we are only a small country.

Even short flights can be fun.  At one time I had considered buying a small plane.  However, after looking into the cost of storage, maintenance, etc it was much cheaper to rent or charter a plane as needed.

DowntownRDB Posted at 2-29 04:13
Even short flights can be fun.  At one time I had considered buying a small plane.  However, after looking into the cost of storage, maintenance, etc it was much cheaper to rent or charter a plane as needed.

Yeah, too expensive for sure.
I'm sticking with drones.

Montfrooij Posted at 2-29 04:21
Yeah, too expensive for sure.
I'm sticking with drones.

Not that drones are cheap but at least they are affordable.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 2-29 02:53
It certainly is.

When you have a friend with one you go on the excursion and help out but you don't have to maintain them. It's like being a grandparent. You get to hand them back when the work has to be done.

DowntownRDB Posted at 2-29 04:25
Not that drones are cheap but at least they are affordable.

True. And don't run on gasoline

BetterBizTech Posted at 2-29 04:56
When you have a friend with one you go on the excursion and help out but you don't have to maintain them. It's like being a grandparent. You get to hand them back when the work has to be done.

That works out the best.  On a drive trip 3 summers ago we took a twin-engine 8 seater to Aruba.  7 of us split the fuel costs.  The pilot was happy with that.  He was also a part of our dive team.  He comes from a super wealthy family that own a marine shipping company and they have 8 ships that are constantly on the go.  However, the guy pinches pennies as if he was always broke.  Don't get me wrong he is a super great guy just tight with his money.  

Montfrooij Posted at 2-29 05:19
True. And don't run on gasoline

I saw where a small company in Arizona is developing a solar powered drone.  Will be interesting to see how that endeavor works out.

DowntownRDB Posted at 2-29 13:34
I saw where a small company in Arizona is developing a solar powered drone.  Will be interesting to see how that endeavor works out.

That is an interesting concept.

Montfrooij Posted at 2-29 23:58
That is an interesting concept.

The prototype they developed was able to fly on the small onboard battery and a mini-solar panel for 33 minutes.  They are working to double that time before going into production.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-1 03:22
The prototype they developed was able to fly on the small onboard battery and a mini-solar panel for 33 minutes.  They are working to double that time before going into production.

If it flies any good and has a good camera

Montfrooij Posted at 3-1 03:43
If it flies any good and has a good camera

It is supposed to have really good flying characteristics.  The only mention of camera so far is that it will accommodate several different cameras.  So I'm wondering if it will be a set up similar to the DJI Inspire?

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-1 03:46
It is supposed to have really good flying characteristics.  The only mention of camera so far is that it will accommodate several different cameras.  So I'm wondering if it will be a set up similar to the DJI Inspire?

I hope it is <250g

Montfrooij Posted at 3-1 04:39
I hope it is

The prototype is 187g but that is without a camera.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-1 13:11
The prototype is 187g but that is without a camera.

Now that sounds promising.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-1 13:32
Now that sounds promising.

I think that using solar allows them to use a much, much smaller battery.  Drone batteries usually take up a lot of the weight of the drone.  I'm hoping that with a camera added it will stay under the magic 249g mark.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-1 13:44
I think that using solar allows them to use a much, much smaller battery.  Drone batteries usually take up a lot of the weight of the drone.  I'm hoping that with a camera added it will stay under the magic 249g mark.

Absolutely. Some competition is good!

Montfrooij Posted at 3-2 13:56
Absolutely. Some competition is good!

Now we have to wait and see what the competition thinks their new solar drone is worth.  No doubt they've tied up a lot of funds in research and development and need to recoup those funds and then some.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-2 14:39
Now we have to wait and see what the competition thinks their new solar drone is worth.  No doubt they've tied up a lot of funds in research and development and need to recoup those funds and then some.

Yes indeed. Wait and see.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-3 03:20
Yes indeed. Wait and see.

They've been really quite about when they will go into full production and how much the drones will cost.  Hopefully, they will test the market with some decent prices.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-3 07:53
They've been really quite about when they will go into full production and how much the drones will cost.  Hopefully, they will test the market with some decent prices.

First see when they release. Often they don't pass the initial news and never get to mass production.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-3 08:38
First see when they release. Often they don't pass the initial news and never get to mass production.

Seems they already have an order for 500 drones from an undisclosed foreign country.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 03:32
Seems they already have an order for 500 drones from an undisclosed foreign country.

Oh ok. That sounds sketchy.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-4 03:38
Oh ok. That sounds sketchy.

It seems one of the major investors is from a foreign country and that might well be the reason for the order.  In any case will be interesting to see how this all plays out.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 04:03
It seems one of the major investors is from a foreign country and that might well be the reason for the order.  In any case will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Yeah indeed. Very interesting!

Montfrooij Posted at 3-4 04:04
Yeah indeed. Very interesting!

They state that solar power increases the on-board battery life by a factor of 3.  Their guiding principles are efficiency, quality, reliability, and durability.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 04:22
They state that solar power increases the on-board battery life by a factor of 3.  Their guiding principles are efficiency, quality, reliability, and durability.

Now that sounds promising!

Montfrooij Posted at 3-4 04:23
Now that sounds promising!

I had a chance to invest in the company but decided at the last moment to invest in a different venture.  Hopefully, I didn't make a mistake doing that.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 04:28
I had a chance to invest in the company but decided at the last moment to invest in a different venture.  Hopefully, I didn't make a mistake doing that.

I'm wondering if they are going the consumer route or more into business drones.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-4 04:30
I'm wondering if they are going the consumer route or more into business drones.

Their vision was to serve both the consumers as well as enterprise users.  Not sure if that has changed as I've not seen a recent  prospectus for investors.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 04:57
Their vision was to serve both the consumers as well as enterprise users.  Not sure if that has changed as I've not seen a recent  prospectus for investors.

I think it will be quite a thing to make the software. Something DJI has come a long way in the past 10 years or so.

And here is the video for those who missed it.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-4 05:02
I think it will be quite a thing to make the software. Something DJI has come a long way in the past 10 years or so.

You're absolutely right about that.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-4 15:46
You're absolutely right about that.

But maybe they can jumpstart  because they have a good example.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-5 23:31
But maybe they can jumpstart  because they have a good example.

They hired a software expert from Skydio so no doubt he brought some ideas and experience with him.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-6 03:39
They hired a software expert from Skydio so no doubt he brought some ideas and experience with him.

Long time since I heard that name.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-6 03:43
Long time since I heard that name.

Yeah, since they left the consumer market and cater to enterprise users they have changed a lot.  It's a shame because the Skydio 2+ is one of the best autonomous drones out there and is still the King of sport's tracking.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-6 03:57
Yeah, since they left the consumer market and cater to enterprise users they have changed a lot.  It's a shame because the Skydio 2+ is one of the best autonomous drones out there and is still the King of sport's tracking.

Maybe their knowledge will trickle down to the consumers this way.

Montfrooij Posted at 3-6 04:25
Maybe their knowledge will trickle down to the consumers this way.

Basically they gave up because they knew they couldn't compete with DJI in the consumer market.  However, with the push to buy USA made drones they are now well established with the City, County, State and Federal entities for drone purchases.

DowntownRDB Posted at 3-6 04:49
Basically they gave up because they knew they couldn't compete with DJI in the consumer market.  However, with the push to buy USA made drones they are now well established with the City, County, State and Federal entities for drone purchases.

Who knows what the future will hold.