Yes I know it’s not best practice, I know it’s against most regulations, but am curious to see who actually flies out of Visual Line of Sight ?

I do regularly as you need to go get some good footage.   I also understand my risk of losing the drone increase dramatically if I do so....but that’s a risk I am prepared to take

Who’s with me and who’s going to flame me ?  :-)

I did that, I do that, only just a bit more carefully, right now.
The GO4 App chrashes "a bit" to often, lately.
Interesting part of that: It even ends/continious 46 pic Panos on its own, as long the RC connection to AC is stabil.
Which gives time to even restart the device for a fresh try.

It is easy to fly it out where it is hard to see because it is so small.  However, I don't know what you mean that you need to fly beyond visual sight to get footage of something.  Your subject is too far up for you to see the drone while it records?  Or, the walker with tennis balls on its feet that your grandma loaned you, won't quite take you far enough to be within visual range of your subject?

My boots came with with the turbos so I can walk within visual range of my subjects (car, barn, horse, pond) before I launch the drone.  Alternatively, I drive over near the subject.

I think it is rude to fly the drone so far away from me that only other's, and their property, are endangered if it comes down or flys away.  I should be on the scene.  Is noting that you apparently have the mobility of an old lady with a walker, a flame?

I do but try to do it in "safer" areas. When I'm flying in town I keep it LOS religiously. Out in the country I've had it over 5000 ft away. That's definitely out of sight.

Sir, please note the range of FCC of spark is 2 km and 5.8 G of Australia follows FCC certificate. I would recommend you fly with 5.8 G to decrease the chance of disconnection. Please pay attention to the power of your spark. I would recommend you fly in recommended environment. Thanks for your support.

That depends on the environment - hardly ever with the Spark

Gunship9 Posted at 2018-1-22 23:55
It is easy to fly it out where it is hard to see because it is so small.  However, I don't know what you mean that you need to fly beyond visual sight to get footage of something.  Your subject is too far up for you to see the drone while it records?  Or, the walker with tennis balls on its feet that your grandma loaned you, won't quite take you far enough to be within visual range of your subject?

My boots came with with the turbos so I can walk within visual range of my subjects (car, barn, horse, pond) before I launch the drone.  Alternatively, I drive over near the subject.

If i'm flying over water, or doing some wildlife footage (which if you have seen my videos, is mostly what I do), then it is not possible to walk with the drone...nor could i run the 1+KM in the 2 minutes it takes the spark.

I do not fly in populated areas or over people. (excluding my family when I've filmed them), so yes I do break regulations....but I also do it responsibly if that's possible...lol

I always keep it in LOS or I ask a spotter to do so when I want to focus on shooting pictures/movies.

Here are a couple of my vids.     Couldn't have done them if I flew VLOS

I ended up out of VLOS over the weekend and almost gave myself a heart attack. My batteries had self discharged, and I took flight at around 59% power.

Around 30% I went to bring the drone back and completely lost it in the sky. As the power continued to drop I panicked and hit RTH in the hope I’d regain my bearings on the screen. It then stated “landing” which I believed was incorrect and tried to fly it in the hope I’d gain audible directional info. Finally, it went into critical landing mode and I heard it above me. Sparky touched down in my hand at 6%

Turns out at 110m high, it doesn’t sound anywhere near you.

Lesson learned. Sometimes you have to trust the tech.

I try only to fly within visual line of fight, should anything go wrong.

It's winter here and I'll take it to its limits o er frozen lakes. Burn up and down the abandoned beach and such. Or fly over a sand dune out of sight. Hit a few branches and broke a few props so far but I don't intend to change much til so I g and the water thaws. Life on the edge I guess.

Cookster670 Posted at 2018-1-23 02:38
Here are a couple of my vids.     Couldn't have done them if I flew VLOS

https://youtu.be/l0GfpFxoAY4

Cool vids!

A CW Posted at 2018-1-23 00:15
That depends on the environment - hardly ever with the Spark

"That depends on the environment - hardly ever with the Spark"

+1  Never with the Spark, all the time with my other DJI platforms

I always fly VLOS for many reasons, with the Spark and my other drones. Firstly my PfCO requires it, secondly, my insurance requires it, and finally having the walking ability of " the mobility of an old lady with a walker" due t a muscle wasting diseased I cannot walk that far anyway. If I cannot get the shot without doing that I go somewhere else closer too.

Tviscomi Posted at 2018-1-23 05:54
"That depends on the environment - hardly ever with the Spark"

+1  Never with the Spark, all the time with my other DJI platforms

I did reach 1.1KM in a CE area without an OTG with the Spark but the lag and poor wifi transmission quality to my iPhone made it one of the most nervous flight experiences I've ever had. Never again with that drone. Always fly in VLOS with the Spark now and never more than a few hundred metres away.

Cookster670 Posted at 2018-1-23 02:35
If i'm flying over water, or doing some wildlife footage (which if you have seen my videos, is mostly what I do), then it is not possible to walk with the drone...nor could i run the 1+KM in the 2 minutes it takes the spark.

I do not fly in populated areas or over people. (excluding my family when I've filmed them), so yes I do break regulations....but I also do it responsibly if that's possible...lol

Good point.  Water would be difficult and I think there is an unwritten rule that spark flights have to be over water.  How far across water do you have to go to get the shot?  I have a kayak and have been a mile off shore but would never fly my little Spark over water.  Too risky to fly it far and over hostile ground.  

I noticed in your videos that you edit.  Your videos could be done within VLOS, cutting each scene/location together like I do, but it is easier to just do it in one long flight.  Beach, then further down beach, then standing on the dock, then end of dock, etc.

Walking on ground, I can get anywhere and close enough to wildlife to hit them with my Bowtech compound bow (15 yards).  Your case is different, but I think a lot of long flight are long so the people being bothered by the drone can't see the operator and report/beat him.  He is safely hiding at his home as he strafes the nature walking trail.  The trail being well within walking distance.

embayweather Posted at 2018-1-23 05:57
I always fly VLOS for many reasons, with the Spark and my other drones. Firstly my PfCO requires it, secondly, my insurance requires it, and finally having the walking ability of " the mobility of an old lady with a walker" due t a muscle wasting diseased I cannot walk that far anyway. If I cannot get the shot without doing that I go somewhere else closer too.

The "old lady with a walker" is a jest.  Most people not realizing the joy/privalege in having the abilty to walk to stay within VLOS of the drone.  Prefering not to when they darn well could walk to stay within VLOS.

My videos are mostly of the $500 Segway Mini Pro.  It is a Segway with optional knee or handlebar steer.  A lot more stable than a hoverboard and it quickly just becomes an extension of your feet.  So as I get more unmobile with age, I can still get around.  Would that Segway work for you?

At 4:10 you can see how I fly the spark far but keep it in eyesight

I never fly out of a 500m radius 120m high cylinder, its geofenced but fly FPV off the screen 90% of the time.  If you have hawk eyes you should just barely see a phantom at 500m distance.

Nope. Never have. I can get great footage while keeping it in sight.

Interesting feedback.  I had assumed that most people flew outside of VLOS, but looks like I’m wrong about that.    Well, what can I say, I didn’t choose the thug life....it chose me.  ;-)

the spark is so small its very easy to fly outside of VLOS

m1n1s Posted at 2018-1-23 13:17
the spark is so small its very easy to fly outside of VLOS

yeah...very true.  Anything more than 100m is already hard to work out orientation

Cookster670 Posted at 2018-1-23 12:46
Interesting feedback.  I had assumed that most people flew outside of VLOS, but looks like I’m wrong about that.    Well, what can I say, I didn’t choose the thug life....it chose me.  ;-)

I have seen the movies Crocodile DunDee and Quigley Down Under.  All Australians are thugs

Gunship9 Posted at 2018-1-23 13:29
I have seen the movies Crocodile DunDee and Quigley Down Under.  All Australians are thugs

But have you seen Priscilla, Queen of the Desert ?

I fly spark to where I can't see it all the time.  Normally I have a clear open view of the area it is in, it is just so small it can't be seen.  I have a whale feeding area about .5 miles down the beach, definitely can't see the spark as I fly over this area.  

I have definitely done it to set my highest altitude

m1n1s Posted at 2018-1-23 13:17
the spark is so small its very easy to fly outside of VLOS

I find going out 800 ft puts the Spark in a situation where you are potentially out of VLOS just because of the size.

A friend put one of these on his Mavic - https://www.amazon.com/gp/produc ... 1C21KEAHG&psc=1 - which significantly improved daytime visibility. I am considering putting one on the back side of the back arm of the Spark and seeing if that helps with keeping VLOS within the 500 - 1000 FT area.

DJI Elektra Posted at 2018-1-23 00:03
Sir, please note the range of FCC of spark is 2 km and 5.8 G of Australia follows FCC certificate. I would recommend you fly with 5.8 G to decrease the chance of disconnection. Please pay attention to the power of your spark. I would recommend you fly in recommended environment. Thanks for your support.

Elektra, is this correct?? Australia is EC unless you set to 5.8G, then it's FCC?

WaveatDave Posted at 2018-1-23 15:13
I find going out 800 ft puts the Spark in a situation where you are potentially out of VLOS just because of the size.

A friend put one of these on his Mavic - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06VW74XYF/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1G9D1C21KEAHG&psc=1 - which significantly improved daytime visibility. I am considering putting one on the back side of the back arm of the Spark and seeing if that helps with keeping VLOS within the 500 - 1000 FT area.

Wow...that looks pretty sweet!

Todd in Chicago

djiuser_gjJYmBS Posted at 2018-1-23 17:25
Elektra, is this correct?? Australia is EC unless you set to 5.8G, then it's FCC?

I have contacted DJI a couple times, as well as in the forum, and response has always been that Australia is under FCC power outputs.

In my experience, when flying in the right environment, I have never been led to believe that to be untrue.

Gunship9 Posted at 2018-1-23 09:49
The "old lady with a walker" is a jest.  Most people not realizing the joy/privalege in having the abilty to walk to stay within VLOS of the drone.  Prefering not to when they darn well could walk to stay within VLOS.

My videos are mostly of the $500 Segway Mini Pro.  It is a Segway with optional knee or handlebar steer.  A lot more stable than a hoverboard and it quickly just becomes an extension of your feet.  So as I get more unmobile with age, I can still get around.  Would that Segway work for you?

Gunship, please do not worry. I know it was a jest. I take no harm from it. I have always tried to make my disability a bit of a laugh, especially as that is how I feel sometimes. I had not thought of a Segway, but I have been thinking of replacing my mobility scooter with a quad bike. I could get to so many more interesting places with my drones then!

My aircrafts don't leave my or my spotters line of sight. Same reasons others have pointed out.

djiuser_gjJYmBS Posted at 2018-1-23 17:25
Elektra, is this correct?? Australia is EC unless you set to 5.8G, then it's FCC?

I can reach 3km using 5.8, switching to 2.4 degrades the signal.

I definitely can't see the Spark when I'm flying among the clouds.

Yes, yes I know, it's not right. Sometimes you have to break the rules to get that perfect shot.

And I guess sometimes you get arrested and your drone confiscated.  I don't think a felony is good for anyone's future.

Mr Sparkle Posted at 2018-1-24 05:09
I definitely can't see the Spark when I'm flying among the clouds.

Yes, yes I know, it's not right. Sometimes you have to break the rules to get that perfect shot.

All paparazzi say that.  My thought is how do you see an incoming Cessna at that height from the ground.  You can't even clear the area around a drone that far away.  A Cessna would be tiny and hard to find in the sky.  

I ask because I have seen cities from that height, in a rented Cessna.

Actually...that’s a good point.  I do fly out of VLOS, but only out, not up.   I always stat below 120m because of potential risk to aircraft and I find 120m is already high enough to get great views.

That's why I am glad I live in the Czech Rep. I can fly up to a 300m height without breaking the rules. As to fly out of VLOS ... I can't do that even if I wanted to. My maximum distance I was able to fly was about 420m with an OTG cable so ... nope, I never fly out of the VLOS .

Vyborny83 Posted at 2018-1-24 12:32
That's why I am glad I live in the Czech Rep. I can fly up to a 300m height without breaking the rules. As to fly out of VLOS ... I can't do that even if I wanted to. My maximum distance I was able to fly was about 420m with an OTG cable so ... nope, I never fly out of the VLOS .

Isn’t 420m out of VLOS anyway ?  The thing is so small, all you can see is a speck, not what orientation.