Just got back from Colorado where I set a personal max takeoff altitude of 3536.2 meters (a little over 11,000').  It was somewhat cold (32F/0C) and once airborne I got a motor overspeed message so I promptly landed.  Anyone else experience this issue???

Might have been above its ceiling.

I think you were close to the ceiling and min Temp limits:

Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level        13,123 feet (4,000 m)
Operating Temperature Range        32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C)

Information about the specifications of the DJI Spark https://www.dji.com/spark/info#specs.

Air is thinner in high altitudes so motors turning faster to overcome the low pressure and gain altitude...

Anuvis Posted at 11-14 08:53
Air is thinner in high altitudes so motors turning faster to overcome the low pressure and gain altitude...

isn't it air density, the higher you go the less dense the air gets (or is it the same thing)?

FulanitoFlyer Posted at 11-14 09:16
isn't it air density, the higher you go the less dense the air gets (or is it the same thing)?

Sorta same thing.  I think air density is more technically correct as it combines air pressure factors with temperature and moisture.  Air density would give you a better indication on how well the aircraft would fly.  Here, the propellers are not working against as many air molecules as they would like.  Low density.  I have an air density guage that I used to tune the fuel mixture on motorcycle motors.

Flying model airplanes at 6,000 feet is annoying since they don't fly very well.  You have to really keep the airspeed up.  11,000 would not be something I would want to try.

It's called "Density Altitude."

Things that reduce the density are: Heat, Humidity (neither applied here), and Altitude. 11,000 is WAY high.

thinner air makes motors spin faster

Once you start to learn and understand laws of physics, you will learn pilots #1 rule: Airspeed is life!

Hi Rustic17, we do feel sorry for the troubles you had recently. Have you tried flying in a different location? The main reason is you exceeded the Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level which is 13,123 feet (4,000 m) . Kindly take time to view the Spark specs for more information. Thank you.

eYeSkYeYe Posted at 11-15 03:56
Once you start to learn and understand laws of physics, you will learn pilots #1 rule: Airspeed is life!

What if your hovering? Then airspeed is irrelevant, lift is more important, no?

I guess Airspeed is life for fixed wing pilots.  

Gunship9 Posted at 11-14 09:50
Sorta same thing.  I think air density is more technically correct as it combines air pressure factors with temperature and moisture.  Air density would give you a better indication on how well the aircraft would fly.  Here, the propellers are not working against as many air molecules as they would like.  Low density.  I have an air density guage that I used to tune the fuel mixture on motorcycle motors.

Flying model airplanes at 6,000 feet is annoying since they don't fly very well.  You have to really keep the airspeed up.  11,000 would not be something I would want to try.

I that case, wouldn't the spark achieve quicker top speeds because the air has less give and the motors are able to spin faster? some rich guy should try it out, LOL.

FulanitoFlyer Posted at 11-15 04:56
What if your hovering? Then airspeed is irrelevant, lift is more important, no?

I guess Airspeed is life for fixed wing pilots.

You have a rotary wing. Here, airspeed is most effected by rpm, however, when moving the advancing blade has a higher airspeed and the retreating blade a lower airspeed. Max speed of a rotary aircraft is determined by "retreating blade stall," where the retreating blade no longer has enough airspeed to avoid a stall.

I don't think our little quadcopters have been studied that much, but I think DJI really has the engineering nailed down.

H. Arif - Nobody Posted at 11-15 06:21
I that case, wouldn't the spark achieve quicker top speeds because the air has less give and the motors are able to spin faster? some rich guy should try it out, LOL.

Less dense air also generates less lift as pressure difference over the top and under the bottom of the rotary wing (blade) is smaller.

I must have hold the record for max flight altitude at 5965 meters above sea level. I was in Bolivia and used the drone extensively there with no issues.

fans09176615 Posted at 11-2 05:08
I must have hold the record for max flight altitude at 5965 meters above sea level. I was in Bolivia and used the drone extensively there with no issues.

In what drone was that?

i flew at 3100m+ take off plus going 1100m higher
so almost 4200m high sea level
nothing abnormal warm batt 47c no motor max tho it was not windy becareful tho when flying that high wind can be unforgiving

here is my old post of it flying that high
https://forum.dji.com/thread-194224-1-1.html