I feel like there's this "Fly under bridge" badge that some drone pilots like me want to earn (which you earn by flying under a big bridge). Here's what I learned from earning mine.

I thought I was flying straight under the bridge at a safe height. When I saw the video on a big monitor, I realized that I was lower and closer to the water than I probably wanted to be (still safe), and also once I got under the bridge I apparently pushed the right control stick not just forward, but forward and right. So the drone started drifting right, which I did not want or see at the time. I didn't mean to get so close to the shore. It was all good in the end - it just wasn't the perfect under bridge flight I was hoping for.

What I learned:

1. Be really careful of the right control stick going right or left when you want to go straight. It's easy for me to drift when I'm caught up in the act of flying, especially when the drone is 1000+ feet away.
2. Likewise, it's especially hard for me to judge the drone's position realtive to other objects when it's far away.

As always, fly safe.

Hello there Dangerly. Good day and thank you for sharing this video and your experience on this flight. Have a safe and a happy flying always.  

Nice flying and good tips!

Nicely done.    

Another tip might be not lingering near the metal structure or staying under the bridge for any long period of time.

I tried that once with a used Phantom 3 and almost crashed it, it was only shortly afterwards that I discovered I had to calibrate it. I never went back though.

Thanks for sharing your lessons learned.  Good reminders for all.  

Dangerly - I try to find the lowest spot in the terrain and make a note of the altitude.  This allows me to keep a good distance from the ground/water without going too high.  I also use the cross hairs and grid lines to help with my navigation.

Thanks for sharing!

Frank Alonso Posted at 6-9 13:17
Dangerly - I try to find the lowest spot in the terrain and make a note of the altitude.  This allows me to keep a good distance from the ground/water without going too high.  I also use the cross hairs and grid lines to help with my navigation.

Thanks for sharing!

Those are some good tips. Thank you. The altitude was actually showing as negative since I took off from quite a ways above the bridge.

What if you went to a point on shore where you could almost land and update your home point to that spot. When you would fly over the water then 0 altitude would actually be about maybe 1-2m above the water depending on the shore location you set your home point to. Would be better than having -15m as altitude I assume cuz you won't know what the height difference is between the water and your initial take-off location.
Just an assumption btw, thinking out loud

doglaboi Posted at 6-10 06:23
What if you went to a point on shore where you could almost land and update your home point to that spot. When you would fly over the water then 0 altitude would actually be about maybe 1-2m above the water depending on the shore location you set your home point to. Would be better than having -15m as altitude I assume cuz you won't know what the height difference is between the water and your initial take-off location.
Just an assumption btw, thinking out loud

That is some brilliant thinking out loud! I love the idea!!!

Dangerly Posted at 6-10 09:15
That is some brilliant thinking out loud! I love the idea!!!

Sadly it won't really work like that. I tried that yesterday with my MA2 but the only way your new elevation would be set is if you land the drone, and relaunch. I tried setting a new homepoint but it only moved the point location, not elevation. I then landed, restarted motors and launched again and the elevation was reset to the new location.
If you're certain you can land safely at shore and then relaunch, you would have your desired elevation.....

doglaboi Posted at 6-12 02:41
Sadly it won't really work like that. I tried that yesterday with my MA2 but the only way your new elevation would be set is if you land the drone, and relaunch. I tried setting a new homepoint but it only moved the point location, not elevation. I then landed, restarted motors and launched again and the elevation was reset to the new location.
If you're certain you can land safely at shore and then relaunch, you would have your desired elevation.....

Wow, thank you so much for reporting that information. I've never thought of trying to land over 1000 feet away and then take off again. That sounds like another badge I'd like to earn. Hopefully you wouldn't need to RTH after you land!

Dangerly Posted at 6-12 07:19
Wow, thank you so much for reporting that information. I've never thought of trying to land over 1000 feet away and then take off again. That sounds like another badge I'd like to earn. Hopefully you wouldn't need to RTH after you land!

As long as the RC still has connection with the drone you could land and relaunch. Maybe if you had a spotter at the landing location it would be safer. Although you have a high-def camera at your disposal with your MA2 to checkout the surroundings before landing too.

This guy is really good.. I always enjoyed this tip:

How do you get your drones in your profile?

doglaboi Posted at 6-14 04:41
How do you get your drones in your profile?

[view_image]

If you register and activate them on your account they show up.

If you purchase them second hand (like I did) they do not show up sadly.

Hmm, I did have a new one which I activated, but it doesn't show up either.
Oh well....

VengefulHemi Posted at 6-13 23:49
This guy is really good.. I always enjoyed this tip: https://youtu.be/Xh6kUJ6r5V4

Wow - that is really awesome flying from this guy.