I've seen a range test. I have not seen an altitude test.

Does anyone know of one?

Also the Mavic moves faster than the P4 in regular mode. Have they enhanced obstacle avoidance? Faster speed means longer to come to a stop.

There's no need for a altitude test. It's capped at 400M above ground. You can't fly higher than that.

It moves faster but it also weights less. If you understand physics, Force = Mass * Acceleration. So I don't expect it to take
longer to stop than a P4.

sbug206 Posted at 2016-10-16 11:25
There's no need for a altitude test. It's capped at 400M above ground. You can't fly higher than tha ...

Wrong, there is absolutely no Reason why a Mavic is capped at 400Meters and all others at 500Meters, i'm sure the Mavic will be capped at 500Meters.

Ange1walk Posted at 2016-10-16 14:19
Wrong, there is absolutely no Reason why a Mavic is capped at 400Meters and all others at 500Meter ...

I think your right 500 meter at least that's what it is in Europe, but each country has it own regulations on altitude, it seems strange that you would ask for info / test if you already knew, there also have been some reviews on breaking distance and response time for stoping, and from the test I've seen P4 came out extremely well, just a little better than Mavic..

Gentlemen, there is a difference between "height" and "altitude".

Height is the vertical distance between your drone and the ground (or buildings/structures).
Altitude is the vertical distance between your drone and sea level.
Elevation is the vertical distance between sea level and the ground.
This is POORLY described in the Mavic's "Disclaimer and Safety Guidelines" booklet, included in the Mavic's box.  DJI's legal department should address this immediately.

A beach has zero ELEVATION.
A mountain has a measurable amount of ELEVATION.

Maximum HEIGHT is legally limited and must be respected in law.  It can be adjusted in SETTINGS, to match the legal requirements in your country.  It is referenced to the take-off position of each flight which, while not perfectly accurate due to undulating terrain / obstacles, provides a good reference to keep you out of prison.  Fly your drone above the legal height limit and bring a helicopter or light aircraft down, and all hell will rain down upon you.  Rightly so.

Taking off from a beach, your drone's software-limited HEIGHT (changable in SETTINGS) is nowhere near the maximum ALTITUDE ability of a Mavic (5000 metres or 16,404 feet).
Taking off during a mountain hike at an ELEVATION of, say, 3500 metres, you are still HEIGHT limited (probably 120 metres - check with your local authorities) and also closer to the maximum ALTITUDE ability of the Mavic (5000 metres) so your drone's perfomance will be more sluggish and your battery will deplete more rapidly.

In summary:
(A) Keep your drone less than 120 metres above the ground (or whatever the limit is in your nation).
(B) Fly carefully and monitor battery depletion when flying in the mountains.

Regardless of the AGL cap, there is an aerodynamic limit of 14,500' ASL. I'm guessing the original poster wants to know what that true number is? Anybody live near some mountains?

@James Young - Great Explanation!

But simply put, from Take- Off Point, the Mavic will be limited in HEIGHT 500Meters AGL, i think that's what OP was referring to.

OK

Firstly, I wanted to clarify the question.
Just because the Mavic's settings can be adjusted to allow flights up to HEIGHTS of 500 metres, this will very rarely be legal.  Most countries will prosecute you for flying above 91 metres (300 feet). Some countries permit 121 metres (400 feet).  Flights at greater HEIGHTS will need approval from the relevant national aviation authority.


Secondly, I'm also keen to test the ALTITUDE ability of the Mavic.  5000m is a very "round" number of course.  I promise to mountain-goat myself up a hillside and provide some feedback, once my device arrives.

For anyone who's interested, the P3 flew beautifully at 13,435 feet (4095 metres) but I was too cold to test the 24 minute battery limit.
As the Mavic is both faster and lighter than the P3, I would anticipate no concerns with the Mavic's stated 5000 metre ceiling.

AUSTRALIA

The maximum HEIGHT that you may operate a drone in Australia is 400 feet (121 metres) above terrain or obstacles.
Refer to https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016L00400

Can anyone else post limitations (preferably with references) for other nations?

HONG KONG

The maximum HEIGHT that you may operate a drone in Hong Kong is 300 feet (91 metres) above terrain or obstacles.
Refer to http://www.cad.gov.hk/english/Unmanned_Aircraft_Systems.html

Well I've gone looking and I can't find any real regulations for Canada.  It's more or less use common sense, and don't fly near aerodromes.

Lepus Posted at 2016-10-16 14:18
Well I've gone looking and I can't find any real regulations for Canada.  It's more or less use comm ...

For Canada see: [url=]https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/flying-drone-safely-legally.html[/url] and [url=]https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/getting-permission-fly-drone.html[/url]

As for obstacle avoidance. I believe 22 mph is top speed for it to work. Anything faster and it won't be able to stop in time.

even if you manage to get your drone up to the services ceiling you better check the winds aloft they are A LOT stronger then whats on the ground so the drone will have to fight that.

James Young Posted at 2016-10-16 10:00
Gentlemen, there is a difference between "height" and "altitude".

Height is the vertical distance b ...

Absolute altitude is the altitude Above Ground Level (AGL), the one we really need. Indicated altitude is the altitude an altimeter shows while flying an airplane. We correct this indication using the QNH (pressure at the airport we are reaching or leaving, tower gives you this measure) and the new reading will show the altitude of the station related to the Mean Sea Level (MSL) -True Altitude. While flying we rely on a pressure standard of 29.92 mmHg (1013mb), this way all airplanes flying close are flying using the same scale to avoid crashing (this means setting the altimeter using a knob to obtain the Pressure Altitude). This way we know we wont crash with oncoming traffic. Ceiling (performance) of an aircraft is calculated using an ideal pressure of 29.92 15deg Celsius and is based upon True Altitude.

This said, If I take off from a field that is 14400 ft MSL my highest usable altitude is only 1600 feet (475 m) above in case my ceiling is 16.000 ft. When the temperature is higher drone´s performance is lower  so be careful under high temperature/high airfield altitude conditions. Most countries limit flying altitude to 400m AGL so we dont have to worry too much. When in deserted locations you can fly as high as you can but mind this considerations.

PP single engine land

sbug206 Posted at 2016-10-16 11:25
There's no need for a altitude test. It's capped at 400M above ground. You can't fly higher than tha ...

I created an account solely to call out this super-unhelpful comment. {:4_154:}

mike06 Posted at 2016-10-17 08:24
For Canada see: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/opssvs/flying-drone-safely-legally.html and ...

Thanks, I did read see those but didn't look too closely.

I'm unable to change the Max Height in the settings. Is this hard-coded based on location??? I'm assuming the risk.

Max height in the USA is 121 meters or 400 feet

SteveCA Posted at 2016-11-30 18:37
Max height in the USA is 121 meters or 400 feet

Legal height yes, but is this hard-coded into the Mavic ? I was unable to alter the setting. I can change the setting on my P4

SteveCA Posted at 2016-11-30 16:37
Max height in the USA is 121 meters or 400 feet

Note: this is not AGL like so many think...  It's 400' above ground or structure.

RWJorg Posted at 2016-11-30 19:41
Legal height yes, but is this hard-coded into the Mavic ? I was unable to alter the setting. I can ...

I think the Mavic is locked at 500 meters AGL.

Settings allow 500m max

fansa0b5cd05 Posted at 2016-11-30 22:03
Settings allow 500m max

I'll mess around with it tomorrow. I was flying today and unable to delete / edit the 120

I don't get why people are so intent on breaking the rules with these things. Seriously why? It's that sort of caper that makes it harder for the rest of us when regulations become tighter.

One day, some genius is going to wake up wondering just how high their drone will fly then set about finding out just that without any care or regard for the rules and the worst will happen. Sadly, this is not a matter of if, but when. At best, it'll do no more damage than a bird strike. At worst..... it doesn't even bare thinking about. What ever the outcome of the scenario, the individuals only daily thought from then on will relate to how best to react if the soap falls on the floor.

AusAir Posted at 2016-11-30 20:09
I don't get why people are so intent on breaking the rules with these things. Seriously why? It's th ...

"What ever the outcome of the scenario, the individuals only daily thought from then on will relate to how best to react if the soap falls on the floor."

BINGO!!!

I have flown the mavic at an altitude if 1649 ft. So far.

benjamin.rodenb Posted at 2016-10-16 17:19
I created an account solely to call out this super-unhelpful comment.

I got it up to 1649 ft.

James Young Posted at 2016-10-16 08:01
AUSTRALIA

The maximum HEIGHT that you may operate a drone in Australia is 400 feet (121 metres) above terrain or obstacles.

Not quite. As per your link, it's only limited in controlled airspace:

10  Regulation 101.070 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

101.070  Operation in controlled airspace above 400 ft AGL

While I do not (yet) live there, I appreciate the simplicity and clarity of the Australian regulations; See https://www.casa.gov.au/modelaircraft for recreational rules summary (including how to safely and legally fly within 3nm of aerodromes!) and the commercial self-declaration when flying under 2kg: https://www.casa.gov.au/standard ... -aircraft-under-2kg

:-)

RWJorg Posted at 2016-11-30 19:41
Legal height yes, but is this hard-coded into the Mavic ? I was unable to alter the setting. I can change the setting on my P4

For recreational use, there is NO LAW IN THE USA that makes it ILLEGAL to fly above 400 feet above ground.

There is "suggested guideline" to fly recreational RC craft under 400 feet.

RC planes and model rockets have been flying WELL over 400 feet for decades.  

SteveCA Posted at 2016-11-30 16:37
Max height in the USA is 121 meters or 400 feet

Max "SUGGESTED" height, per FAA for recreational RC craft use.
There are no LAWS on the books that limit to 400 feet height in US airspace.

FPV aircraft, aircraft that literally have jet engines and are many FEET in length...RC rockets that hit thousands of feet high..have been around for decades. Om not certain why many of you think any of this ability to fly high..is suddenly new

ESTONIA

The maximum HEIGHT that you may operate a drone in Estonia is 492 feet (150 metres) above terrain or obstacles.
Refer to: https://www.ecaa.ee/sites/defaul ... espea_kaitajale.pdf (use translator)

But Mavic settings allow 1640 feet (500 metres) max.

James Young Posted at 2016-10-16 08:01
AUSTRALIA

The maximum HEIGHT that you may operate a drone in Australia is 400 feet (121 metres) above terrain or obstacles.

120 metres in New Zealand

150 meter in Indonesia

I think these toys are pretty great, but I created an account to just urge you guys to be careful. I'm a pilot, and I was pretty pro-quadcopter until last November. I was at 2,000' asl flying under Chicago O'Hare's class bravo airspace, two miles out over Lake Michigan heading southbound, and I noticed a helicopter in front of me, and a bit higher. No problem, I thought; I've got the traffic in sight. Seconds later, I blasted by this black thing with flashy lights (looked like a carnival ride) and it was very clearly a "drone" of some sort. I was about 50' from it, and I was traveling at 125kts or around 144 mph.

Please keep these toys away from real aircraft.

Hello, I live near a canyon of about 800m and I'd like to film it from bottom to top. How am I supposed to do it? I am afraid to do it from the top because it exceeds max Alt (negative though). I am unable to film from bottom because it is too high.
Can I fool it somehow?

[There are no real aircrafts here]

fans645a6c3b Posted at 2017-4-16 06:54
Hello, I live near a canyon of about 800m and I'd like to film it from bottom to top. How am I supposed to do it? I am afraid to do it from the top because it exceeds max Alt (negative though). I am unable to film from bottom because it is too high.
Can I fool it somehow?

This problem bothers me as well but I am wanting to fly up the side of cliff or mountain.

Here's what I have been doing:

If you start from above the bottom (or at the top), you can fly down first and then to the top and cover the entire distance bottom to top.  The 500m limit says you can't fly higher than 500 meters over your take off but you can fly down as far as you like and then back up to the 500m limit.

fans645a6c3b Posted at 2017-4-16 06:54
Hello, I live near a canyon of about 800m and I'd like to film it from bottom to top. How am I supposed to do it? I am afraid to do it from the top because it exceeds max Alt (negative though). I am unable to film from bottom because it is too high.
Can I fool it somehow?

I live in a place, surrounded with hills... And can'f fly to the top because of a height limit. Should follow terain 100m high, but can't... But it is just OK, if I start at the top and fly to stupid heights...