Please select Into the mobile phone version | Continue to access the computer ver.
Fort Funston - only place in San Francisco legal to fly
5788 22 2018-4-20
Uploading and Loding Picture ...(0/1)
o(^-^)o
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

After a number of back and forth phone calls and emails with the folks at the National Park Service who regulate the space around Fort Funston in San Francisco, California, I determined that this is the only place in San Francisco where it's legal to fly your drone. It's not clear that it's legal to fly here, since National Park regulations prohibit drones - it's more like there's an exemption for this area that you have to know about. So if you're in San Francisco, now you know, and you should definitely stop by and fly. And boy is it an amazingly beautiful place to fly! Here is the Google Maps link to the launch location - just make sure you show up before the gliders launch or you won't be able to fly.
The main challenge is that you have to share the air space with hang gliders and hawks who are wont to dive bomb your drone, and there's a pretty constant 5-10mph wind blowing, with stronger gusts up to 15-20. At least the wind blows on shore, so there's no risk of getting carried out to sea.

I will be returning to capture a better video, but in the mean time here is my first quick attempt. Hope you enjoy!







2018-4-20
Use props
Woe
Captain
Flight distance : 4129268 ft
  • >>>
United States
Offline

Nice video.
2018-4-20
Use props
Suren
Captain
Flight distance : 13425892 ft
  • >>>
South Africa
Offline

Nice video
2018-4-20
Use props
4WDaus
Captain
Flight distance : 1187257 ft
Australia
Offline

Well done!
2018-4-20
Use props
DJI Diana
Administrator
Flight distance : 2408 ft

Offline

Nice video, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing more works from you.
2018-4-20
Use props
A CW
Captain
Flight distance : 13838848 ft
  • >>>
United Kingdom
Offline

Cool video!   
2018-4-20
Use props
GoldenSun
Captain
Flight distance : 681903 ft
Poland
Offline

LOL sounds nerve-wracking ;)
2018-4-21
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

GoldenSun Posted at 2018-4-21 07:12
LOL sounds nerve-wracking ;)

Yeah, it was a bit nerve-wracking. Actually the reason why the video ends at 30 seconds: you can see a seagull was headed towards me and then veered away, at which point I took evasive action which isn't in the video. Seeing the seagull on the video it's hard to tell how far away it was, but looking at things from my VLOS position a few hundred feet away it looked pretty close.

At least the wind is blowing inland, so there's not much risk of getting carried out to sea by the wind. And you just have to show up to fly before the hang gliders launch, which I did.
2018-4-21
Use props
fans86bea0ca
lvl.1
United States
Offline

great post thanks....I had heard Fort Funston was "allowed" but it's good to see the link you gave that explicitly states it! (guess I didn't look hard enough ).  New drone flier, just got an Air, so will go and give it a go...did you launch from the top or down on the beach?
2018-4-24
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

fans86bea0ca Posted at 2018-4-24 17:29
great post thanks....I had heard Fort Funston was "allowed" but it's good to see the link you gave that explicitly states it! (guess I didn't look hard enough ).  New drone flier, just got an Air, so will go and give it a go...did you launch from the top or down on the beach?

Thanks. Oh definitely launch from the top, right where the gliders launch from. I even sent a link to my video to the Golden Gate National Park Service folks who replied, "Thanks for sharing!"

Link to launch location (make sure you get the whole link if it's broken):

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+Funston/@37.7145528,-122.5031054,402m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x808f7d04948d3c6b:0x2c5b494bcda94ecc!8m2!3d37.7195436!4d-122.5028052
2018-4-25
Use props
Dacdiver
Flight distance : 50003 ft
Canada
Offline

nice video
2018-4-25
Use props
B1houdini
Captain
Flight distance : 927927 ft
United States
Offline

Great video.
I thought the mist from the ocean made for a dramatic video.

2018-4-25
Use props
M2Wair
Captain
Flight distance : 1192231 ft
  • >>>
Ireland
Offline

Nice video, looked like the seagull got a bit of a shock lol
2018-4-25
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

B1houdini Posted at 2018-4-25 12:34
Great video.
I thought the mist from the ocean made for a dramatic video.

Thanks. Some time I would love to capture the fog coming in or out from that location.
2018-4-25
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

M2Wair Posted at 2018-4-25 12:40
Nice video, looked like the seagull got a bit of a shock lol

Oh I freak out every time a bird seems to fly towards my drone. I have the biggest problems with seagulls and hawks, and both are flying there. My guess is that the seagulls will veer away and they're just playing a game of "chicken", but I think the hawks mean business!
2018-4-25
Use props
Montfrooij
Captain
Flight distance : 2560453 ft
  • >>>
Netherlands
Offline

Nice video!
2018-4-26
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline


Thanks! Such a beautiful place to fly.
2018-4-26
Use props
Montfrooij
Captain
Flight distance : 2560453 ft
  • >>>
Netherlands
Offline

Danger Lampost Posted at 2018-4-26 13:01
Thanks! Such a beautiful place to fly.

Yes, thanks for sharing that!
2018-4-26
Use props
rent
Captain
Flight distance : 1773458 ft
  • >>>
Russia
Offline

I'm in SoCal so not too familiar with the municipal code in SF. Obviously the NPS has banned drone flights around Golden Gate. Are there city-imposed regulations that ban drone flights in the entire city of SF?
2018-4-26
Use props
Danger Lampost
Second Officer

United States
Offline

rent Posted at 2018-4-26 14:18
I'm in SoCal so not too familiar with the municipal code in SF. Obviously the NPS has banned drone flights around Golden Gate. Are there city-imposed regulations that ban drone flights in the entire city of SF?

I think it's an evolving thing, and what's published online may not necessarily match reality (as I found out by calling the NPS). These links may help answer your question:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/busi ... -zones-11243988.php

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/ ... -Fly-427297153.html
2018-4-27
Use props
davidmartingraf
Captain
Flight distance : 84805085 ft
  • >>>
Offline

Well photographed thanks for sharing.
2018-4-27
Use props
fans11933dd7
lvl.1

United States
Offline

It’s been like a year or so since the last time I flew there. Here’s a picture, tweaked it a bit.
I think you can fly at Treasure Island too,. never tried though. It should look nice to take some cinematic footage of the city (fr afar, kinda) BUT,. it’s always windy there too!
13C87C2F-BB1D-4D1D-A334-C354334C69A0.jpeg
B5DED467-E7C2-40B4-B3FA-3CD6A0AF36EF.jpeg
2019-3-20
Use props
TomThomson
First Officer
Flight distance : 2383960 ft
Switzerland
Offline

Nice stuff - I am looking forward to see your next >better< video
2019-3-20
Use props
Advanced
You need to log in before you can reply Login | Register now

Credit Rules