Had my first night flight last night. Here in a very deserted part of Norfolk with no one around.
Out on the coast at around 23:00hrs.

I think that in Tripod mode, the Spark could capture noctilucent lights, but that the images would be so poor in quality that you'd be better using a regular camera. No refection on the DJI Spark; it's not what it was designed to do. The brightest "star" at about 1 minute in, is Venus!
I've never, ever been so nervous in flying, could only see the Spark because of it's lights.
Did manage to see and film the Noctilucent lights with my Panasonic mirrorless camera though

Chris

Good effort but I don't fly at night.

I find the spark is easier to see at distance in the night.

m1n1s Posted at 2018-6-11 04:11
I find the spark is easier to see at distance in the night.

I think so, too. ;-)

Nicely done, , however I am very reluctant to fly at night,, even with a good RTH function....

Hi!
Did you actually took some pics? Or only Vid? IMHO Spark is able to capture the noctilucent clouds - based on some night pictures I made

Greetz
Weesel

I am not allowed to fly at night here in NL, but I still wish we had a sensor + lens that could do this.

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-11 04:32
I am not allowed to fly at night here in NL, but I still wish we had a sensor + lens that could do this.

Come and visit Norfolk, fly in to Norwich - we have an amazing national Park area called the broads that allows you to fly (sensibly)!

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 04:44
Come and visit Norfolk, fly in to Norwich - we have an amazing national Park area called the broads that allows you to fly (sensibly)!

Nice
Who knows one day!

Chris Thank you for the Video, I replied on the Photo Post you made.

Hopefully soon I will start uploading footage re some Spark Mods when I finish them.

I have some Night Flying Mods I made thanks to the help of some Pro Guys in the US.
In the US to fly at night you need to be FAA 107.29 Approved for Night Flights Waiver.

Here in Malta you need Special Permit to Fly at Night and also need to be Extra Careful.

DMX_MT Posted at 2018-6-11 04:59
Chris Thank you for the Video, I replied on the Photo Post you made.

Hopefully soon I will start uploading footage re some Spark Mods when I finish them.

Look forward to see seeing your mods, it's like driving without a driving instructor for the very first time...
I was over marshland and a creek, so no danger to people, but if it had landed anywhere other than the planned RTH point; bye bye Spark...and I would not have bleated on here about a fly away, would have been Pilot Error

That is 2300hrs? that is usually our 2115 CDT

A CW Posted at 2018-6-11 03:48
Good effort but I don't fly at night.

FAA does not have night time restrictions for hobbyists flying under section 336.
Part 107 commercial drone pilots are restricted to civil twilight - 30 min prior to sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset without a waiver.

pmshop Posted at 2018-6-11 05:17
That is 2300hrs? that is usually our 2115 CDT

Actual time from the metadata was 2018:06:10 22:46:26  BST so not quite 23:00hrs, but we are at 52 Degrees latitude here.
Chris

pmshop Posted at 2018-6-11 05:20
FAA does not have night time restrictions for hobbyists flying under section 336.
Part 107 commercial drone pilots are restricted to civil twilight - 30 min prior to sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset without a waiver.

Mine are Commercial Registered like you said.

I just wanted to be in Line just like the US Commercial Pilots. Night Flying has its own risks too so better be prepared to the Fullest for my Safety and the Safety of others.

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 05:15
Look forward to see seeing your mods, it's like driving without a driving instructor for the very first time...
I was over marshland and a creek, so no danger to people, but if it had landed anywhere other than the planned RTH point; bye bye Spark...and I would not have bleated on here about a fly away, would have been Pilot Error

I agree Chris about the RTH. You just need to be extra precautious to always keep it at Safe Distance.

Tripod Mode seems to do a really good job on Stabilising the Drone. Welldone Chris !

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 04:44
Come and visit Norfolk, fly in to Norwich - we have an amazing national Park area called the broads that allows you to fly (sensibly)!

I will have to make a note of that for future trips.
I always find a way to fly near/ around National Parks

Devil's Tower, Wyoming is only 6 miles around the perimeter.
I have DIY drones that can make that.

Then the Grand Canyon...I plan to take a 2 hr trip with a guide to the north ridge on the west side of the canyon from Fredonia, Az

DMX_MT Posted at 2018-6-11 05:31
Mine are Commercial Registered like you said.

I just wanted to be in Line just like the US Commercial Pilots. Night Flying has its own risks too so better be prepared to the Fullest for my Safety and the Safety of others.

Best thing about FAA's opinion on 336 or Part 107, you can hold a license for part 107 BUT you can fly section 336 as a hobbyist any time you are not making money.
That is the determining factor - making money.

For instance, if I had my part 107 and a "super moon" with vivid clouds rose at 3AM...I could go up and get the shot for personal use.
However, if someone wanted to buy the shot, I could not sell it because it then becomes a commercial flight, not a hobbyist flight.

pmshop Posted at 2018-6-11 05:38
I will have to make a note of that for future trips.
I always find a way to fly near/ around National Parks

Look forward to that Footage ;-)

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 05:57
Look forward to that Footage ;-)

Not anytime soon...long term goals.

But the Grand Canyon may be this winter - fingers crossed.

Most of my distance flights were at night. Is a lot easier to spot the drone and the weather a lot cooler. All of them were over the sea or over the shore line. At first it can be a bit nerve wracking but you get used to it.
In Brazil is not allowed to fly at night but if you are in a desert place and don't fly over the city nobody will bother you.
In fact I took a beautiful night photo few weeks ago with the spark. The weather was perfect with no wind at all so I was able to set the shutter speed at 2 seconds. IMHO the result was nice.
Thanks for the video m8!!!!!

You're braver than I good sir. Maybe once I end up (inevitably) purchasing a higher end drone (Mavic or above), I'll fly my Spark at night. Great footage though.

DMX_MT Posted at 2018-6-11 05:35
I agree Chris about the RTH. You just need to be extra precautious to always keep it at Safe Distance.

Tripod Mode seems to do a really good job on Stabilising the Drone. Welldone Chris !

What are these landing pad mods you're talking about good sir?

BrilhasMuito Posted at 2018-6-11 06:15
Most of my distance flights were at night. Is a lot easier to spot the drone during night and the weather is a lot cooler. All of them were over the sea or over the shore line. At first it can be a bit nerve wracking but you get used to it.
In Brazil is not allowed to fly at night but if you are in a desert place and don't fly over the city nobody will bother you.
In fact I took a beautiful night photo few weeks ago with the spark. The weather was perfect with no wind at all so I was able to set the shutter speed at 2 seconds. IMHO the result was nice.

Please link to your video?
Thank you, would love to see the footage.
Chris

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 06:37
Please link to your video?
Thank you, would love to see the footage.
Chris

I didnt shot a video. I took a few photos. I will post them here as soon as possible.

hawkmankt Posted at 2018-6-11 06:36
What are these landing pad mods you're talking about good sir?

Still working on them, Hawk.

pmshop Posted at 2018-6-11 05:56
Best thing about FAA's opinion on 336 or Part 107, you can hold a license for part 107 BUT you can fly section 336 as a hobbyist any time you are not making money.
That is the determining factor - making money.

So as a Hobbyist in US you have more Privileges.

DMX_MT Posted at 2018-6-11 07:41
So as a Hobbyist in US you have more Privileges.

in a comparison, yes...hobbyists do have more privileges than the licensed pilots.
Go figure out that one.
Government at it's best

pmshop Posted at 2018-6-11 05:56
Best thing about FAA's opinion on 336 or Part 107, you can hold a license for part 107 BUT you can fly section 336 as a hobbyist any time you are not making money.
That is the determining factor - making money.

The beauty of capitalism!

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-11 06:37
Please link to your video?
Thank you, would love to see the footage.
Chris

The night pic I promissed. Straight from SD. I gotta say thats BAD! I had looked just on the phone screen, it was nice there. hahahahahhahahaha

BrilhasMuito Posted at 2018-6-11 15:51
The night pic I promissed. Straight from SD. I gotta say thats BAD! I had looked just on the phone screen, it was nice there. hahahahahhahahaha

[view_image]

Nice capture of the lights on the shore though!

m1n1s Posted at 2018-6-11 04:11
I find the spark is easier to see at distance in the night.

i agree. I too fly at night upto 1.2 km distances. Very smooth and safe to fly SPARK at night.

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-12 04:43
Nice capture of the lights on the shore though!

When I posted the pic it was ugly now its kind of nice. I guees thats the difference between screens. Does it appear nice to you or all exploded?  

BrilhasMuito Posted at 2018-6-12 07:07
When I posted the pic it was ugly now its kind of nice. I guees thats the difference between screens. Does it appear nice to you or all exploded?

Not exploded at all, we have to remember that the sensor in the Spark is very small by comparison to a camera sensor - we are pushing it here I think!
Chris

S.J Posted at 2018-6-12 04:52
i agree. I too fly at night upto 1.2 km distances. Very smooth and safe to fly SPARK at night.

I don't get 1.2Km in the daylight here in the UK, I guess to do with the frequency of the wifi, 1.2km's is a very long way! Good luck.

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-12 09:24
I don't get 1.2Km in the daylight here in the UK, I guess to do with the frequency of the wifi, 1.2km's is a very long way! Good luck.

Have you tried using the signal booster?

BrilhasMuito Posted at 2018-6-12 09:38
Have you tried using the signal booster?
[view_image]

No, I find it hard enough to see the Spark at a few hundred metres, so I think at a kilometre away, it would be out of my sight!
Thanks for pointing them out though.
Chris

ChrisJG Posted at 2018-6-12 09:24
I don't get 1.2Km in the daylight here in the UK, I guess to do with the frequency of the wifi, 1.2km's is a very long way! Good luck.

its very easy. just use the moded version of dji go 4 app. No fuss No pain and No gain.just cool flights.
SPARK Flying with superb stability.

BrilhasMuito Posted at 2018-6-12 09:38
Have you tried using the signal booster?
[view_image]

I use this type of signal booster each flight , OTG cable and a RED 3D printed battery retainer , i never fly without these accessories because my spark is very naughty

m1n1s Posted at 2018-6-14 01:10
I use this type of signal booster each flight , OTG cable and a RED 3D printed battery retainer , i never fly without these accessories because my spark is very naughty

I've never used the battery retainer but the otg and the signal booster are a must have. I feel unsafe without them. hahahahahaha