Many amateur photographers purchase quadcopter drones to capture unique perspectives on their subjects, but don’t always think about what it means to fly one. Piloting an aerial photography drone smoothly takes a bit of practice and an understanding of basic controls, but the dual processors of the GoPro Solo 3DR make taking flight for the first time as easy as possible. Harvey Norman has GoPro drones in stock now, so your flight class can begin today.
Pre-Flight Checklist
Before taking your Solo Drone to the skies for the first time, it is important to inspect it for airworthiness, as even a casual inspection can identify potentially major issues. First, be sure both your drone and controller are fully charged, and inspect all the rotors for good repair.
Next, examine the landing gear and body to be sure they are in good condition and check for any loose parts or missing screws on the unit. Ensure your compass is properly calibrated, then place your drone on the ground and back away to a safe distance before pressing the launch button to begin your flight.
Basic Controls
Competently piloting a quadcopter starts with a basic understanding of flight controls. The four basic controls are roll (side to side tilt), pitch (back and forth tilt), yaw (rotation) and throttle (vertical motion). Used in concert, these four controls enable you to position the Solo Drone practically anywhere within its operational limits, and the video-game inspired controller makes for an intuitive flight even for novice pilots.
Flying a quadcopter is a matter of positioning the propellers correctly. For instance, pushing the control stick to the right tilts them so that their tops point in that direction. If the bottom of the propellers face to the left, they drive air in that direction which pushes your Solo Drone right. The opposite happens when you push the control stick to the left, and a similar concept governs forward and backward movement.
Your GoPro Solo Drone controller is specially designed to make flight highly intuitive. The left control stick controls left, right, backward and forward flight while the right stick rotates the craft and adjusts the hovering height. Once you understand the basic movement of a quadcopter, placing it in perfect position for the shot will become second nature. Use common sense when piloting your GoPro Drone, and always be mindful of people and property in the area.