{"id":3873,"date":"2016-03-27T02:12:31","date_gmt":"2016-03-27T01:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/?p=3873"},"modified":"2025-10-19T13:43:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T12:43:37","slug":"flying-solo-over-the-shenandoah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tazmpictures.com\/site\/?p=3873","title":{"rendered":"Flying Solo over the Shenandoah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I first saw footage taken on DJI’s new consumer drone, my response was, “MUST HAVE.” I’m now on my second camera drone, the 3D Robotics Solo<\/a>, and I’m still in search of the elusive magical footage – soaring over the Okavango Delta as a herd of Wildebeest run from some unseen predator, flying in closer to spot the pride of lions crouching in the nearby scrub, ready to pounce. And then you drop a lot of cash, and it ends up being the shaky footage from a model airplane flying over your back yard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I still hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 3DR’s latest software upgrade, which now includes a Google Earth representation of all airports, surrounded by “no-fly” radii, and all national parks (also off limits) mapped, I realized if I want to fly the Solo, I’m going to have to hit the road. This is ultimately a good thing, of course – but I had no idea there were so many airports!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we headed up to a cabin overlooking the Shenandoah Valley, where I was able to (legally) put the Solo through its paces, practice maneuvering it, try out some of the “smart shots” – in which the Solo flies a prescribed route, while keeping the subject in the center of the camera.  I flew the drone in a pretty heavy snowstorm – which the manufacturer does not recommend; got grounded while flying over the Shenandoah river in a state park (no published prohibition but whatever) and had the drone careen out of control and crash under a railroad trestle.  I am guessing that the metal from the rail line messed with the GPS and\/or compass – but it was an opportunity to learn what to do when things go haywire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a few weeks, we’ll be off to Madagascar – where it seems each flight must be pre-approved by the Civil Aviation Administration.  Always the bureaucracy, but I hope to be able to experience and share some unique views of a place most people only know as an animated children’s film.  In the meantime, here’s a little something from Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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