Beginner's Guide to Flying a Drone

So you've decided to become a drone pilot, huh? Congratulations cadet! Age is not a factor here!  Ok, well, you CAN be a bit young to do this, but assuming you can read, let's go! But before you crash this beautiful piece of technology, and you will, do take some simple advice. Read on to see how YOU can successfully fly it like a pro!

First and foremost, the number one thing anyone who is new to flying a drone should do is become familiar with the remote control because it is essentially the "control center". If you flub up here, things can go south real quick so make sure you know what each button and joystick does and most importantly become familiar with how to:

• Take off
• Hover
• Land
• Turn
• Move forwards
• Move backwards
• Flip

Notice that Hove is number two. Don't worry about moving around until you learn to hover well! Usually, it's just one lever that controls the up and down.  Practice hovering in one place for at least ten seconds.

Don't fly around yet!  Since you have mastered 'The Hover', you can now use your other stick to turn left and right.  Now, stay away from forward and backward for now, and concentrate on turning.  Just try left, left, left, left.  Then right, right, right, right.  You'll get it!

When you begin using your forward and backward movement successfully, you'll feel like a king! So, first bring'er up, hover, and then slowly move the forward stick to move your drone ahead.  Then, make it go backward.  That's it, take it slow.

Every time your drone crashes, just set it back up and try again. Before long, you're ready for some more space!

Moving on, the next tip I can give you after you've mastered all the controls is to actually go out and fly the drone but only in a large, open and empty space with no obstacles (also be aware if it is a drone-free space, you cannot fly your drone there and will have to find another spot). 

Start slowly and practice over and over again with taking off, hovering, turning, moving, landing, etc. As time progresses, you will eventually get more and more comfortable with flying your drone and will be able to perform more "risky" maneuvers, like flips and going through your own race track, with ease.Just watch out for those trees, wires, and people!

Lastly, the final tip I can offer is to always be wary of your surroundings and by that, I mean the weather. Wind can greatly affect how your drone flies. If you see a thunderstorm rolling in or the wind picking up, immediately stop flying and pack your drone up, you'll save yourself having to spend more money to replace your damaged drone.

We will say that if you follow these tips, take your time and keep at it, you will eventually be able to call yourself a professional drone pilot. good luck!