Have you ever wanted to fly a drone but were too afraid? Flying a drone is exciting, but it isn’t exactly straightforward as many exciting tasks.
Are Beginner Drones Hard to Fly?
Beginner drones can be difficult to fly, but they should not deter you. If you have never flown a quadcopter, flying one for the first time can be scary. It can be even more complicated if you have no idea what to do. Luckily, there are plenty of resources online with Youtube videos and articles. You can also take drone flying lessons if you have them in your area.
What Makes Flying Drones Hard?
Several things make flying drones hard:
- Syncing your hand control movement with the drone. At first, knowing what to do with the controller to get the drone to do what you want can be hard to get your head around. It can be very disorienting. Once you get the hang of it, though, it becomes easier. You may want to familiarize yourself with your drone before flying it because you may have trouble learning it if you have never flown one before.
- Being able to read the environment properly. When you are in the process of flying a drone, it’s helpful to be able to read the environment around you. However, this can be tricky. Especially at high altitudes, it can be hard to tell if you are flying above other people or objects. This can make it difficult to aim the drone the way you want it to. Getting used to the forces of the drone’s movements. When you first start flying something as significant as a drone, getting your head around its movements can be challenging. It can quickly move in ways that you don’t expect it to, making flying feels scary.
- Not relaxing and being nervous that you will crash. Drones can be expensive, and it can be devastating when something goes wrong with one of them. You want to be able to fly it well and avoid crashing it at all costs. Learning how to fly it when you first start might be challenging. However, it is essential to relax. If you relax, you are less likely to make mistakes.
Start With A Cheap Quadcopter Drone
Many beginners are hesitant about buying an expensive drone and risk crashing it and damaging it. Yes, there are lots of costly ready-to-fly drones that come already in perfect condition. Still, many beginners choose to go with a cheaper model they can fly and the most affordable drone they can find, practice on, and upgrade later down the line when they’re more experienced with their flying skills. Then they can move on to the more professional models as they progress in their flying careers.
What Is The Best Way for Beginners to Learn Flying Drones For The First Time?
Without getting into the essential step-by-step guide to flying drones as a beginner, there are some methods to help you learn that I used when I first started:
- Choose the suitable drone for beginners – here are our recommendations on the best drones with cameras for beginners for under $100.
- Youtube videos – search online and find valuable tutorials on flying drones. The internet is full of information, so it is good to educate yourself as much as possible before you have to fly a drone yourself.
- Read relevant materials – there are plenty of websites, books, or magazines where you can find easy-to-follow tips on flying a drone.
- Drone flying lessons – There are countless places online to get drone lessons. However, I would check your area first as these places might be hard to find in your area. It will be a good starting point if you know of a local club.
- Practice in a safe space – flying drones might only be possible at your local park, at first, golf course, or in your backyard. Getting comfortable in a safe place instead of the actual outdoors. This will allow you to get used to the movements of the drones and remain calm and relaxed.
- Start with a good beginner drone – Drones can be expensive, and you want to ensure you get one that will last you a while. Look for a less expensive drone with a lot of options and features. Please don’t go for the cheapest one you can find because it might not give you the performance you need.
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Fly a Drone?
In general, you should be pretty confident as a drone pilot within a few hours, but it could take a lot longer if you are looking to fly a drone like a pro.
The time it takes to learn how to fly a drone well will depend on many factors. For example, how often are you getting outside and practicing? Are you doing your lessons online or in person? Are you paying attention to any mistakes you made and trying to improve?
What Does It Take For A Beginner To Master Flying A Drone?
To master the art of flying a drone well, beginners need to practice in time and effort. Additionally, they need to pay close attention to what they’re learning and any mistakes they make.
Learning how to fly a drone correctly takes time, as you must keep practicing and pay attention to what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. If you practice consistently, you’ll become better than you were the day before. So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see improvement right away.
A beginner will also make mistakes, so it’s essential to try to learn from those mistakes and continue practicing.
Are Some Drones Easier To Fly Than Others?
If you are a beginner, you don’t have to buy the most expensive drone you can find. However, looking for a drone with many options and features would be best. The more expensive drones are easier to fly because they have more features that assist the pilot during flight.
These features include GPS, obstacle avoidance, hovering stability, and similar features. Cheaper beginner drones usually don’t have bells and whistles, so they’re less expensive. Still, it would be best if you are looking for high-quality beginner drones are also out there, and you can find them anywhere online.
Practicing Your Drone Flying Skills
Practicing your drone flying skills is just like practicing any other new skill. It would help if you had a lot of practice before getting good at it. So it would help if you were practicing flying your drone regularly.
If you’re flying your drone only occasionally or putting it away, you’re not getting the most out of it and aren’t improving as much as you could. You’ll also give yourself a reason to keep practicing by looking for challenges for yourself.
For example, you could fly through a complex obstacle course designed to test your skills or challenge friends to see who can better control their drone. So get out there and start practicing, and use your drone often.
I would also recommend identifying areas of drone flying that you are weak in and working on that as much as possible. For example, if you are weak at obstacle avoidance, practice with that a lot until it becomes natural to you.
Common Mistakes To Avoid That Beginners Sometimes Make During A Drone Flight
There are many mistakes that beginner drone pilots make when learning how to fly drones:
- Not paying attention to the weather – Weather conditions can change quickly, and you should ensure that you’re aware of any weather risks and take appropriate precautions. For example, if your drone doesn’t have a collision avoidance mode, you should avoid flying it in the rain or over wind or snow.
- Taking it too fast – You must practice flying your drone slowly and carefully using control inputs and gradually increasing speed until it becomes easy. Until you’ve mastered this, you should only fly it at a comfortable pace.
- Optimizing control surfaces – There’s plenty of room on your drone’s frame for control surfaces to fold up to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics. These surfaces will flap up and down as you fly. If other objects weigh them down, they won’t flap up and down as effectively, and your drone may move more unpredictably. (and less efficiently) through the air.
- Not knowing the drone laws in your area – Most countries, including the United States, have specific drone laws limiting how and where you can fly your drone. (and how high or far), and for how long. The fines for breaking the law can be steep, and you might be arrested and charged with a crime.
- Flying it too far away – Flight range refers to the distance your drone can fly before it starts to lose connection and fall from the sky. Make sure that you always keep your drone in your eyesight.
- Flying it too close to people or buildings – If you’re too close to buildings or people and your drone crashes, you could injure or destroy someone’s property. Always make sure that you fly your drone safely and legally.
Should Beginners Fly FPV Drones?
Flying an FPV drone can be a truly exhilarating experience. If you are a novice pilot and have never flown a drone, you may feel a bit nervous before your first flight (especially if you get your drone as a gift).
However, as a beginner, you can safely fly many FPV drones. FPV stands for first-person view, which means you control the drones with a first-person perspective from the drone’s camera. Your body is the controller, and your eyes are the drone’s camera.
There is a higher learning curve, but you can do it! The feedback of flying an FPV drone is exhilarating; it’s challenging and exciting. You’re immediately in control of the technology and can discover new things if you have the inclination and time to devote to it.
Is A DJI Drone Right For A Beginner Drone Pilot?
DJI drone reviews often sing their praises, and it’s easy to see why. DJI drones are some of the most popular on the market, and it’s easy to see why: They have incredible flight capabilities and are affordable, too. With so many good models to choose from, it can be challenging to figure out which one is the right one for a beginner.
One thing about DJI drones is that they are expensive, which can make many beginners balk at the thought of buying them. Other manufacturers like Hubsan and Cheerson are more affordable but offer less in the way of quality. It’s a case of trial and error until you find a suitable model.
More Quick Tips For Beginners
Here are some more quick tips that I can share:
- Always make sure your batteries are charged before flying.
- Don’t fly during bad weather.
- Don’t fly over an area where you cannot access the drone if it were to crash. An excellent example of this is behind fences that block access to a site.
- Don’t drink and fly drones. The same goes for drugs.
- Fly in open areas only.
Final Notes
Learning how to fly a drone is difficult at first, but it will get easier as you get used to it and practice flying your drone. It is a lot of fun; almost everyone can learn to fly a drone.