Here is a video on YouTube of a DJI Phantom flying through fireworks at Sunfest 2014 which I think is in Florida. It also shows flying above crowds. Personally I think its a stupid idea but the footage of the fireworks is very unique. Dare I say, impressive?
Even crazier is that the pilot put the video up under his name. I hope he is ready for the barrage of comments and possible legal ramifications.
Is this another case of one person doing something that will negatively impact us all or will it ultimately show that small UAV's can be used to do things that other aerial platforms can't?
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Forget the fact that he is putting our precious hobby in peril but he is also subjecting all those to harm who he carelessly flies over.
If he was smart he would have simply recorded the fireworks, at least then he would have had the support of the hobby and still have very cool footage.
I hope they prosecute!
A drone cheap enough to fly into fireworks & throw away should be the goal. Experiencing what humans only used to experience in the milliseconds before death is what technology is going to make possible.
beyond stupid comes to mind.
sure footage is cool and it shows what they can do but this doesn't change the fact this person is idiot that broke every rule in the book for uavs and then some. out of visible range, over flown over crowds, flying over 500 feet and on top of that recording a consort they didn't pay to get into. if they get banded out right you will have people like this to thank for it.
again neat footage but more trouble then its worth.
These kinds of foolish and dangerous flights are happening far too often. I hate to say it, but this hobby appears to be on a path towards self-destruction due to necessary government regulation. With thousands of new drone owners rapidly joining the hobby, there are more crazy pilots like this every day. Some fly even more dangerous missions, endangering passenger aircraft by flying at very high altitudes, way beyond their line of sight. Some even fly such missions at night. Many post videos of their dangerous flights online, thereby providing hard evidence for regulators at the FAA to see. And make no mistake, the FAA is aware of the rising danger of hobby aircraft and is responding. It really has no choice but to respond, since air safety is the FAA's primary mission.
Just imagine what the response from congress and the FAA will be after citizens are injured and/or when a manned aircraft collides with a hobby drone. The response will be very public, loud and ugly.
We all should remember that the government does have enormous power to restrict and regulate this hobby. 3DRobotics is currently prevented from exporting autopilot hardware by the government, for example. And the FAA is currently proposing rules to make FPV flights unlawful. This in response to the 'crazy' FPV pilots.
We all really enjoy this hobby. The vast majority of us do so safely by following the AMA rules. However, we have no constitutional right to fly. Our ability to use the air space is a privilege granted by the government. The government can restrict the hobby by adding regulations. And they will do so order to maintain air safety. They can 'take away our blue sky'.
The Sunfest 2014 hobby drone flight, and others that are even more dangerous, are providing ample evidence of growing safety risks. These are forcing the government to act.
Those of us who wish to protect the hobby should speak out in unison to condemn 'crazy' pilots. Vote down their youtube videos. Post comments to expose their acts as dangerous and unlawful. Work together to protect the hobby or risk losing our privileges.
Fly safely.
Holy smokes that was awesome! Kudos for him having the balls to post such an amazing video!
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