Drone News Roundup: Epic FPV Iceland Video, New Drone Show World Record, and More!

This week we’re covering a cinematic FPV flight along the ridge of Iceland’s famous Vestrahorn mountain.

We’re also covering a new drone light show world record from EHang, the best drone deals this month, Ukraine’s growing role in the U.S. drone industry, and a major BVLOS milestone in North Dakota.

Now on to the links!

FPV Drone Flight Along Iceland’s Vestrahorn Ridge

FPV pilot Gonçalo A. Franco recently shared this dramatic flight along the ridge line of Vestrahorn, one of Iceland’s most recognizable mountains. Located on the country’s southeastern coast, Vestrahorn is known for its jagged peaks, black sand beaches, and rapidly changing weather conditions. Flying close to the ridge, Franco showcases the scale of the mountain and the rugged landscape surrounding it, capturing striking footage of one of Iceland’s most dramatic coastal mountains.. As for his FPV setup, Franco shared that he used an iFlight Nazgul F7 equipped with a DJI O4 Pro to shoot this video.

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EHang Sets New Drone Light Show World Record with 22,580 Drones

EHang has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of drones flown simultaneously in a drone light show, flying an incredible 22,580 drones at once in Shenzhen, China. The show surpassed the previous record by more than 2,000 drones, featuring large-scale animations and coordinated aerial imagery across Shenzhen’s skyline. According to EHang, the drones were launched simultaneously from 16 barges positioned on the water, creating what is now the largest coordinated drone light show ever flown.

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How to Capture Better Drone Sunrises and Sunsets

Want to get good sunrise and sunset footage with your drone? This video walks you through the process, including how to plan a golden-hour shoot, which camera settings to use, and framing techniques that can help make your footage more compelling. One big takeaway: planning and framing matter just as much as camera settings. Take a look to learn more about getting great drone photos and video at the start and end of the day.

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Ukraine’s Drone Expertise Is Finding a Home in the U.S. Industry

Drones made by Ukraine-based General Cherry

Ukraine’s years of wartime drone development are influencing the U.S. drone industry, with Ukrainian engineers, software developers, and drone companies bringing hard-earned experience to American companies. As the U.S. tries to build its domestic drone ecosystem, companies are looking to Ukraine not just for drone technology, but for lessons in rapid innovation, manufacturing, and large-scale drone operations. One example is Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Cherry, which recently partnered with Wilcox Industries to bring its drones to the U.S. market. The partnership showcases how Ukrainian drone technology is beginning to move from the battlefield into commercial and defense applications in the U.S.—and it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more like it in the coming years.

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North Dakota’s Vantis Network Cuts BVLOS Approval Time to 23 Days

North Dakota’s Vantis network says it has reduced the average timeline for BVLOS flight approvals to just 23 days, down from a process that often takes months or even years. Vantis is a statewide drone infrastructure network designed to support BVLOS operations by providing services like airspace awareness, surveillance, and command-and-control support. North Dakota has now used Vantis in more than 30 BVLOS approvals, helping companies move from testing to real-world BVLOS operations much faster than through the traditional waiver process alone.

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