Drone News Roundup: Insane Snowboarding Drone Shot, Drone Present Tips, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
26 December 2024This week we’re covering a crazy drone shot of a snowboarder doing a backflip, with the drone flying through the snowboarder’s legs while he’s upside down.
We’re also covering tips for what to do if you get a drone as a present, 15 exercises to help you learn how to fly a drone, a new cinematic video shot entirely on the DJI Avata 2, and news that China is cutting off the global supply of drones and drone components.
Now let’s get to those links!
Insane Through-the-Legs Snowboarding Backflip Captured by Drone
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This drone shot is nuts—and not something you pull off on the first try. The video was shot by Sebastian Schieren, a popular content creator and drone pilot known for his travel and outdoor adventure videos. In an explainer video, Schieren talks about how many times he had to crash to finally get the shot we see here. Spoiler alert—it was a lot of times. Check out the incredible clip in the video above, and follow the link below for Schieren’s explanation of how he pulled this off, including shots of his many failed attempts.
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Just Got a Drone? Here Are Some Tips to Help You Get Started
Just got a drone as a present? Or expecting to get one? If this is your first drone, you might be wondering about how to fly it, or what you’re supposed to do from a legal standpoint. Here’s a quick overview:
If you’re flying for fun you need to—
- Take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which we offer for free as a trusted FAA partner
- Register your drone
- Make sure your drone is compliant with the Remote ID rule (newer drones will come with Remote ID or be able to get it through a firmware update)
If you’re flying for work you need to—
- Learn the Part 107 rules—these are the FAA’s rules pertaining to commercial drone operations—and follow them
- Pass the Part 107 test (we can help—over 70,000 drone pilots have used our test prep course to get ready for the test)
- Register your drone with the FAA
- Make sure your drone is compliant with the Remote ID rule (as noted above, newer drones will come with Remote ID or be able to get it through a firmware update)
Want more information on what to do with your new drone? Follow the link below for our guide to getting a drone as a present, which includes information on complying with the law, how to build your piloting chops, and more.
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15 Exercises to Help You Learn How to Fly Your Drone
Continuing from the tips above, if you just got a new drone then you may be looking for resources to help you learn how to fly. In this video we cover all the basics for getting proficient at flying your drone, including things like hovering at eye level, flying in different patterns, and terminology like yaw, point-of-interest (POI), and return-to-home (RTH). We also cover how to take a dronie (a selfie with your drone), flying without GPS, and a lot more. Bookmark the video to help you get started with flying, and follow the link below for our supporting guide on learning how to fly a drone.
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Avata 2 Cinematic Video
Denis Barbas is one of the best creators out there right now making cinematic drone content. In this video we see Barbas’ flying chops on full display. The video was shot entirely on the DJI Avata 2 in 10-bit D-Log-M, and Color graded with the Avata 2 Cinematic LUTs. About making the video, Barbas shared: “The Avata 2 not only allows you to have an immersive FPV experience when flying but it also allows you to get some really cool and high quality shots, finally without the need of using a GoPro or Action 4 on top of it . . . I don’t remember the last time I had so much fun flying a drone.”
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China Is Cutting Off Global Drone Supplies
Credit: DJI
China has recently begun restricting the export of crucial drone components around the world, with an emphasis on restricting drone exports to Europe and the U.S. The restrictions include essential drone parts like motors, batteries, and flight controllers, and are part of an escalating trade conflict between China and the U.S., with broader implications for global drone supply chains. And these restrictions look like they’re just the beginning—it’s anticipated that China will roll out even tighter drone export controls in January.
In a related development, Skydio was recently sanctioned by the Chinese government, leading to a shortage of batteries for its X10 and other drones. But it’s the country of Ukraine that may feel the impact of these restrictions most severely, since it relies heavily on Chinese drones and drone components in its ongoing war against Russia.
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