Drone News Roundup: Long-Range FPV Drone Flight Over the Dolomites, Sales for DJI Neo and Flip, and More!

This week we’re covering a nail-biting long-range FPV flight over the Dolomites.

We’re also covering deals on the DJI Neo and Flip, how automated drones are transforming ski resorts, big police investments in Skydio drones, and a lawsuit against Anzu Robotics.

Now let’s get to those links!

Long-Range FPV Flight Over the Dolomites

In this long-range FPV clip, SirM Productions flies an iFlight Bob57 through the Dolomites, capturing smooth, high-speed lines over the snowy mountains. Flying at almost two miles above sea level (2.8 km), the footage was shot on a GoPro HERO12 around the Croda del Becco peak, one of the most iconic points in the famous mountain range. Flights like this are impressive to watch and nerve-racking to execute. That’s because this is true long-range flying, with stretches where the drone is a tiny speck against the terrain—if something goes wrong, there’s no way you’re walking over to pick it up.

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Deals on the DJI Neo and DJI Flip

The DJI Flip | Credit: DJI

Amazon is currently offering discounts on DJI’s follow me drones, the DJI Neo and the DJI Flip. The Neo is one of DJI’s cheapest drones ever, with a focus on simplified flying that offers automated shooting modes like QuickShots. Also inexpensive at under $400, the Flip is a step up from the Neo, with stronger wind resistance and more manual control options for pilots who want something beyond fully automated capture.

• The Neo is on sale for 25% off—selling for $149 instead of $199
• The Flip is on sale for 15% off—selling for $329 instead of $389

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How Automated Drones Are Transforming Ski Resorts

A ski resort in the Austrian Alps called Planai is using the DJI Dock 3 in its day-to-day operations, doing work like routine slope checks and documenting conditions across wide terrain. Using the dock allows for automated repeat flights over the slopes, collecting data on mountain conditions and sharing it quickly to the Planai team. The drone is not only faster than collecting information in person, it’s also safer, since people don’t have to risk the elements to get it. This kind of automation is especially useful in the extreme environments in which ski resorts operate, where weather and visibility can change fast and terrain access isn’t always safe—or even possible.

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Skydio Gets Big Deals with L.A. and Orlando Police Departments

Credit: Skydio

Police departments in Los Angeles and Orlando are moving to expand their drone programs with major purchases from Skydio. In Los Angeles, the LAPD is working on a $3.9 million deal to buy more Skydio drones. And in Orlando, the OPD is considering a $6.8 million investment in Skydio technology to scale up its drone operations. As part of its expansion, the LAPD has also committed to increasing transparency by publishing flight data online as its drone program grows., just as neighboring Chula Vista PD already does.

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Texas Attorney General Sues Anzu Robotics

Credit: Anzu Robotics

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Anzu Robotics, alleging the company misled Texas consumers by trying to hide its connections to DJI. The claim seems odd given that Anzu openly talked about these ties when it launched, publicly stating that it had a licensing agreement with DJI to create an NDAA-compliant Mavic 3. (The NDAA compliance mainly came from the fact that Anzu didn’t make its drones in China.) The lawsuit adds to Anzu’s recent challenges. Last week, we reported that the company is discontinuing its flagship drone, the Raptor, citing supply chain constraints and difficulty securing components.

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