Drone News Roundup: Tightrope Walk Between Hot Air Balloons Captured by Drone, Republicans Call for DJI Audit, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
23 July 2025This week we’re covering an insane tightrope walk between two hot air balloons caught on the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.
We’re also covering the call from Republicans for a fast-tracked audit of DJI, the winning photos from the first International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest, DJI’s major update of its 3D modeling software Terra, and FlyGuys—”the Uber for drone pilots”—raising $13 million to expand operations.
Now let’s get to those links!
World’s Highest Highline Traverse Captured by Drone
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In this video, we see daredevil slackliner Julien Roux shatter records by tightroping between two hot air balloons on a 2-cm wide line suspended at 2.6 miles in the air—higher than Mont Blanc’s summit. The footage was shot on a DJI Mavic 3 Pro. But DJI didn’t just shoot the video. Its drones were also used to set up the line between the two balloons. Facing biting cold and swirling winds, this video of Roux’s feat is an impressive mix of aerial sports and drone storytelling. Follow the link below for a 3-minute video highlighting Roux and his passion for highlining.
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Republicans Demand Fast-Tracked DJI Audit
Credit: DJI
U.S. House Republicans have formally requested an urgent, accelerated national security review of DJI and other Chinese drone makers. In the request, they cite the need to determine whether widespread use of Chinese drones poses unacceptable risks to U.S. infrastructure and public safety. But the review would actually be a good thing for DJI. If the company isn’t formally reviewed by December 23 of this year, it will automatically face a ban under the 2025 NDAA—and this review could be the thing that helps DJI avoid that ban.
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Beautiful Drone Photos from Inaugural Contest
Credit: Joanna Steidle
We’re loving the drone photos featured in the inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest. And we’re especially in awe of the aerial images captured by Joanna Steidle, a talented drone pilot from the Hamptons, in New York. Steidle took home the top prize this year for her stunning portfolio featuring top-down shots of marine wildlife—shots like the one shown above of a spinner shark chasing bait fish off Long Island’s coast. The contest drew over 1,500 entries, spotlighting unique landscapes and wildlife from around the globe. Follow the link below to see more of the winning photos, and see more of Steidle’s work here on her website.
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DJI Terra 5 Sets New 3D Model Standard with 3D Gaussian Splatting
DJI has unveiled Terra 5, featuring game-changing 3D Gaussian Splatting* to create super-realistic 3D models that preserve fine details like glass, vegetation, and complex architecture. The update doubles processing speed and delivers survey-grade accuracy with lower hardware requirements, making high-end digital twins and city-scale mapping accessible on entry-level computers. Enhanced LiDAR and multispectral workflows round out a massive leap forward for aerial surveying, urban planning, and digital preservation.
*3D Gaussian Splatting is an advanced computer graphics technique that represents 3D scenes using millions of tiny, translucent ellipsoids called Gaussian splats, instead of traditional polygons or voxels.
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FlyGuys Lands $13M to Be Uber for Drone Pilots
FlyGuys just raised $13 million in a Series A-1 funding round to accelerate growth as the “Uber for drone pilots.” The company connects clients with a nationwide network of over 16,000 FAA-certified pilots, enabling fast, on-demand data capture for industries from energy to agriculture. The new funding is aimed at scaling globally, expanding mission management software, and creating new opportunities for independent pilots amid soaring demand for drone data. If you’re a Part 107-certified drone pilot looking for work, it’s definitely worth checking FlyGuys out to see if they have anything in your area.
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