If you’re thinking about buying and flying a drone with your kids, you’re not alone in that airborne fantasy. Drones are quickly becoming a popular pastime for flyers of varying skill levels. In fact, most drones come with a variety of flight modes that can be customized for each remote pilot.
Best drones and flight modes for youngsters and teens
Flight-savvy writers at Dummies explain that for new drone pilots, Standard mode is the best way to go. In Standard mode, controls are operated from the same relative position as a pilot in a cockpit. With the right sort of drone in an easy to learn mode, your kids can join the trend that is tipping the scales in Silicon Valley, according to Goldman Sachs.
Young drone pilots who boast considerable flying photography experience may desire a more sophisticated drone model. Many enthusiasts recommend the Phantom 4 from DJI. This 4K HD drone camera offers superior stabilization technology and by all accounts is a decent drone for advanced beginners.
If you’ve never flown your own drone before, you might be wondering how to choose the
best remote control drones to suit your kid’s ability, coordination, and intelligence. Start by browsing reliable review sites to read recommendations based on age, skill, and other factors.
Headless drone piloting
No, it’s not the plot of a horror movie. “Headless” or “Heads Free” mode does away with orientation worries. As long as the front of the drone is the same as the pilot’s front at moment of takeoff, left and right remain the same for the unmanned aircraft and the person controlling it. This ensures that the algorithms in the microcontroller compensate for directional changes. Headless mode makes sure the drone moves forward when the rudder is pushed forward no matter which direction the drone is facing.
A quadcopter drone, like any other vehicle, has a front and a rear. Trouble is, some drones are designed with such symmetry, it’s difficult to know which end faces forward. For this reason, some drone makers now ship with color coded front and back propellers. If your kid’s drone ever flies far enough away that they cannot see which direction it is facing, Headfree mode can help it come home.
Drones with a view
If your kids want to see the world from the vantage point of their drone, choose a drone with FPV, or first person view, technology. Streaming footage provided by an FPV drone gives young pilots a bird’s eye peek at the neighborhood. FPV are preferred over typical camera drones by drone racers due to the nature of the view angle. Please remember that all drones, whether piloted by adults or kids, must be registered with the FAA.
Baby Boomers who grew up reading science fiction and watching The Jetsons fully expected to own a flying car in the 21st century. That hasn’t happened yet, but the kids and grandkids of those hopeful Boomers are having a great time flying their own drones.