I don't often post videos but a few weeks ago I was able to return to one of the places that has been out-of-bounds for the last 18 months due to construction work and manned 24x7 on-site security being present meaning that it was just too risky flying there in case my quad went down in view of the security compound and needed retrieving. Last year I flew a couple of sessions at the next field along but on my last trip there I came a bit too close for comfort to the security van patrolling the site, so I decided it was best to just move to another flying location for the remainder of the year.

With a 6°C (~43°F) temperature and the sun making an appearance I charged up some LiPos then loaded up my backpack and headed out for my first flights in about 4 months. My previous flying session before this had been back at the beginning of October. Until recently this location and access to it was muddy and waterlogged following months of crappy winter weather, so it had dried up quite considerably in the last month or so.

These flights were done with a GEPRC Mark4 HD5. The original build log for that can be found HERE.

This was the site as it was back in July last year where I ended up having a close encounter with the on-site security patrol van...





And this is the site now after all the construction equipment has moved from the site and it has been vacated by security...





Additional photos can be found at the following Google Photo link -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/SLvQsouaMTD7LEDG6

Below are a couple the flights from a few weeks ago which is just some cruising with a bit of light freestyle thrown in. I got lazy about editing or adding music to my videos so it's just raw footage from the onboard DVR without any stabilisation or colour grading, and complete with prop noise.





The flight video below is at the same location just over 18 months ago while the foundations for the road were still being prepared and prior to the 24x7 manned security moving in. Back then there were just a couple of Armadillos securing the site as shown in another post HERE.



If you want to see what the same location looked like before the butchers moved in with their construction equipment and started destroying all the greenery, you can find the flight video at the bottom of my 2019 failsafe thread HERE.

Nice open area for ripping.  Surprised it had lasted that long as a near bare flat field so close to a useful junction network.  

Round here they are fighting for every last little pocket of land, LOADS of infill "bottoms of gardens", tiny waste areas formerly regarded as uneconomic to build on, and often closing roads that are major bus routes and heavily used anyway for months "to put in services" onto a main infrastructre that dates from the 1930's and is bluntly failing at the current load, let alone future marked add-on.  

The days round here of the 100 foot garden are diminishing as developers trash one detached or two semis's and gain access through to garden and tiny pockets of waste land the greedy are only too ready to sell off (then move away!), and in go lots of "town houses" or "apartments" like mini Ghettos.    

I really like my Mk4 (a 6" analogue modded to Vista) and have a Mk5 (5" bought with Air Unit) that is my best overall quad by far, SO well made.  

However, just over last weekend I won a new boxed Mk5 frame from a guy who'd put it in the "Cameras and Photography" section, so I got it for the minimum auction amount.

NOW, should I use FC/ESC/Motors plus a Vista I have here anyway, or go for more upmarket items.  Every time I look at FC's they seem to have leapt up in price, I CAN afford them, its just it seems like being ripped off!  I'm getting a really old man, looking at things and going " I remember when they were 7s and 6d (for a bakers dozen)".......

Hi Snow, 

Nice Videos.    Good flights. I like it. 

If only I had a place like that to fly. 

iFly 

(27-Feb-2023, 07:24 AM)BadRaven Wrote: Nice open area for ripping.  Surprised it had lasted that long as a near bare flat field so close to a useful junction network.    

Round here they are fighting for every last little pocket of land, LOADS of infill "bottoms of gardens", tiny waste areas formerly regarded as uneconomic to build on, and often closing roads that are major bus routes and heavily used anyway for months "to put in services" onto a main infrastructre that dates from the 1930's and is bluntly failing at the current load, let alone future marked add-on.  

The days round here of the 100 foot garden are diminishing as developers trash one detached or two semis's and gain access through to garden and tiny pockets of waste land the greedy are only too ready to sell off (then move away!), and in go lots of "town houses" or "apartments" like mini Ghettos.       

Unfortunately the council around here are on a ruthless housing development mission. The farmers who owned those fields probably also quickly realised that they would make far more money selling off their land than they would by slogging away for the next 20 years cultivating the land with crops. Just like the FAA and CAA don't appear to listen to anyone, the local council here just seem to completely ignore any planning permission concerns and objections from local residents and plough on with all the house building regardless. There are currently 5 huge green areas around here which have all been given planning permission and are going to be butchered and turned into a sea of red brick houses for as far as the eye can see. I'm 99% sure some backhanders are going on between corrupt local councillors and the house building companies.

Below is a plan of the 4 locations that I'm currently able to fly at when they aren't waterlogged without having to drive for miles and miles. I'm eventually going to lose fields 1, 2 & 3 (with the yellow boundaries) that are all inside the green boundary area once the builders move in and fill that whole area with residential buildings. The front is all sealed up but a brisk 20+ minute walk gets me into the fields from the rear which isn't fenced off, yet. Field 4 which isn't currently earmarked for destruction is accessible from a public footpath running alongside it, but it's only really flyable from late summer onwards once all the corn / wheat / barley has been cut down, otherwise you take the risk of losing your quad if it goes down. Virtually all the other fields around are private farmland with no easy access, so they are effectively out-of-bounds.



Gated / locked front entrance from the road outside, and also an aerial shot of the same from the inside...

(27-Feb-2023, 07:24 AM)BadRaven Wrote: I really like my Mk4 (a 6" analogue modded to Vista) and have a Mk5 (5" bought with Air Unit) that is my best overall quad by far, SO well made.

However, just over last weekend I won a new boxed Mk5 frame from a guy who'd put it in the "Cameras and Photography" section, so I got it for the minimum auction amount.

I've been eyeing the GEPRC MK5 frames for a while but they're out of stock with local vendors and are currently overpriced if buying from abroad. I do love how the Mark4 frame flies along with no props in view, and I was lucky enough to pick up a second frame (genuine GEPRC) last week for less than half of what I paid for my current one. I'll either keep it for spare parts or I'll build up another quad with it. I'm not sure yet.

(27-Feb-2023, 01:25 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: If only I had a place like that to fly. 

As long as trespassing doesn't bother you. Thankfully trespassing here is only a civil offence and not a criminal one, so in the worst case if the landowner catches you they might decide to pursue a private prosecution against you.

(27-Feb-2023, 07:41 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: As long as trespassing doesn't bother you. Thankfully trespassing here is only a civil offence and not a criminal one, so in the worst case if the landowner catches you they might decide to pursue a private prosecution against you.

Hi Snow,


Well... Although it kind of bothers me when I trespass, it sort of depends on where it
is located, what kind of property it is, and what kind of chance that I might have of
being approached by someone. I doubt that I would get into any trouble {at least
the first time, ha, ha}; probably just asked not to do it again.

I very likely trespass more than I would like to admit {all harmless of course} since
I like to go through houses that are under construction just to see the technics and
layouts. I even go up and talk to people that are there. 

On the other hand, I generally do not trespass on property that have big fences, 
big signs, gates with locks, and security systems.

iFly 

(27-Feb-2023, 10:05 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Hi Snow,


Well... Although it kind of bothers me when I trespass, it sort of depends on where it
is located, what kind of property it is, and what kind of chance that I might have of
being approached by someone. I doubt that I would get into any trouble {at least
the first time, ha, ha}; probably just asked not to do it again.

I very likely trespass more than I would like to admit {all harmless of course} since
I like to go through houses that are under construction just to see the technics and
layouts. I even go up and talk to people that are there. 

On the other hand, I generally do not trespass on property that have big fences, 
big signs, gates with locks, and security systems.

iFly 

We also don't have people with guns over here (for the most part), so if you trespass, you don't run the risk of getting some free lead.  Unlike where Lemony lives, where it seems like a bit of the Wild West.

I try to avoid farmers fields (not that there are many around here).  I do fly a lot on National Trust property and they are kind of the Nazis of the Heritage world.  They hate drone users.  I've had a handful of run ins with their wardens, each time they've been persuaded to fk off, generally by reminding them they are miles away from other people and I'm a big guy and I don't care what they think or say.  The best is when you fly from a beach and fly over there land and they can't do jack about it, since most beaches are crown property and they have no issue with drone users.  The thing about NT is a lot of moorland in Derbyshire is actually NT property.  My main haunts are abandoned quarries.  I know of a few within around 30 miles of here.  I tend to go to them and take a bag full of lipos, maybe a couple of quads and just rip packs until i get bored.  There are also a bunch of bandos around here too.  One of my favourite spots is actually a field near where I used to live (pretty much near the middle of the city).  I've posted it on here before now.  It's a little near to houses and people, but for whoop flying it's pretty sweet as long as you stay at the end farthest from the housing estate.  The downside is the number of scallys in the area.