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Video with bad decisions
#1
I've been going back and forth on a video based on safety and being a good steward in the community. In no way would I want this video to make someone else feel like it's appropriate to do what I've done. I'd like opinions on if I should post it. 

So first the backstory.

I found a tiny park about 2 months ago. Before my first flight actually. I knew it was small but it looked like a nice place to fly, there were some trees and some open area and in general it looked like an OK spot to my inexperienced eyes. This past weekend I was headed to the RC park early and wanted to make a few stops to see if there was somewhere I could fly and this little park came to mind. When I got there it was empty (which with a park this size it needs to be empty to fly there)... 

So already item 1 fail... if a park is too small to fly at when there is anyone around, you probably shouldn't fly there at all because someone could show up while you're in the air. but, this was not what was on my mind. 

So I grab a spot, bring over my quad, batteries, goggles and vrx, and radio. I power up, get the goggles on and start flying. Up until this point I hadn't even thought about the power lines overhead, but they were thick enough that I could see them in the goggles. My initial reaction was "This is a critical object that I must avoid" not "This could be dangerous even if these cables are likely well insulated"... So I flew it anyway paying close attention to where the cables where and avoiding them, however I did get rather close in a few spots (not as close as it looks I think, but still close enough that if anything went wrong with my radio or I made a mistake I could have hit one of the cables). 

The flying was fun, I learned that I could fly in a tight spot and even enjoyed almost more of a proximity flying experience. After I landed though it started to occur to me that 1: the park was too small, 2: those power lines were more than just an object to avoid, they are a serious risk, and 3: I maybe shouldn't even post this video as it could be a bad example for others. 

So what are your thoughts on the subject? do I:
  1. Bury the video, maybe even marking it unlisted on youtube and be done with it?
  2. Post it but explain what I did wrong to share my learning experience and possibly help other new pilots consider things to look for in a flying spot?
  3. Post it and not worry too much about it, at most posting a disclaimer that I sort of knew what I was doing (I actually did, I was very confident at the time that my flying skills would not cause me to hit the wires) and dont try this at home sort of thing
My favorite option is #2 because it allows me to share a pretty fun video and possibly to share my experience of learning new critical habits to scoping out a flying location (Note, that I've made this mistake before BTW if you look at the very beginning of my no ghosts video... I was even less aware in that video). However, I am open to feedback.   Popcorn
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
[-] The following 1 user Likes Carl.Vegas's post:
  • fftunes
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#2
I say pick any option (but if you pick #1 - give us the URL) Big Grin Popcorn
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#3
It's public on my youtube channel at the moment. Called "Tiny Park Progressor" if you want to track it down.
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
[-] The following 1 user Likes Carl.Vegas's post:
  • sloscotty
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#4
Found it - very nice (very tight)! That's gotta be a good skill-builder exercise. I'll have to go back and have a look at some of the parks around me that I had dismissed as "too small" (most of them much bigger than that one). Thumbs Up
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#5
For me, it was sort of a surprise. I felt very confident flying in such a small space and was like "I didn't know I had firmed up my flying skills this much". Which is part of why I like the idea of posting it. I just want to be mindful of the "do what I say not what I do" aspect which I've seen get a bit of flack on here before Wink
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
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#6
We had an RC field where there were power lines in the vicinity. There was a "bermuda triangle" area of the field that we avoided, because flying into it invariable caused loss of radio contact with your plane. It wasn't even close to being "under" the power lines, but it was the corner that came closest too them, so we always blamed it on the power lines.

I don't know if power lines cause 2.4 radio interference or not, but that's the only danger I could see as a possibility (losing control). That didn't happen for you, and I don't think your quad is going to hurt the cables if it hit them. Big Grin

I didn't see a highway near you either, so not sure you were endangering anything except your quad. (And you do that anytime you lift off....)
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#7
Fair point. I didn't have any radio troubles while I was there, although I did only fly one battery and I wasn't near the towers where there would be more likelihood of egress...
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
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#8
I don't find that power lines cause any problem with reception for me. The field I normally fly at has a line of 220kV pylons that run along the northern side. I fly with these pylons behind me and I've never had any odd interference.
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#9
hmmm... you know now that I think about it... I think I am more worried about perception of the public than anything else. The old man who happens to pull up and is like "That guy was flying his 'drone' recklessly and could have electrocuted me even though I was 500 yards away.
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
[-] The following 1 user Likes Carl.Vegas's post:
  • Drone0fPrey
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#10
Well with no one really saying that it's especially a big deal I am going to go with option 3. I'll post it tomorrow.
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
[-] The following 1 user Likes Carl.Vegas's post:
  • sloscotty
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#11
The only problem with flying under power lines like that is if you manage to hit them with your quad and get it stuck on the line. Depending on how high a voltage they carry, the quad hanging from the lines can cause a corona discharge which will result in a detectable power loss on the line. Both the power loss and the noise that it produces are likely to alert the electricity company to the problem and if they have to come and remove your quad from their line, you can bet that they'll use your FAA registration number to track you down and make you pay for their time and efforts in removing it. If it caused any physical damage to the line, they'll also bill your for the cost of repairing it.

That could get quite expensive!
[-] The following 1 user Likes unseen's post:
  • Carl.Vegas
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#12
Yeah, I've definitely decided that I am not doing it again either way. As for liabilities... I think that's definitely true whenever we fly somewhere that could be risky... even if it's just somewhere that puts the quad itself at risk.

The moment you started mentioning the power company coming out my brain went right to FAA number... which reminds me... I need to find a spot for that on the new one.
carl.vegas
Current Quads: Operational: Diatone GT2 200 In need of repair: Bumble Bee, tehStein,  Slightly modified Vortex 250 
[-] The following 1 user Likes Carl.Vegas's post:
  • unseen
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