How to Fly a Drone (& NOT Crash)

8 easy steps to flying without crashing in ANY conditions:

1. Basic controls: 01:24
2. GPS off: 02:38
3. Rotate: 03:54
4. Side-to-side: 05:54
5. Forward and back: 07:39
6. Flying high: 09:24
7. Figure 8: 10:23
8. Flying with distractions: 12:08

STARTER CAMERAS:

LANDSCAPE CAMERAS:

PORTRAIT CAMERAS:

WILDLIFE CAMERAS:

VIDEO CAMERAS:

DRONES:

[weareproof]

Tony! Man I cannot tell you how much I truly appreciate this simple video. I just passed my part 107 with a 97 and was feeling really good about myself... did the research and got a MM as a practice drone. My nerves have controlled my situation and I thought it was just me. I’m so busy worrying about people, property and I haven’t yet developed confidence in this technical piece of equipment. So I’m constantly worrying about the drone just up and flying away or abruptly crashing into a home or car. I will take your advice and practice these maneuvers. I struggle with control when my drone is not facing away from me. Whenever it’s facing me or perpendicular to me I panic. I’ve thought about labeling the sticks. LOL. Perhaps practice will be all I need. Thanks again.

[misslydiaface]

Tony, I bought your book probably six years ago, when I first picked up a DSLR. I remember how easy you made it for me to learn to shoot in manual. I was SO thrilled to see that you make learning to use a drone just as easy. Thank you from taking me from being SCARED to fly to having a plan to improve and practice!

[CurtTweedle]

Great video, Tony.

I think you invented the phrase for 2016: If you get nervous, remember to go to your safe place with the butt towards you. :)

[davidrice]

Being new with drones and fiddling with it for several minutes, I am certainly glad I watched this video. It provides good old common sense lessons to learning how to fly a drone. BTW, I'm a license private pilot. Thank you, Tony & Chelsea for an excellent overview.

[aronisink]

Great tips.. Ive been flying mutticoptors even before they stared calling them drones... 2 pieces of advise, its much better to go thru the learning stage of flying with a much smaller drone, one you can fly indoors so all the flying controls are second nature... Replace your props about every 10-15 flights even if there not broken and learn how to balance them properly ... Really like how your advocating learning how to fly most people buying these are under the assumption that you don't need to be a skilled pilot but thats also the fault of the drone manufactures marketing... GREAT VID....

[tyrausfarrelly]

Great video and very easy to follow each stage. One thing that helped me when I was trying to get smooth turns, (banked turns) like Tony is doing, was to learn the timing of the roll, (right stick) and Yaw, (left stick). If your quad is facing away and you want to do a right banked turn first apply right roll with forward pitch than very gently add right yaw, (left stick) once it starts banking or rolling to the right. The timing of the roll/forward pitch then yaw as it starts to bank or roll right, made all the difference when I was learning these turns. Naturally when quad is facing you, this is reversed for left and right turns respectively. This technique helped me to no end when doing wide smooth loopy turns as apposed to more aggressive on the controls - tight turns.
My apologies for any wrong terminology & I hope this helps someone!

[TheMercian]

This is the most useful "how to..." video I have managed to find
Cheers

[fisherus]

I don't know why I never came across any of your videos before but, the old adage "You're never too late!" is perfect for this one. I am so thankful that someone like you is doing do diligence in explaining to a" newbie" how to get control of a drone and fly it correctly. This does more good for the drone community than you can imagine. Newbies are probably the ones that are more responsible for more negative public acceptance of drones than any other single item. I think it's because to injuries they inflict on others with their inability to control a drone.. These things can really do damage if a prop hits your flesh, I know first hand. Knowing how to fly a drone basics is a real treat if one struggles without any explanation or help. I really have and I have lost several drones because of it. I also am a firm believer that in doing videor like you and others do, I wish you would dispel the myths that are going around about drones spying on your neighbors taking photos through bedroom windows and skylights, etc. Also the protection of drones by the FAA
Thank you so much for your videos

[bobo]

Excellent video for beginners. Follow the recommendations, practice, practice and you will soon gain confidence and be able to fly safely.

[treetrimmerguy]

Don't know if Tony will see this comment, but if you do, I've gotta say that was the best instructional video I've seen, and I sit her day in and day out watching drone videos. lol I've been flying rc hellicopters and quads on and off for the last 15 years or so, but I'm still not as comfortable flying as you are in this video. Nobody watching me would be able to tell, but I know.

[MillionaireHoyOriginal]

My heart actually stopped a bit when I saw the drone explode lol - all the feels - even though it was fake lol

[NeonShadowsx]

I first watched this channel because my friend gave me his old DSLR and I wanted to learn how it worked. Now I just watch everything on this channel, I love the sense of humour, I love the love/hate relationship with the comment section, I love the nerdiness. Thanks for everything

[RCPhysics]

This is a great video!
I've recently gotten into flying multi-rotors and have been doing very similar exercises trying to train myself to perform basic skills without having to think about it. This is a very well thought out and methodical system to help newbies and experienced guys alike build their basic skill sets. Practicing fundamentals in NEVER a bad thing.

[herbertcoleman]

Fantastic! I bought a $30 "selfie drone". Crashed it several times in the house. Then went to my college (we bought a mall) on a Sunday got a bit better until I flew it into the glass wall of the library (nothing broken, just a loud noise). I left before campus police could get there. Tried it outside but it was just too windy (and I didn't realize one of the propellors was damaged. Then last year for Christmas my son gave me a Sharper Image Dro 400. It took me a year before I took it out of the box (no time). Tried flying 2 feet off the ground in the living room. Was just getting the hang of it (after destroying a poinsettia) when it got caught under a couch. That's when I got the brilliant idea to build a drone practice cage. I made a 6' x 3' box out of PVC and laid it on its side. Being cheap I covered with bird netting. Since the DRO 400 has blade guards it worked at first. Then it went up and got caught in the net. Then I crashed into the side and it flipped up and got caught in the net. I hit the "land" button but one blade (back left) kept spinning. Now it won't spin at all. My plan is to repair the drones and cover my practice box with clear shower curtain material until I get comfortable enough to fly them outside. I also may buy $40 or less mini with ducted (like a Redpawz or Holy Stone )or completely shielded blades (like a DWI Crash proof or Kelliwow all available on Amazon). I will DEFINITELY follow these practice steps.

[tatooman]

I'm just in the early beginner phase of learning how to fly my drone and your video is the first one i've watched in which i actually feel like i've learned something practical. The inset of the control motions on the screen are the most helpful. I have subscribed and look forward to watching and learning from your other videos. Thanks for the help!!

[josheh]

Probably one of the best videos I've seen for new drone owners. I come from R/C helicopters, where learning this kind of stuff was mandatory. I think if more people learned to control their drones without the fancy electronics, they'd be better pilots overall.

I've spent a lot of time flying figure 8s until I could do them without thought.

[ukraineinvasionnews]

Step 3 - "fly it about eye level" *Shoots it off to space

[christianblade]

The best thing to do is get a decent toy grade drone first and practice flying completely manually before you fork over the extreme big bucks for a Phantom.

[LEXPIX]

Smart advice. Wish all new operators would follow your steps. There would be a lot less issues, on many levels if they did. Keep up the great content.

[TechLeatherCraft]

Tony's got great drone flying and teaching skills...acting..not so much. But, impressive flying lesson