Flight 12 was perilously close to being the last flight for this drone. If I had lost it after only 12 flights, I would give up on drones altogether as it’s just too expensive, risky, and unforgiving.
Anyways, I wanted to record the 4th of July fireworks (at a safe distance) but there were 13 mph winds. I figured so long as it hovered above me, it would be safe. However, what I didn’t know is that when you get the high wind warning, it gives up on staying in place and goes wherever the wind blows. And it got away from me. Fast. 900 feet away. Being night of course, I could not see it. I was panicking.
Thankfully I was able to turn the camera downward and from the shapes of street lights, I could discern certain streets and direction (more like assume certain streets and direction) and fly to a known location. I also needed to run a couple hundred yards from the field I was in toward the street. And the battery at this point was 30%.
The next problem, of which there were many: I needed to fly upwind. And it was not moving very much at all. Was I not moving perpendicular? I could not be sure. At some point I thankfully realized I was in cinematic mode (slow speed) and switched to normal mode. And with not much battery life, able to fly right back to my location.
Here’s an image before the chaos began…
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