Ideas from Mark Stout

Apparently my wife read my column about gifts that geeks would want and I found a drone was under the tree. It was not really something I would ask for, which I guess makes it the best kind of gift. I have been intrigued by them, and sold remote-control airplanes and helicopters back in high school at Loreski’s Hobby Shop in the Pittsburgh area. I’ve had buying a remote-flying toy on my bucket list. These new quadcopters are easier to fly and, when coupled with a camera, would jibe nicely with my photography interests. And I’m not alone. The Federal Aviation Administration reportedly expected a million drones to be gifts this Christmas. Yet, it is not easy being a drone owner in Prince William County. I previously wrote about a five-mile no-fly zone around the Manassas Airport. Fairfax County residents had to worry about a no-fly zone in a 15-mile radius around Reagan Airport. What I didn’t realize is that in September, pretty much unheralded, the FAA increased that radius ...

Think of this as a stocking stuffer column. When 7-Eleven starts selling drones, you know it’s a hot holiday gift and perhaps you received one this year. What now? I do not have a drone, but I was listening to a podcast recently from a drone owner. One thing he strongly recommends is not to try learning to fly one outside, certainly not an expensive one. You will inevitably crash any drone you have. You might be better off setting the expensive one aside for the time being and finding an inexpensive one in an after-Christmas sale or online for under $30. Learn to fly that drone safely before trying to fly your more expensive one. And, at first, fly both kinds inside as you learn how to maneuver them. If it gets away from you, it cannot go far and won’t end up in a pond. Air currents wreak havoc with flying these lightweight aircraft so learning in a benign environment is a better idea. The Federal Aviation Administration recently decided to require many drones to be registered. Drones ...