Visually lost my Mini 2, 200ft from me and 30 ft up

raymairjr · Jan 17, 2021

Was my 2nd flight, flying on frozen lake in Ely, MN, had flow away from me and was hovering, adjusting gimbal, looked up and couldn't see my drone. Was showing my wife for first time and she spotted it. It was a very dark grey day. It blended into ice, snow, birch and popple trees. I finally saw it and no crash or anything.

I immediately ordered the ARC V 3 pack, white red, green light set, ordered it yesterday from Firehouse Technology. Got a shipping notice this morning which is phenomenal service.

I also have a skin ordered to help with visibility in my conditions.

Ridder · Jan 17, 2021

I also put a skin on my Air2....that helps....along with the bright landing light!

Stebo19 · Jan 17, 2021

Just got mine too and had same issue when I was in the park. Today I figured out how to use the compass and was out over 2000 ft with no issues. Shoed flight direction, home and my location. Still learning and having a blast.

reaperman · Jan 18, 2021

raymairjr said:
Was my 2nd flight, flying on frozen lake in Ely, MN, had flow away from me and was hovering, adjusting gimbal, looked up and couldn't see my drone. Was showing my wife for first time and she spotted it. It was a very dark grey day. It blended into ice, snow, birch and popple trees. I finally saw it and no crash or anything.

I immediately ordered the ARC V 3 pack, white red, green light set, ordered it yesterday from Firehouse Technology. Got a shipping notice this morning which is phenomenal service.

I also have a skin ordered to help with visibility in my conditions.

How does the mini 2 handle the cold weather? I’m a Minnesota boy myself and I know how cold it can get in Ely.

Smalls · Jan 18, 2021

raymairjr said:
Was my 2nd flight, flying on frozen lake in Ely, MN, had flow away from me and was hovering, adjusting gimbal, looked up and couldn't see my drone. Was showing my wife for first time and she spotted it. It was a very dark grey day. It blended into ice, snow, birch and popple trees. I finally saw it and no crash or anything.

I immediately ordered the ARC V 3 pack, white red, green light set, ordered it yesterday from Firehouse Technology. Got a shipping notice this morning which is phenomenal service.

I also have a skin ordered to help with visibility in my conditions.

That’s funny, just glad u didn’t lose it, cuz that not funny

A.O. · Jan 18, 2021

raymairjr said:
Was my 2nd flight, flying on frozen lake in Ely, MN, had flow away from me and was hovering, adjusting gimbal, looked up and couldn't see my drone. Was showing my wife for first time and she spotted it. It was a very dark grey day. It blended into ice, snow, birch and popple trees. I finally saw it and no crash or anything.

I immediately ordered the ARC V 3 pack, white red, green light set, ordered it yesterday from Firehouse Technology. Got a shipping notice this morning which is phenomenal service.

I also have a skin ordered to help with visibility in my conditions.

Glad you found it and there was no crash. I think you will like the skin, I have a MA2 and put an orange skin on it, made a huge difference on being able to see it.
I love your area of the world, I grew up in the Chicago area and used to go up to the Boundary waters all the time, 17 years straight at one point, nice neck of the woods!

Chaplain Dave · Jan 18, 2021

Neon orange electrical tape on landing gear works well too

Jet skier · Jan 18, 2021

reaperman said:
How does the mini 2 handle the cold weather? I’m a Minnesota boy myself and I know how cold it can get in Ely.

I live in Minneapolis and the mini2 handles the cold weather just fine double digit temps anyway

detectorguy · Jan 18, 2021

On my drone I put the lights on port=red, starboard=green, and stern=white. that way I always knew which way my drone was flying. The lights really help you see the grey bird in the sky.

Reginald E Johnson · Jan 18, 2021

raymairjr said:
Was my 2nd flight, flying on frozen lake in Ely, MN, had flow away from me and was hovering, adjusting gimbal, looked up and couldn't see my drone. Was showing my wife for first time and she spotted it. It was a very dark grey day. It blended into ice, snow, birch and popple trees. I finally saw it and no crash or anything.

I immediately ordered the ARC V 3 pack, white red, green light set, ordered it yesterday from Firehouse Technology. Got a shipping notice this morning which is phenomenal service.

I also have a skin ordered to help with visibility in my conditions.

I lost sight on my Mavic Pro 50 Feet away and 50 Feet up so I feel you Pain! All of my Drones are Orange and Yellow now!

DagDerniT · Jan 18, 2021

You'll get better at locating your bird with time and experience. I try to do the opposite and make all my quadcopters and RC toys blend in with the environment now. Also, am looking for quieter props than what my Mavic Pro2 currently has but havent found anything better than stock. Reason being that there are too many idiots out there trying to shoot them down, wildlife attacks, Krazy Karen's that think your video recording their ugly butts, and misinformed security guards and/or police. Better to be stealth imo, get the footage I'm after, and get home to watch Scooby-Doo...

Whizz · Jan 18, 2021

A.O. said:
Glad you found it and there was no crash. I think you will like the skin, I have a MA2 and put an orange skin on it, made a huge difference on being able to see it.
I love your area of the world, I grew up in the Chicago area and used to go up to the Boundary waters all the time, 17 years straight at one point, nice neck of the woods!

im in the uk how much are the skins please and do they come in different colours

A.O. · Jan 18, 2021

Whizz said:
im in the uk how much are the skins please and do they come in different colours

Go to Decalgirl.com everything is there. TONS of colors, styles and not very expensive..$25-30 US

raymairjr · Jan 18, 2021

reaperman said:
How does the mini 2 handle the cold weather? I’m a Minnesota boy myself and I know how cold it can get in Ely.

The Mini 2 does better than my hands. I'm 62 and grew up on a cattle ranch so my hand circulation is not what it used to be. I also didn't have ANY gloves on at all.

I just ordered a set of Pygtech gloves for me and the drone and for my wife and her camera. Battery performance drops some but I haven't been able to last long enough myself. The drone seems to handle things fine. We have had so much foggy weather that I have been afraid of icing up the props but I talked to a pilot friend of mine and got some tips and what to look out for. The drone adds a new dimension to winter.

I'm very happy with the Mini 2, 2 flights and no crashes, but lots of practicing on a RealFlight simulator before my first flight.

raymairjr · Jan 18, 2021

A.O. said:
Go to Decalgirl.com everything is there. TONS of colors, styles and not very expensive..$25-30 US

I ordered my skins from Decalgirl and they will be here tomorrow, 01/19.

Thomas B · Jan 18, 2021

Recommend lights. All my skins look gray against the sky at 300’ and above
I skinned mine also... but it’s cosmetic unless I have a landing in an unplanned location.
I prefer @Wrapgrade skins personally due to better coverage, despite costing more... after well over a year and hundreds of flights still look new. Ririko can help you there.

raymairjr · Jan 18, 2021

DagDerniT said:
You'll get better at locating your bird with time and experience. I try to do the opposite and make all my quadcopters and RC toys blend in with the environment now. Also, am looking for quieter props than what my Mavic Pro2 currently has but havent found anything better than stock. Reason being that there are too many idiots out there trying to shoot them down, wildlife attacks, Krazy Karen's that think your video recording their ugly butts, and misinformed security guards and/or police. Better to be stealth imo, get the footage I'm after, and get home to watch Scooby-Doo...

We are literally at the end of the road, I can take a wheeler out my back door and not see anyone. I'm sure I will get better with time. The Mini 2 is so quiet the sound didn't help me locate it. I wasn't fast enough to pull up the map view to help me, I crashed so many RC airplanes that I have been a bit gun shy but drones are way easier to fly than an RC plane.

P.S. I like Scooby-do to....

raymairjr · Jan 18, 2021

Reginald E Johnson said:
I lost sight on my Mavic Pro 50 Feet away and 50 Feet up so I feel you Pain! All of my Drones are Orange and Yellow now!

I'm feeling better, then Mini 2 is so darn small, glad I'm not the only one, thanks for sharing your story

A.O. · Jan 18, 2021

Thomas B said:
Recommend lights. All my skins look gray against the sky at 300’ and above

Interesting, what color skins do you have? My Fluorescent Orange shows up good in the sky out to at least 800 ft.

raymairjr · Jan 18, 2021

detectorguy said:
On my drone I put the lights on port=red, starboard=green, and stern=white. that way I always knew which way my drone was flying. The lights really help you see the grey bird in the sky.

Perfect, that is exactly what I'm Looking at doing.