I took my drone out in -20C over Lake Superior and managed to get some great shots, but it got me thinking. How do you all handle flying in super cold weather? Any tips to keep things running smoothly?
What kind of drone are you using? I tried flying my Mini 2 in -20C and it didn’t go well. It kept trying to climb on its own, and I had to fight to get it to land.
Asher said:
What kind of drone are you using? I tried flying my Mini 2 in -20C and it didn’t go well. It kept trying to climb on its own, and I had to fight to get it to land.
I keep everything in my car’s dashboard before flying to help the drone and battery start warm. I’m using the Magic 3 Classic, and it handles cold pretty well. I always bring it back before the battery drops below 30% just in case there’s a sudden dip. The controller can get a little laggy in these temps though, so automated shots are sometimes easier.
That’s the Wisconsin Point lighthouse, right? Such a cool spot! I wonder if it’s still up for sale.
@Emil
I’ve always wanted to turn an old lighthouse into an observatory. Replace the light at the top with telescopes and add a rotating roof. Then let people request views and stream it online. I miss the days of visiting places like the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. I wish there were more live streams for this kind of stuff.
@Mal
That sounds amazing! You should make it happen one day. It’d be such a unique project!
Should I cover the air vents in extreme cold? I’ve flown my Mini 4K in 20°F with no issues, but today it’s 5°F. Does the plastic get brittle in these temperatures? By the way, that’s an awesome photo!
madisonwilson said:
Should I cover the air vents in extreme cold? I’ve flown my Mini 4K in 20°F with no issues, but today it’s 5°F. Does the plastic get brittle in these temperatures? By the way, that’s an awesome photo!
I wouldn’t recommend covering the vents. I’ve flown the Mini 2 in similar weather without problems. Just let it hover for 5–20 minutes and watch how it performs. Batteries drain faster in the cold, but the drone generates enough heat while flying to handle it.
@Emil
Thanks for the advice!
How does the battery hold up in weather that cold? Does it affect the range?
Luca said:
How does the battery hold up in weather that cold? Does it affect the range?
I’ve only had one battery drop from 50% to 30%, but that might’ve been unrelated. The drone generates heat during use, which helps. I keep my batteries on the dashboard with the defroster before flying. Starting with a warm battery makes all the difference.
@Emil
If you keep the battery warm before takeoff, you should be fine. Once it’s in use, the drone keeps it warm enough. The bigger issue I’ve had in cold weather is high winds draining the battery faster.
@Chen
Totally agree. Wind and even seagulls are the main things I worry about. These drones are pretty tough otherwise.
Emil said:
@Chen
Totally agree. Wind and even seagulls are the main things I worry about. These drones are pretty tough otherwise.
Try adding a strip of reflective tape on top. I’ve heard it helps with seagulls.
Great photo! A few years back, I saw a video that suggested keeping drone batteries inside your coat or in a warm pocket before flying in cold weather. I flew a Phantom 4 Pro in -25°F once, and as long as I did that, it worked fine. The batteries were just a bit weaker than usual.