Took my drone out over Lake Superior in -20 degrees. Anyone else had luck flying in these temps?
What drone do you have? I tried using my Mini 2 in -20C, but it kept trying to climb on its own, and I had to fight it to land.
Wil said:
What drone do you have? I tried using my Mini 2 in -20C, but it kept trying to climb on its own, and I had to fight it to land.
I usually leave my gear on the car dash before flying to warm it up a bit. I use the Mavic 3 Classic—it does pretty well in the cold. I bring it back at around 30% battery to avoid sudden drops. The controller lags in these temps, so I use automated video shots when possible.
Wisconsin Point Lighthouse is such a cool spot! Is it still up for sale?
Zeke said:
Wisconsin Point Lighthouse is such a cool spot! Is it still up for sale?
There was talk about turning it into an Airbnb, which would’ve been amazing. But insurance issues probably killed that idea. You only get a few good months of weather out there anyway. Here’s a recent update about it:
@Lin
I’d love to turn an old lighthouse into a giant observatory. Replace the light at the top with telescopes and a rotating roof. It’d be a dream to stream views of the sky for everyone to watch.
Zeke said:
@Lin
I’d love to turn an old lighthouse into a giant observatory. Replace the light at the top with telescopes and a rotating roof. It’d be a dream to stream views of the sky for everyone to watch.
That sounds incredible. You should go for it!
Do you need to tape over the air vents in really cold weather? I’ve flown my Mini 4K in 20°F without problems, but today it’s only 5°F. Does the plastic get more brittle in temps like this? Cool shot, by the way!
@Baylor
I’d avoid taping the vents. These drones generate enough heat to stay fine on their own. Just let it hover for 5–10 minutes to test it. I’ve flown the Mini 2 in cold weather without major problems—just keep an eye on battery life.
@Lin
Thanks for the tip!
How’s the battery life in those temperatures? Does the range get worse too?
Sawyer said:
How’s the battery life in those temperatures? Does the range get worse too?
I had one battery drop from 50% to 30% once, but that might’ve been a fluke. The drones do well overall in the cold since they produce their own heat. I warm my batteries on the car dash with the defroster before flying.
@Lin
Same here. As long as you start with a warm battery, it’s fine. The motors draw enough power to keep things warm. High winds are usually a bigger problem for battery drain in my experience.
Florian said:
@Lin
Same here. As long as you start with a warm battery, it’s fine. The motors draw enough power to keep things warm. High winds are usually a bigger problem for battery drain in my experience.
Totally agree. Wind and seagulls are the only things I really worry about—drones are surprisingly tough otherwise!
@Lin
Try putting reflective tape on the top. I’ve heard it helps keep seagulls away.
Awesome photo! I saw a tip on YouTube years ago about keeping drone batteries warm by sticking them in your coat pocket or close to your body before flying in extreme cold. I used to fly a Phantom 4 Pro in -25°F, and it worked okay if I did that.
@Reilly
Thanks! I usually stay close to the car when flying in cold weather. The Mavic 3 is less portable than the Mini, but I got a coat with big pockets for this kind of thing. Hand warmers are great for batteries too.
Love the icy vibes! 