Night Flying

[RotorWash]

Do any of you do any night flying with your Spark, just for fun, not trying to shoot anything? I'm finding I can easily double my vlos with the front LED lights on. Love flying sport mode in a country field on a calm night! It's like every care in the world just leaves you. Wouldn't try it if I wasn't completely familiar with the area though and low to no wind. Also curious about anyone outside Canada or the U.S., is night flying legal where you are?

 

[nilanjan118]

Totally get the point you are trying to make but just as you guessed, night flying is not legal in some countries. I love night photography and it's a pity that night flying is not legal in Japan.

 

[Heckmaniac]

I do a decent amount of night flying as a hobbyist in the US - it's legal as a hobbyist in the US. I use 3 rechargeable Strobon Cree strobe lights from Amazon, mounted on cheap landing gear (I remove for day flights). I cut the skids off since the photo below to save weight and drag when flying. I can actually see these clearly nearly 3 miles out on Spark. I also use the lights on my Autel EVO (not on landing gear) and could see them from 4 miles away (obviously don't usually fly that far out, but did as a test to see if I could maintain vlos).

 

[RotorWash]

Very interesting setup you have there. Wow, 3-4miles, that's amazing! Does the added weight make much if any difference in how the Spark flies?

 

[Spark 317]

A safety tip for night flying, do a reconnaissance mission during the day time and look for potential hazards such as utility wires, branches, antennas, guy wires, etc. if taking pictures of a structure.

Don't want to end up like this...



That may be worse than the kite drone eating tree.

 

[Northwood Mediaworks]

Spark makes sparks ^^^^^ lol

 

[Northwood Mediaworks]

I have flown at dusk a few times, but for me, its about the camera, and the Spark just isn't a night bird in that respect. (okay its possible but not pretty).

I would love to find a strobe that improved daytime VLOS... everything I have seen so far is mediocre in sunlight.

 

[Northwood Mediaworks]

I do a decent amount of night flying as a hobbyist in the US - it's legal as a hobbyist in the US. I use 3 rechargeable Strobon Cree strobe lights from Amazon, mounted on cheap landing gear (I remove for day flights). I cut the skids off since the photo below to save weight and drag when flying. I can actually see these clearly nearly 3 miles out on Spark. I also use the lights on my Autel EVO (not on landing gear) and could see them from 4 miles away (obviously don't usually fly that far out, but did as a test to see if I could maintain vlos).

How does this setup look in daylight?

 

[Heckmaniac]

Very interesting setup you have there. Wow, 3-4miles, that's amazing! Does the added weight make much if any difference in how the Spark flies?

Once I cut the landing gear down added weight makes very little difference and very little drag.

 

[Heckmaniac]

How does this setup look in daylight?

Unfortunately it depends on your conditions. If dark background like treeline it helps by maybe a few hundred feet, but nothing le doing after dark.

 

[Haggi]

I do not do night flights nowadays.
Prefer daylight. Old eyes.
I try to practice this light condition limit:

 

[JSM]

I do not do night flights nowadays.
Prefer daylight. Old eyes.
I try to practice this light condition limit:

Very nice!