Orion Drones

Recent Sessions

I took a trip through Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, so I found a few opportunities to take some photos. I wanted to show the sprawling Shenandoah River and some sights along the road. I could not imagine leaving home without a drone. I have some photos and a short video clip reel. Remember to watch the videos on a 4K setting. The weekend was predominantly overcast, with large storm fronts. I monitored the weather and apps for some quick flights.

I talked to a lot of family members. They were interested in my work. Many people had a “I flew a drone and crashed it and” that was it. Over. I am the Molly Brown. Figure 1 is me over the Shenandoah River, OMG. Figure 2 is a roundabout in Ranson, WV. I wanted to fly in Leesburg, from a park, and so I obtained permission from LAANC to build my flight record of controlled airspace ‘missions’. Figures 3 and 4 are from a wedding close to Hillsboro, VA in wine country. Figure 5 is on the way home in Maryland. The 340-foot-tall syncline rock features are stunning. The carved rock clearly dwarfs the mountain pass below. I flew in variable winds with a half dozen gawkers around. Figure 6 is just another hometown shot from my backyard.

Quantum Relocation

I took a job offer, so I am moving towards Wheeling, WV in a vast empty field. Every few centuries I spy a house for sale in a distant corner of the Zillow sky. Ponderomotive forces compel me to move to a small city. Another town, maybe a different language, maybe different sauces, but the same meat and potatoes. Whatever dreams I ever had of living downtown in a large urban area have fled.

Verticals Community Learning Center

Verticals is a local community development center that gives kids a choice of after-school programs that enrich young lives and provide a sense of pride in community. A link to the organization is provided. Some school districts have been able to secure transportation. The students get a veritable launch point for careers in technology and media if they had yet to choose a career path. I like what Verticals has going on.

Drone Cinematography Class

• How to fly recreational drones with basic and advanced maneuvers.
• How to plan flights for capturing media.
• Get the soon-to-be mandatory – and EASILY OBTAINED – TRUST flyer certificate from the FAA, online for free.
• How to film, edit, and share a video you make with drone footage and apps.
• How to fly a drone with Scratch Python block code.
• Provide information about industrial drone applications and jobs.

Local Resource in Action

Community groups will have some authority to determine the nature of its flight operations in local airspace come this fall 2022. As long as a responsible pilot is connected to the group, the area can develop flight operations that best suits the needs of the group. A FRIA is basically an area supported by a Part 107 drone pilot or more qualified pilots. The FAA determines the location and quality of FRIAs.

I can see a drone academy being a part of an 21st-century community, so I am studying what we need to do to qualify to become a FRIA.

Time to learn

Topics in the Verticals Youth Empowerment program include artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, drones, digital fabrication, coding, media production, design studio, blockchain, and crypto. Courses in the topics are presented alongside fitness and wellness resources. The center director is retired NFL pro-football player William James, who stepped off the gridiron and into a new life arena. William has an amazing base of supporters, collaborators, volunteers, and stakeholders who help make this happen. Very grateful.

Verticals Youth Empowerment Center is designed to stimulate young minds, give parents an inclusive environment in which to socialize, and to offer youth a sense of pride in themselves and their community. There are other facilities in the works.