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These topics were not chosen from a keyword list. They are the questions that recur most in drone owner discussions, ranked by how often they come up and how much argument they generate. Each one opens with the short answer.
Where can I actually fly a drone?
In uncontrolled Class G airspace, below 400 feet, within your visual line of sight, away from other aircraft. Controlled airspace near an airport needs authorisation, which for most recreational flights is an instant LAANC approval in an app.
Do I need to register my drone, and what is Remote ID?
If your drone weighs 250 grams or more you must register it with the FAA — $5, valid three years — and it must comply with Remote ID. Under 250 grams, flown recreationally, it needs neither.
Is it a bad idea to buy a DJI drone right now?
A DJI drone you buy today is legal to own and legal to fly, and nothing is being remotely disabled. What has changed is supply: the FCC added DJI to its Covered List on 23 December 2025, which blocks new equipment authorisations, and US Customs has been holding shipments since October 2024.
Why does my drone never hit its advertised flight time?
Because the number is measured under conditions nobody flies in, and because several makers add two batteries together. Expect roughly 60 to 75 per cent of a headline figure in real use, land with a reserve, and read the conditions the maker quotes — they are printed beside every flight-time figure on this site..
What actually causes a flyaway — and what to do about it
Most flyaways are a compass or home-point problem, not a radio one. Launching from metal or reinforced concrete corrupts the compass calibration; a home point set before GPS lock sends the aircraft to the wrong place; and return-to-home that triggers close to the pilot may not climb before flying home.
Can I fly in wind, rain or cold?
Wind: most drones here are rated Level 5, about 10.7 m/s (24 mph), and that is a rating for holding position, not for flying home against it. Rain: nothing in this catalog is rated for it, and the honest advice is land.
Are manufacturer crash-cover plans worth it?
If you are new to flying, or you fly close to obstacles, or the aircraft costs more than about a thousand dollars, it usually pays for itself on one incident. If you are an experienced pilot flying open ground with a cheap airframe, it usually does not.
What do you actually need to start flying FPV?
A radio, goggles, an aircraft, batteries and a charger. Bind-and-fly quads look cheaper until you price the first two, which usually cost more than the quad.