An RC plane and a drone are considered to be the same thing by many people. However, there are certain key differences between that set them apart. In this post, we have shed light on these key differences. Have a look at them:

RC Planes

RC planes are remotely controlled by an operator using a hand-held transmitter. All the functions it can perform are due to the use of remote control. The aircraft of the plane has a receiver that receives the signals sent by the transmitter.

Different types of RC planes exist; however, the most common amongst them are made from lightweight materials. For example, you can find RC planes made of foam or cardboard. Due to the use of lightweight material, these planes have a shaky flight. Thus, they are more prone to get into an accident. Furthermore, these planes are easy to build and do not require technical expertise.

RC planes are majorly used for recreational purposes. Although you may find some RC planes with navigational cameras but they aren’t used commercially because of their inefficiency and more chances of accidents.

Drones

A drone is an unmanned aircraft. While the operation of a drone is similar to an RC place; however, its functions and control vary a great deal. It offers more specialized control.

A primary factor that sets a drone apart from an RC is their increased uses. Although they were initially used by the military forces, they have now become immensely popular in different fields. Their applications have now spread from military operations to covering numerous events. Furthermore, drones are now also used in the agriculture sector as well.

Drones are made using sturdy yet lightweight materials. The sturdiness of the material used allows them to have a smooth flight and limits the chances of getting into an accident.

Some drones are controlled by remote controls while others are flown autonomously. Remote controlled drones work similar to RC planes; however, autonomously controlled drones are completely different as they do not need external control for their flight and performing different operations.

Commercial drones are flown in environments that are considered risky. For this purpose, durable and high-tech drones are developed that can perform challenging tasks efficiently. These drones are expendable apart from being cost-efficient.

In the recent years, drones with cameras have become quite popular not only for commercial but home use as well. Some people use them for capturing the aerial views of their surrounding while commercially they are used for event coverage purposes.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, there is a vast difference between an RC plane and a drone. The functions and features of RC planes are limited while drones can be operated in a number of settings. They offer a better control, enhanced image stability, and tend to have a longer flight time. On the other hand, an RC plane is used solely for recreational purposes and is mostly made from the inferior quality material.

If you are planning to buy a drone, there are numerous factors to consider before taking the final decision. One of these vital factors is the legality of drones. It is important to know that there are certain legal obligations related to the use and application of drones.

In this post, we have compiled vital information on the legality of drones that can come in handy for you. Continue reading!

Is Drone Legal?

Many people have this question that is flying drone legal. The answer to this question depends on a number of factors including your location and purpose. While drone flying is legal in most of the countries; however, there are certain areas in those countries where it is prohibited to fly a drone. For example, in US, there are certain landmarks, national parks, dams, and other properties where it is illegal to fly a drone.

In US, if an individual wants to fly a drone for commercial purposes, they are required to obtain a remote pilot license. Without obtaining this license, it will be deemed illegal if they are flying a drone. To get this license, they will have to a test. This test is conducted at a Knowledge Testing Center approved by FAA.

The next step, after clearing the step, for the applicant is to complete the FAA Rating Application or Airman Certificate. After this, they receive their remote pilot certificate.

In addition to that, it has been mandatory by the FAA for drone owners to register themselves as drone users.

What is the Drone Insurance Policy?

A drone insurance policy is recommended since it will cover any loss caused by losing a drone or if it has gotten into an accident. With the increase in the popularity of drones, accidents involving drones have also increased. However, these losses can be covered up to a certain extent by getting a drone insurance policy. Typically, a drone insurance policy can cost you somewhere between $20 and $2000. It generally depends on coverage included in the policy.

In some companies, it is mandatory for drone owners to get their drones insured if they are flying them for commercial purposes. However, even if you flying it for recreational purposes, you can still get it insured if the drone you own is an expensive one.

There are different insurance companies that provide coverage for drones. If you are getting in touch with them, they will ask for vital information i.e. the area in which you will operating your drone, its cost, whether you have received training or not, number of hours that drone has flown etc. Based on this info, they will offer you a drone insurance plan for covering the losses.

If you are looking to buy insurance for your drone, make sure you are getting quotes from multiple companies and compare them to get the best price.

Drones have become quite common nowadays. Many people are seen taking photos and recording videos using these devices. There are other recreational uses too. However, drones are capable of benefiting the humans in many other smart ways.

As the drone technology has improved, they are now capable of a wide range of helpful tasks. It is not just about entertainment any more as newer drones are being developed to improve the quality of human life.

Here is how drones are being used for a wide range of productive activities:

Maintenance of Infrastructure

Skyscrapers and other beautiful structures add to the beauty of cities. However, when it comes to maintaining such infrastructure, it can be dangerous to send men under the bridges or on top of tall buildings. Also, it is a costly process since cranes and other equipment are required. Instead, we can now send in drones for inspection. They can help examine the infrastructure remotely.

Rescue Operations

Natural disasters can leave chaos in the aftermath. It becomes difficult to find still trapped people or send in first aid in other necessities like food. With the help of drones, it has become easier to save lives of people who are stranded and injured. First aid, food, and water can be sent to areas unreachable on foot or vehicles.  It also saves time and reduces risks for rescue teams.

Surveillance

Security has become an important issue in current times. Although, covering large-scale events can become a problem with just security manpower. Instead of manual surveillance, drones are a more effective method for this purpose. When placed strategically, they can provide a good view of wide areas.

Discovering Archeological Sites

Archaeologists invest a lot of time and energy to unearth wondrous secrets of the world. However, there are still sites that are not reachable for humans. However, they have the potential for interesting information. With drones, such areas can be discovered effectively.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement officials have tough duties ensuring the safety of the public. However, their regular presence in certain areas could make people apprehensive. Also, it is not always possible to make law enforcement available for surveillance of all the sensitive areas. Drones can be flown above such areas without drawing the attention of the public. It makes remote surveillance possible while the law enforcement can be assigned to areas of more priority at any given time.

Agriculture

Agriculture is a significant industry in many countries. It has benefited from drone technology as they allow more frequent monitoring of the crop fields. Aerial monitoring helps agriculture experts analyze the performance of the crops more effectively. In this way, problems can be detected early on and solutions are provided to prevent them next time.

Weather Forecasting

Extreme weather conditions can be forecasted using drones. This helps put the required measures in place before the weather worsens. In case of hurricanes and earthquakes, it allows evacuating people to safer places beforehand.

HGLRC drones can be used for multiple purposes. Browse the collection today.

The uses of drones have increased and so have their popularity. Due to their extensive features, they are now widely used in covering all sorts of events. Have you ever wondered how these drones perform different movements, particularly backward and forward, in the air? Can they fly while it is raining? You will find answers to these questions in this post. Continue reading!

How Drone Move Forward and Backward?

For a drone to move forward, it firsts need to stay at an aligned vertical level. For this to happen, its total thrust force must be equal to its weight. To do this, the rotation rate of rotors 1 and 2 must be decreased while the same of rotors 3 and 4 must be increased. It is to be noted that rotors 3 and 4 are on the rear side while the other two are on the front side of the drone.

Despite having an increased rotation of the rear rotors, zero angular momentum will be produced because of opposing moments of the rotors. In this position, the drone will be able to tilt forward as it will get a greater force from the rear end. At this point, the user is required to increase the thrust slightly for all rotors. This will give the drone a forward motion while maintaining its balance.

It is to be noted that there is no difference between moving forward or backward of a drone since it works in a symmetrical way. Hence, a drone moves in a forward direction in the same way as it moves in the backward direction.

Can a Drone Fly in Rain?

A drone can fly while it is raining. However, there are high chances it may incur some damages. Although the motor is enclosed in a water-proof case, other electronic components can be damaged by the rainwater, which could adversely affect its performance. Therefore, it is recommended to not to fly a drone while it is raining. Even in case of light rain, drones must not be flown.

Same advise is for users who have the question whether they can fly drones while it is snowing. It can also cause damage to your drone if you are flying it during snow.

In case you are flying a drone and it has started to drizzle, immediately land your drone and disconnect its battery. Use a light fan to dry the drone and its component. Furthermore, you can also some desiccant packs in order to draw the moisture from the drone. Following these practices will minimize any chance of damage caused to your drone due to the water.

Some companies have now come up with water-proof models of drones. So, if you want to capture the amazing aerial views of rain or snow, you can buy a waterproof model. It is to be noted that these models are priced high as compared to regular models; thus, if your budget allows, you can get such a drone and fly it while it is raining or snowing.

There are plenty of questions in the mind of people prior to buying a drone. These questions relate to the performance and functionality of drones. Two of the most commonly asked questions related to drones are how long they can fly and what is their range. If you also have these questions in mind, you will find answers in this post.

It is to be noted that the flight time and range of each drone varies. While the average flight time is somewhere between 6 and 10 minutes, there are a number of factors that can affect it. Similarly, the range is also affected by certain factors. Some of these factors are discussed below; have a look at them:

Battery

The battery of a drone has a major impact on the flight time of a drone. The more powerful battery a drone features, more time it will fly in the air. On the other hand, if an inferior quality battery is used in a drone, the battery timing will be low and so will be its flight time. Therefore, if you are looking for a drone with prolonged flight time, but the one, which has a powerful battery.

Controller

For drones that are controlled by remotes, the more range they offer, the more distance can be covered by the drone. Most of the controllers work in 2.4 GHz frequency. This frequency lets the drone cover a distance up to 1.6 kilometers. In order to extend this range, it is advised to use the control that offers a lower frequency. This way, the distance covered by a drone can be extended to 10 Kms. This is due to the fact that low-frequency radio waves can travel through objects. Furthermore, a longer distance can be covered by them before the signals start to get weak.

Speed

It is another vital factor that affects the flight time of the drone. While it is fun to see your drone speeding up in the air and covering a huge distance; however, it can drastically reduce its flight time. Simply put, if you are flying your drone in maximum speed, its flight time will be reduced. Therefore, for a longer flight time, keep a check on the speed of the drone.

Removal Unrequired Parts

If you are merely flying your drone and not recording anything, remove the camera and gimbal from the drone and you will see a noticeable improvement in the flight time. This is due to the fact that the weight of a drone is reduced, it can fly for a longer time. Furthermore, it is to be noted that light-weight drones always offer a longer flight time. Thus, when buying a drone, always keep this factor in mind.

A Final Word

All these factors will enable you to fly your drone for a long time and cover maximum distance. However, always check with your local flying laws. Some places prohibit flying drones at a particular height and covering a specific distance. Thus, make sure you are not violating the laws when flying a drone.