23 October 2025

By Desiree Ekstein

When I first launched On The Go Video, it was with a clear mission: to teach drone pilots how to fly safely, confidently, and with purpose. As a certified remote pilot and FAA DronePro, my passion was helping others understand the regulations, master their flight skills, and embrace the incredible potential of drone technology. For years, that meant leading training sessions, prepping students for their FAA Part 107 exams, and supporting professionals across industries as they integrated drones into their work.

But Something Started to Shift...

More and more, I found myself craving something beyond the classroom, something that combined my love for flight with my love for exploration. And I wasn’t alone. My husband Kenny, a skilled off-road navigator and self-taught mining history buff, had been my behind-the-scenes support system for years. Together, we realized we had a unique opportunity: to take drone education off the grid and into the wild.

And so, Desert Escape was born, a drone adventure experience designed for curious flyers, content creators, and explorers who want to get their wheels dirty and their propellers in the air. It’s the natural evolution of what On The Go Video has always stood for: safe flying, real-world learning, and a whole lot of adventure.

Built on Training, Focused on Safety

Before we ever imagined setting up camp in the Arizona desert, On The Go Video had become a go-to resource for drone education. We trained students of all backgrounds, from curious hobbyists to industry professionals, on how to fly responsibly, pass their Part 107 exams, and use drones to enhance everything from mapping and inspections to photography and storytelling.

What made our approach different was our emphasis on practical experience. We didn’t just talk about airspace, we walked it, scouted it, and flew it. Every training emphasized situational awareness, risk management, and real-world application. And over time, those skills naturally began to blend with our off-road lifestyle.

From Learning to Living the Adventure

As our training programs grew, so did our desire to create something more immersive. We wanted to take people beyond the basics, beyond the backyard flights and into the heart of something bigger, an experience that made learning exciting again.

This isn’t a traditional training weekend or a dusty drone course. It’s an invitation to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with wide open spaces. It’s about packing up your drone, hitting the trail, and seeing what unfolds when flight meets freedom. We combine everything we know, safe flying, drone photography, off-road travel, and storytelling, and wrap it into one unforgettable desert experience.

Powered by Drones… and Off-Road Wheels

Every great adventure needs a strong team, and for us, that’s where Kenny comes in.

While I focus on the flight and educational aspects of things, Kenny is the logistics expert behind our adventures. He’s spent years exploring Arizona’s rugged backroads and researching forgotten mining towns, and he knows how to read a topo map just as well as he reads the terrain under our tires. Whether he’s leading the caravan or fixing a flat mid-trail, Kenny’s expertise ensures that we don’t just get where we’re going, we understand what we’re seeing when we get there.

And that’s the magic of Desert Escape: it’s more than flying drones. It’s about venturing off-road and off-grid, camping under starlit skies, and exploring old mining areas with a renewed sense of curiosity and respect. It’s the perfect environment for drone storytelling, open skies, wide vistas, and places most people never see.

Why the Desert?

There’s something sacred about the silence of the desert.

It’s a place where every rock has a story, every trail leads to a mystery, and every flight has a purpose. The shifting colors, endless skies, and forgotten ruins create an atmosphere that’s both humbling and inspiring, especially when viewed through a drone’s lens.

For us, the desert is the ideal classroom. It challenges your awareness, hones your piloting skills, and opens your eyes to the power of aerial documentation. Through Desert Escape, we guide our participants into remote flying zones where safety, preparation, and creativity all come together.

Whether we're tracing the outlines of abandoned foundations or capturing sunrise light from a bluff, we’re preserving the stories of the past and learning how to tell our own.

What Makes It Different?

Our shift to adventure-based experiences is a natural extension of what we do best. Desert Escape is built around the same values that have guided On The Go Video from the beginning:

Safety-First Flying: Every adventure begins with a briefing on airspace, flight planning, and environmental conditions. We help guests fly with confidence, not just curiosity.

Real-World Scenarios: From launching in uneven terrain to managing wind or dust, our excursions expose you to real challenges with guidance and support.

Off-Grid Connection: Around the campfire or on the trail, we create space for community.  The adventure is more than flying; it’s about sharing the experience.

Documenting with Purpose: We encourage our guests to fly intentionally, capturing footage that tells a story, whether it’s personal, historical, or artistic.

Reliable Logistics: Kenny’s backroad knowledge and mechanical skills give everyone peace of mind. Whether it's navigating unfamiliar terrain or troubleshooting gear, he’s the steady hand every adventure needs.

Who Is It For?

Desert Escape is for the drone pilot who wants more than just good weather and airspace clearance. It’s for the adventurer who loves the hum of propellers and the rumble of an off-road vehicle. It’s for the storyteller, the seeker, the curious creative looking to get their boots dirty and their batteries charged.

You don’t need to be an expert flyer. You don’t need a tricked-out 4x4. What you do need is a sense of adventure, a willingness to unplug, and a desire to explore flight in a whole new way.

Whether you’re a seasoned drone pilot seeking a fresh perspective, a content creator looking for epic backdrops, or a traveler who prefers trails to hotels, Desert Escape offers a rare, authentic connection through technology, terrain, and time well spent.

From the Sky to the Story

What excites me most about this journey is that it brings everything full circle. We're still educators. We're still champions of drone safety and skill. But now, we’re offering something deeper.  We provide experiences that combine learning, adventure, and legacy.

Through Desert Escape, On The Go Video is becoming more than a training company.  We’re becoming a guide for those who want to go farther, fly higher, and see with new eyes.

Our guests leave with sharper drone skills, along with new stories, fresh footage, and a deeper understanding of the land and its past. If we’ve done our job right, they also leave with full memory cards, dusty boots, and a spark that stays with them long after the last prop stops spinning.

So if you're ready to leave the pavement behind and take your drone training to the next level, join us.  

Your desert escape is waiting!

Schedule a quick call here: calendly.com/onthegovideo/desert_escape_conversation

Read my Pilot Story!