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22 January 2025
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<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/caleb-webb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Caleb Webb</a>
As a young person, I really never was sure what I wanted to do as I got older. I had a lot of ideas, but as a kid with a short attention span and a variety of hobbies that I liked to do, I changed my mind quite a bit.&nbsp;I&rsquo;ve had so many hobbies over the years, it is really not funny. From amateur radio to triathlon, I&rsquo;ve been quite an active young person.&nbsp;Fast forward a number of years: I&rsquo;m 19 years old now, and owner of a slowly growing aerial photography company in New Hampshire. But how in the world did I get into flying drones?&nbsp;
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I remember always liking RC vehicles, helicopters, and planes. I remember having one old RC truck that I recall having quite a bit of fun with. But I especially liked the little helicopters. The first one I can remember in the house was a little green helicopter. I was probably too little to fly it, as I have no recollection of myself flying it. I think one of my family members ended up crashing it. A few years later, I remember buying my brother a little better RC helicopter, and soon thereafter, he got me one. Mine was red with a red and blue flashing light on the front of it.&nbsp;It took forever to charge and had about a 5&ndash;6-minute&nbsp;battery life at best. I remember having a lot of enjoyment with that.&nbsp;
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Fast forward another few years. My brother and I were older, and one of my brother&rsquo;s dreams had been to fly real airplanes.&nbsp;Ever since he was little, he had a love for aviation. And so, at 18, my brother began to take flying lessons. This is where I was really introduced to aviation.&nbsp;
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Around this same time, my brother got me a little quadcopter for Christmas (which, by the way, I still have). This was my first &ldquo;drone.&rdquo; It had a little camera with no gimbal on the front, and a positioning camera on the bottom. It had an app that could be connected to a phone to have a live view, and&nbsp;had a battery life of about 8 minutes. I remember&nbsp;flying it around the house. I thought it was so cool, but it was very hard to fly, as the positioning system was terrible on it, and it had a tendency to drift a lot. It was almost impossible to fly and turn the drone without hitting something. I remember the first time I flew it outside. I flew it straight up about maybe 50 feet, did a few flips, and then brought it down and landed it on the beach, where I got sand in the motors.&nbsp;
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Now during this time, my brother had gotten his private pilot&rsquo;s license and was working towards his instrument rating. But in the meantime, one of his flight instructors recommended that he get his Part 107 drone license. For an already licensed airplane pilot, it was really easy: an open book test. I guess they figure you already know a lot of the rules of the airspace and so on. So,&nbsp;he got his license. I remember my dad talking with him and looking at drones and discussing with him the possibility of flying a drone for money. However, that never went anywhere. He was far more interested in manned aviation. However, it was about this time that I started looking at the Part 107 and thinking, &ldquo;Hmmm...that is cool. I&rsquo;d love to do that.&rdquo; I also read that I only had to be 16 to get my Part 107. I decided that is what I wanted to do: start an aerial photography service.&nbsp;
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So, I bought the 2022 study book&nbsp;and 2-year&nbsp;practice testing software license&nbsp;from ASA. I was 17 at the time. I began to study it, and&nbsp;was quite excited. However, I started to get busy. I was working in the summer, as&nbsp;well as developing as a runner, so I had a lot going on. And then my senior year of high school came. I was home schooled, and had a difficult and rigid curriculum. Just as a note: I am not complaining at all; I&rsquo;m actually very thankful for the above average education I received, even though it was a lot of work. But, my drone studies kind of fell apart. I would look at the book and think, &ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;ll study&nbsp;for that.&rdquo; But then I never seemed to, except for rare occasions. I kept setting goals for myself to get my Part 107 license, but it just kept getting pushed farther and farther out.&nbsp;
After graduation, I kind of just decided that I was going to get my license.&nbsp;I started studying again. Then I remembered that I had never activated my 2-year&nbsp;license. So,&nbsp;I hopped on the computer and did so. My first practice test I took, I believe I passed&nbsp;(although it was close). I couldn&rsquo;t believe it. I took many more over until I was constantly passing them with good grades. I&nbsp;then&nbsp;decided that I was going to get my license&nbsp;ASAP. I only took the practice exams for about a month before I took my actual test.&nbsp;I remember being nervous as the instructor got the grade for the test, for I&nbsp;was worried I had failed. Thankfully, my hard work had paid off, and I passed with flying colors&nbsp;in&nbsp;October 2023. I pulled out that little quadcopter and took it outside. It was a little difficult, for the wind was a little too high for it. First, it blew into the neighbor&rsquo;s yard; then, it nearly blew into my dad&rsquo;s truck. So,&nbsp;I couldn&rsquo;t use it outside.
In the meantime, I had been looking at what drone to buy. I was looking at the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro, as well as the DJI Air 3. I also ran across the Autel&nbsp;Robotics Evo II Pro and Yuneec Typhoon H+. But my dad and I were discussing what I should get, and the conclusion we came to was to buy a cheap drone to learn on. After all, we thought, if drones are as hard to fly as that quadcopter, I don&rsquo;t want to be&nbsp;buying a thousand dollar&nbsp;drone and crashing it.&nbsp;So, to Walmart we went.&nbsp;
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I am happy to say that my first drone was not I what I was originally expecting to buy. I ended up buying a DJI Mini 2 SE. I absolutely loved that drone. Very user friendly, and at the time, I thought the camera was absolutely amazing. (You really can&rsquo;t complain about it for the price.) Although, within a couple of months I realized I would need a better drone for higher quality YouTube videos and so on&nbsp;and the work that I was hoping to soon get. I ended up buying the Autel&nbsp;Evo II Pro V2. It isn&rsquo;t the V3, but it is still an impressive drone.&nbsp;
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About the time I bought the Evo II Pro, I decided to form an LLC by the name of&nbsp;New England Aerial Photography, LLC. Combine&nbsp;the old-fashioned work ethic that my dad and grandfather instilled into me&nbsp;with my desire to work for myself,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I was determined to make it happen. I made a website, bought business cards, went around to realtors, made cold calls, and sent out emails. Unfortunately, there was really nothing solid from anybody. I got either no response, or they just said nice things to me, probably to make me feel better since I am young. But one chimney company did take me on. I remember my first job I did for them. I&nbsp;charged too little, but it was perfectly okay. That was the first $100 of my business.&nbsp;
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I ended up buying a regular camera for real estate, but I still got nothing. However, after talking to&nbsp;a close friend of mine who was a realtor, he said he would use me if I invested in a software&nbsp;called Matterport&nbsp;which&nbsp;does virtual 3D tours. He said it would be a couple thousand-dollar&nbsp;investment, which&nbsp;I was in no shape to do that at that time, even though I was working part-time. However, something came up. I found out that far cheaper Insta360 cameras are just as capable of performing Matterport tours&nbsp;as the expensive Matterport brand cameras.
I ended up buying an Insta360 One RS 1 for doing Matterport, and it has more than paid for itself. Sure enough, he took me on, and it really helped out when another friend of mine, who had been doing the drone work for my realtor friend, sold me his drone which was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic that had hardly been flown with a bunch of accessories for a very good price. My realtor friend has been using me ever since. The final drone I ended up buying was the Autel Evo Lite Enterprise 640T, which came out a few months ago.&nbsp;
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Well, to close out, I have had my ups and downs as I develop this business. I have had many frustrations. This business is far from supportive for me. I have to work another job, but they are very flexible, and allow me to take off whenever I need to, as my business is priority&nbsp;to me.&nbsp;It takes a lot of work and sweat, but I have confidence that my hard work is going to pay off. My ultimate goal is to work full time as a drone pilot.&nbsp;Nothing worthwhile ever came easy to anybody, and I believe that I am no exception.&nbsp;As of this writing I am currently planning on getting my thermal certification within the next couple of months&nbsp;(March 2025),&nbsp;and&nbsp;I look forward to the doors that that will open for&nbsp;me.&nbsp;
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I am willing to travel to complete a job. My goal is to provide the best possible product for the customer, while being safe, professional, honest, and FAA compliant. I currently use SkyWatch&nbsp;hourly drone insurance, which&nbsp;covers me up to $1,000,000 in liability.&nbsp;
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As an end note, I hope that this story has been interesting. Maybe there are other pilots reading this that are in my shoes. If so, keep up the good work, and don&rsquo;t give up. It will pay off in the end if you stick with it. If you are an experienced drone pilot reading this and see&nbsp;areas where I can improve, PLEASE stop reading, go to my profile, get my contact information, and tell me where I can improve. I&rsquo;m always open for tips and pointers on how&nbsp;to do better.&nbsp;
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Here's to safe flying and clear skies!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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Pilot Story: Caleb Webb

20 January 2025
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By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/nathan-mantor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Mantor</a>
I am a Nashville-based photographer and FAA-certified drone pilot with a passion for capturing dynamic, high-quality images. My career has been shaped by a deep appreciation for lighting, composition, and technology, and has evolved over the years from wedding and family photography to specializing in real estate and aerial imagery. Along the way, I have learned the value of perseverance, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace new tools and techniques.
Like many photographers, I began my career in the world of wedding and family photography. However, it wasn&rsquo;t long before I discovered a new passion&mdash;architectural and interior photography. One day, while browsing online, I came across a website that showcased stunning images of interiors. What struck me most wasn&rsquo;t just the subject matter, but the way lighting and composition were used to bring life to inanimate objects. These photos were far from the typical static shots one might expect; they were filled with drama, texture, and depth.
Having always been fascinated by the impact of lighting in photography, I was immediately drawn to the idea of applying dramatic lighting techniques to architectural subjects. I began experimenting with lighting setups, focusing on how different angles, shadows, and artificial light sources could transform spaces. The ability to make something as mundane as a room or a piece of furniture appear dynamic and full of life felt like a new creative frontier.
Inspired by the images I saw online, I purchased a wide-angle lens&mdash;a tool that would help me capture more expansive scenes with greater clarity and detail. I then found myself referred to a local real estate photography company that specialized in photographing houses for sale. At the time, the company primarily employed a small number of full-time photographers, with many part-timers who worked on an as-needed basis to fill scheduling gaps. I was brought on as a part-time photographer, tasked with going to properties, shooting the images, and uploading them on the same day for the editing team to handle.
While the work itself was fulfilling in many ways, the process was not exactly what I had envisioned. The company&rsquo;s model meant that I had little to no control over the final images. As someone who was passionate about the creative side of photography and wanted to have a hand in how the photos looked, this arrangement didn&rsquo;t quite meet my aspirations. I knew that in order to fully express my creative vision, I would need to take matters into my own hands.
Determined to improve the quality of my real estate work, I began to seek out ways to refine my technique. One of the most valuable resources I found was YouTube, where several real estate photographers shared tips and tutorials on how to capture images with the style I admired. I soon realized that the photographers who achieved the polished, dramatic look I was drawn to didn&rsquo;t rely solely on bracketing images and merging them together. Instead, they used flash to control the light in a way that made every element of a room stand out. This was a pivotal moment in my journey&mdash;I understood that the key to achieving my desired results was mastering artificial lighting.
With a new focus on lighting and advanced techniques, I began practicing diligently. Nashville, at the time, was a rapidly growing city with a booming real estate market, particularly in the Airbnb sector. Recognizing the opportunity, I took test shots of my own home as well as a custom home my father had built. With the addition of these images to my portfolio, I relaunched my website and began receiving inquiries from Airbnb hosts looking to have their properties photographed.
This marked the beginning of the transition into full-time real estate and Airbnb photography. As Airbnb properties became increasingly popular in Nashville, demand for high-quality property photos grew. What had started as a small side gig soon turned into a thriving business. I found that the ability to capture spaces in a way that showcased their unique features&mdash;using creative lighting, composition, and storytelling&mdash;was a skill that set me apart from other photographers.
As real estate photography continued to evolve, I kept a close eye on emerging trends. It quickly became apparent that drones were no longer just a novelty in the real estate industry&mdash;they were quickly becoming a must-have tool. Aerial shots added a new perspective, allowing potential buyers or renters to see not only the property but its surrounding environment. As a result, those who didn&rsquo;t offer drone photography services were being left behind.
Having always been a fan of technology, I embraced the idea of incorporating drone photography into my skill set. My first drone, a DJI Spark, was an affordable entry point into the world of aerial photography. While the Spark was an excellent learning tool, it didn&rsquo;t take long for me to encounter the steep learning curve that comes with flying drones. I quickly learned the importance of careful planning, and how crucial it was to understand both the technical and safety aspects of drone operation.
One of the lessons learned the hard way came when I crashed my DJI Spark into a tree. I realized that taking off in obstructed areas, coupled with running the battery down, could lead to disaster&mdash;especially when trying to rely on the drone&rsquo;s &ldquo;return to home&rdquo; function. Though this was a frustrating setback, it provided valuable insight into the complexities of drone photography.
The next step in my drone journey came when I sought to upgrade to a more reliable and capable model. After conducting research, I discovered a significant deal on a GoPro drone, which came bundled with a GoPro camera and a handheld stabilizer. At first, this seemed like the perfect solution for combining photo, video, and drone capabilities in one package. Unfortunately, the GoPro drone turned out to be a massive disappointment. Known for its inability to maintain a strong signal and prone to sudden, unexplained crashes, it wasn&rsquo;t long before I experienced this firsthand.
Realizing that GoPro drones were notorious for this issue, I promptly returned the faulty equipment and purchased a DJI Phantom instead. The Phantom quickly proved to be a far more reliable tool. After flying it for a while and becoming comfortable with its capabilities, I knew it was time to take the next step&mdash;earning my FAA Part 107 certification.
Obtaining a Part 107 certification was a significant milestone for me, especially given my self-admitted difficulty with traditional tests. The knowledge required to pass the exam was challenging&mdash;questions focused not only on drone operation but also on topics like aviation law, weather patterns, and flight safety, areas far outside my usual expertise. However, I persevered, utilizing resources like YouTube and the RemotePilot101 course to study. When I finally passed the exam, it was a huge moment of pride&mdash;especially since it validated my specialized skills and set me apart from others who might be flying without proper certification.
Becoming a certified drone pilot opened up new opportunities and further cemented a place in the industry. Though there are hundreds of thousands of certified drone pilots in the U.S., the fact that I had achieved this distinction gave me a sense of belonging to a specialized group. It also gave me the confidence to continue pushing my business forward.
Currently, I fly two DJI Mavic Pro 3 drones. My philosophy is that it's important to have a backup on hand in case something goes wrong with the primary drone&mdash;both for the sake of my business and the client experience. As I continue to refine my photography, I am exploring ways to expand my offerings. In 2025, I plans to integrate thermal imaging into my services, which would allow me to offer specialized photography for a variety of industries, including construction, home inspections, and energy audits.
I am eyeing new technology, including the Matrice 4 drone, which promises even greater capabilities. Just as I once took a chance on purchasing my first wide-angle lens, I am excited about what the future holds and the possibilities that new gear and techniques can bring.
With years of experience in real estate photography, architectural photography, and drone services, I am always looking for new ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what&rsquo;s possible. As the industry continues to evolve, I remain committed to growing my skill set and offering my clients the best possible experience. Whether it&rsquo;s capturing stunning aerial shots of a property, creating dramatic interior shots, or expanding into new fields like thermal imaging, I am dedicated to staying at the cutting edge of the photography world.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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Pilot Story: Nathan Mantor

10 January 2025
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By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/adrian-pueyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Pueyo</a>
If you told me during my childhood that I would get to fly drones and travel, I would probably get excited but I still wouldn&rsquo;t believe you as I thought I had a very different path in life. I would probably laugh it off if anyone told me I would be starting my own company. I always had a passion for aviation, video games, and I had the goals to travel and fly as often as I could.
As a child I would constantly get my hands on anything RC or anything to do with planes and aviation. I would constantly play Galaga or Gradius III, and eventually I would try to sneak some time in on my grandfather&rsquo;s Microsoft Flight Simulator. I would also constantly window shop at Radio Shack and daydream about what I could play or get my hands on.
Eventually I got my hands on those small RC helicopters and hand-thrown foam planes that you could get at the flea market, and as one can imagine, they would break just as quickly as I got them. This would then lead to a repeated cycle of me buying these every chance I would get and then having a pile of broken components with no real means or ways to fix them. My parents thought these were a distraction to my studies at the time and so this was a hobby I would pursue quietly.
I was born to Peruvian immigrants who came out to the United States to give me a better life and they had the expectations that I would learn and study to do something in pre-law, pre-med, or pre-rich. It was in their minds that I would be a professional and that anything with video games or playing with my RC toys was a distraction and it was difficult for them to see the returns on these skills.
After high school I then joined the workforce with some clear goals in mind&mdash;get my own RC equipment, get my own camera drone, and learn to fly so I could travel the world. I went to college and attended with no real focus in mind and then I held a variety of jobs with no real progress towards my goals. I eventually decided to join the military as I then knew that would get me to travel and then I could also buy my own equipment.
I joined the Marines in 2016 and then served at a Marine Air Base for my military service. I bought my own RC equipment and then I bought some drones from Walmart and started practicing. I wanted to buy DJI at the time, but then owning a drone on base became problematic so I would stick to the drones I had at the time. I also looked at flight lessons at the time but decided to save it for after the military.
After the military I then began my pursuit for my private pilot certificate, and with a fresh start out of the militar,y I thought I could do it all. This was in January 2020, and as we remember a few months later, the pandemic lockdowns began.
Fortunately, aviation was a critical skill and flight schools shortly reopened after the initial lockdowns. During lockdown, I then got my hands on a used Mavic Air and practiced flying recreationally and getting my skills as a remote pilot to de-stress and unwind after my lessons flying Piper Archers. I would also watch other pilots and drone pilots on youtube and their experiences during downtime on my night shifts as a security guard for the Riverside Regional Transit Agency.
I was constantly burning the candle at every end. I would work as a Flight Dispatcher for the college whenever I could, I would fly during the afternoons, and work as a security guard at night. I would squeeze in drones any chance I could get.
It wasn&rsquo;t until 2021, where one of my best friends from college taught me about how he was making money using drones and how he obtained his Part 107. I was in full testing mode when I learned about the Part 107, so I wanted to wait to get it until after I completed my Private Pilot Certificate. After I got my Private Pilot Certificate I then began studying for my Part 107 concurrently with starting my lessons for Instrument flight. I then learned that as an existing Part 61 pilot that one could get their Part 107 by taking an online training course through the FAA Safety Team website. It was a lengthy course, but it felt like the shortest course I ever took, and I then took the completed course to my current CFI who then endorsed me. I then received my Part 107 in the mail a few weeks after and then the true journey began.
I worked with my friend while in college and learned how to apply the Phantom 4 Pro to many different types of work and learned how it was used in construction. I then began my deepdive into its many other applications that one could use the orthomosaics for and how to get the most out of one drone. I also bought an EXO Ranger for fun and learned about the differences and limitations between drones and what I could accomplish with each one.
My friend and I were also members of the drone club at my college and it was all over in the blink of an eye. I graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor&rsquo;s in Aviation Flight in 2022, and then got my job as a Flight Dispatcher at REACH Air Medical right after.
At that point, I didn&rsquo;t really know how to turn the dial down, as I kept finding ways to make money by taking on jobs through pilot networks and going door to door in my free time. I also ended up pursuing my Master&rsquo;s in Commercial Aviation from Delta State University that same year. I then began to get my own first contracts in construction and I found myself in a similar pattern at the Bachelor&rsquo;s level. I worked Dispatch at night, drones during the day, and I would then study during any downtime and would research on how to form my own LLC and what drones/equipment to use in order to get more work and how to make operations safer/more efficient.
After months of working as a subcontractor and getting gigs, my son was born and during parental leave I then formed my own LLC. I then continued to get more contracts and more work, which finally led me to reaching a breaking point. I could no longer balance a double work life and family life. I was on a ranch job, mapping to help create GEO zones for a harness. During the scenic and peaceful work I dreaded returning to the office and thought enough was enough.
I handed in my notice on April Fool&rsquo;s Day (without realizing what day I had actually handed my resignation in) and then worked my final days asI began my transition to becoming a full time business owner and operator.
I took the leap of faith in my drone business in 2024, and have continually made small successes. I now aim to be Sacramento&rsquo;s Drone Guy, and have continued to network and make my name known around the Sacramento Region. My family now sees me pursuing my passions and they ask about what jobs have I taken or what new places have I seen due to my work.
I now get to work with some of the best people and learn from others who are like minded, as well as get more involved in the world of drones and technology. I still fly Cessnas and the occasional Piper Archer from time to time. I am now pursuing a GIS certificate, as well, so I can better understand how to better apply drone technology. If there is one thing I have learned in my journey so far, it is that the more I learn, it is that I realize how much I don&rsquo;t know.
<h5 class="p1">Learn More</h5>
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Pilot Story: Adrian Pueyo

16 December 2024
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By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/edward-ghosn-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edward Ghosn</a>
My journey into the drone life began many years ago and it didn&rsquo;t begin with drones. It all began in a little mountain village in Lebanon in March of 1961. This little country is in the Mediterranean Sea with Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south with the Mediterranean Sea on its west. I was fortunate and blessed to move to California, USA in 1965 with my aunt and uncle. I underwent a dozen or so operations on my legs to counter the effects of polio. My last operation was in 1975 before I entered high school. The nationally recognized Orthopedic Surgeon did wonders for me.
I am grateful to God for allowing me to come to the US, land of the free and home of the brave. After high school, I obtained a certificate as an audio engineer. After that, I decided to pursue a medical career as a Respiratory Therapist before getting married to the gorgeous woman who is helping me edit this paper and we had ten children.
In the early 1990&rsquo;s I became fascinated with videography. I began doing small video projects and was encouraged to continue with this hobby, which became a side business, E.G. Video Creations. I videotaped a lot of weddings and special events, produced medical training videos and produced and edited The Rock Guitar Video You&rsquo;ve Been Waiting For.
As my family grew, I developed an entrepreneurial spirit and found creative ideas to bring in more income. I added the business of doing digital photo transfers and 8mm reel to reel transfers to VHS. Film transfers were in high demand as media technology changed rapidly.
I also advanced my education by obtaining a BS in Business Management and an MBA in Health Care Management. I continued with my video business and shooting weddings and perfecting my creativity in post-production. By 2010 I was no longer working in the hospital setting but worked in education, teaching aspiring Respiratory students.
I was hired to shoot a wedding in 2020. The venue was in beautiful Oak Glen, California. I was searching the venue on the web and found an awesome aerial YouTube video of the venue. I was fascinated and intrigued by the video and I just had to have that clip in my post-production of the wedding video. I contacted the owner, and he gave me permission to use part of it. I thought it was awesome, and I just had to get more of these aerial shots. I developed a desire to use drones for videography.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/DDy45uyz3aHgdKbr3uIILwD3svCkgVp4yq6xOS4K.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="216" />
After a bit of research, I purchased a cheap drone from a pawn shop. It was called The Beast (or something like that). The images were not good quality. I practiced and played around with it and took some videos and pictures, but they were not good enough for professional work. I realized that I could make money using my drone. During my research, I discovered that if I wanted to make money with my drone, I would have to register the drone with the FAA and get a pilot&rsquo;s license called Part 107. So, in 2022, I registered that cheap drone with the FAA and began to study for the Part 107 exam. I continued to fly that drone and began looking for a professional drone.
The name DJI kept popping up and I realized that I had better buy a DJI drone because they were well-known drone manufacturers. I found my first Phantom 4 Pro version1 on eBay. I was able to save up some money to purchase it later in November 2022. I continued to study for the Part 107 and finally on November 29, 2022, I passed the exam the first time. Once I received my official Remote Pilot&rsquo;s License card, I began to practice flying my Phantom 4 Pro. I practiced and practiced several times a week. The next step was to figure out how to begin making money. That was a challenge. I wasn&rsquo;t sure where to start.
I found Dronersio and completed the onboarding process and it wasn&rsquo;t much after that that I was offered my first drone job. It was a piece of vacant land in Calimesa. The winds were 10 mph but all went well. I followed the steps they laid out and I completed my first project. Wooo Hooo!!! I made $80 on that project. I continued to do more projects and began doing commercial real estate projects. I joined Drone U and began learning more about drones and their use in construction. I learned that I should set up an LLC and did so in November 2022. And so began United Drone Services, LLC.
In early 2023 I received an email from Drone Brothers in Michigan asking if I would be interested in doing a bimonthly drone shoot that would last for 1 year for the construction of a new Home Depot hub in Perris, California (10 miles from my home). I jumped on it! It was doing 11 Panos using Drone Deploy with my P4P.
By that point I had completed a dozen other drone jobs with Dronersio, but still couldn&rsquo;t count on it as a main source of income, since the cost of living is very high in California. I was able to acquire my second P4P by mid-2023 and later that year I purchased the Autel Evo 2 version 1. On my last day of the construction project, I was flying the P4P when I lost signal and visual line of sight. The P4P went down on the roof and was rendered useless. I was able to locate the drone the next day and take a picture of its location. I was able to complete the project the following day. The construction project manager retrieved my crashed drone for me. I learned the importance of having hull insurance. I was able to get a new P4P with the insurance claim.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rn63wHnNCHrIXLC2ZrO5fpEYRIzJBetcZ2bxBxwq.jpg" alt="" width="638" height="585" />
I continued to learn on the uses of drone technology. Roof inspections, Orthomosaic, Mapping, Thermal inspections, Cell tower inspections, Cinematic expressions, movie industry and the list goes on. I joined the The Pilot Institute to educated myself on the business aspect of the use of drones and conintued to use the Drone U website&nbsp; as well to increase my knowledge base.My drone fleet increased to DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2, Autel Evo 2 Dual (with the Flir 640R payload) and the DJI Mini 3 Pro
I was becoming more confident from my experiences, but I realized that I knew very little about drones and their fast-growing technological use. I completed several mapping projects and dabbled with 3D rendering as well. I began looking for other drone hiring companies to do more jobs. I signed up with VidTech, Drone Videos and Zeitview and completed a number of projects for each of them but, I thought that the pay was not quite what I felt I deserved, so I began to market my services on my own. It had not been easy to get jobs with those businesses and I had been at my wits&rsquo; end when I found The Droning Company.
I read about Stuart Smith and I connected with his story and his need to provide for his family. He was from my era&mdash;the 70&rsquo;s and 80&rsquo;s&mdash;and he was a rock and roller in real life. I signed up immediately and he contacted me in record time, welcoming me on board. He encouraged me and provided guidance on how to get my name out there, using The Droning Company platform, so I could begin making money without the middleman. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow my business, while doing what I enjoy.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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Pilot Story: Edward Ghosn

27 November 2024
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/XwTzCU0bUQhD6ch7r6s69qWD8ROyPd9lha7QkYXq.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="90" />
By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/james-folk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James Folk</a>
I've always been a bit of a tech enthusiast. With over 18 years in software development, I've dabbled in everything from video games to virtual reality, and even blockchain. But one of my most exciting ventures has been into the world of drones. It's a journey that combines my love for technology with a newfound passion for capturing the world from above.
My journey with technology began long before drones entered the picture. Growing up, I was the kid who took apart gadgets just to see how they worked. This curiosity naturally led me to a career in software development, where I could create and innovate. Over the years, I've worked with some incredible companies like Warner Bros. Discovery and 343 Industries, contributing to projects that pushed the boundaries of what's possible in gaming and technology. Each role taught me something new, and I was always eager to apply these lessons to my personal projects.
<h5>Journey with Drones</h5>
My fascination with drones started quite simply. I received a toy drone as a gift, and I was hooked. Watching it hover so steadily in the air, I initially thought it was all about the skill of the operator. But soon, I realized it was the technology within the drone itself that made it so stable. This revelation sparked my curiosity, and I dove headfirst into learning everything I could about drones.
I stumbled upon an ad from Chris Newman at Drone Pro Academy, which promised to guide me through the world of drones and help me prepare for the Part 107 licensing exam. Around the same time, I got a free book from the Drone Boss, which was a game-changer. With these resources, I passed the Part 107 exam and was officially ready to take my drone passion to the next level.
Flying a drone, especially an FPV drone, is like having your head in the clouds. I remember attending Maker Faires in Brooklyn, where FPV drone races were held before the pandemic hit. Watching those drones zip around was exhilarating, and I wished I had been as invested in drones back then as I am now. Who knew COVID would change so much?
The pandemic, while challenging, gave me the time to dive deeper into my drone interests. I spent countless hours practicing my flying skills, learning about drone mechanics, and exploring the various applications of drone technology. It was during this time that I realized the potential of drones to transform industries and create new opportunities.
<h5>Achievements and Projects</h5>
My first self-stabilizing drone in 2020 opened up a whole new world for me. The joy of seeing the world from a bird's-eye view was incredible, and it pushed me to learn more about photography and video editing. I quickly realized that this hobby could become a business.
While pursuing my MBA, I started writing articles on Medium about drone marketing for real estate and began planning my drone company, NJLIC Drone Footage. I got my first break when a company found me on Drone Pilots Central and hired me for video progression projects. It was thrilling to see my work help others visualize their projects in a new way.
As a game developer, I naturally gravitated towards 3D image mapping and LIDAR technology. These tools allowed me to create detailed maps and models, which have applications in everything from urban planning to environmental conservation. It's amazing how drones can bridge my interests in gaming and technology.
One of my most rewarding projects was collaborating with local real estate agencies to create immersive drone walk-throughs. These projects not only showcased properties in a unique light but also helped clients visualize their future homes from a perspective they had never seen before. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and it was gratifying to see how my work could influence such significant decisions in people's lives.
In addition to real estate, I ventured into construction progression documentation. This involved capturing the evolution of construction sites over time, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the project's development. This service proved invaluable for project managers and investors, offering them a clear and concise visual record of progress and any potential issues that needed addressing.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/QZfN1lZEi0KHzUNzCgUG3LjlPXocLnQLOF1cglhH.png" alt="" width="196" height="315" />
Check out my children's book about drones and construction <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRYGQ4T4?&amp;linkCode=sl1&amp;tag=abhliving0f-20&amp;linkId=7fde6edf257dbf98dc24e4eed8237ac4&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HERE</a>.
<h5>Impact and Community</h5>
Being a volunteer firefighter, I've seen firsthand how drones can be lifesavers. With thermal imaging, drones can quickly locate people in distress and provide crucial information to first responders. It's a powerful reminder of how technology can make a real difference in our communities.
Through NJLIC Drone Footage, I've connected with a vibrant community of drone enthusiasts. My Facebook and Instagram pages have become platforms for sharing insights, collaborating on projects, and learning from others. It's been a rewarding experience to be part of such a passionate community.
I've also had the opportunity to engage with the drone community both online and offline. Platforms like my Facebook page and Instagram account have allowed me to connect with fellow enthusiasts, share insights, and collaborate on projects. These interactions have been invaluable, providing a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my journey has been mentoring newcomers to the drone world. Sharing my experiences and helping others navigate the complexities of drone technology has been incredibly rewarding. It's amazing to see how quickly the community is growing and evolving, with new innovations and applications emerging all the time.
<h5>Future Aspirations</h5>
Looking ahead, I'm excited about the endless possibilities drones offer. I'm particularly interested in integrating drones with IoT and blockchain technologies to create innovative solutions in logistics and agriculture. The idea of autonomous drone networks communicating in real-time is something I'm eager to explore.
I also plan to expand NJLIC Drone Footage, offering advanced services like aerial inspections and environmental monitoring. By leveraging my software development skills, I aim to create custom solutions that meet my clients' unique needs.
Reflecting on my journey, I'm grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have come my way. Drones have not only enriched my professional life but have also given me a new perspective on the world. They've challenged me to think creatively and continuously push the boundaries of what's possible.
As I continue to explore the world of drones, I'm committed to learning, innovating, and sharing my knowledge with others. Whether it's through developing cutting-edge software, capturing breathtaking aerial footage, or contributing to community safety, I'm excited to see where this journey will take me next.
<h5>Let's Connect!</h5>
Reflecting on my journey, I'm grateful for the opportunities and experiences that have come my way. Drones have not only enriched my professional life but have also given me a new perspective on the world. They've challenged me to think creatively and continuously push the boundaries of what's possible.
As I continue to explore the world of drones, I'm committed to learning, innovating, and sharing my knowledge with others. Whether it's through developing cutting-edge software, capturing breathtaking aerial footage, or contributing to community safety, I'm excited to see where this journey will take me next.
I invite you to join me on this exciting journey. Whether you're a fellow drone enthusiast, a potential client, or just curious about the technology, I'd love to connect with you. Follow my adventures on social media or visit my website, and let's discover the future of drones together.
<ul>
<li>Website - <a href="http://www.njlicdronefootage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.njlicdronefootage.com/</a></li>
<li>Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/njlic.drone.footage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/njlic.drone.footage/</a></li>
<li>Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/njlicdronefootage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/njlicdronefootage</a></li>
<li>Drone Pilots Central - <a href="https://dronepilotscentral.com/pilots/ny/mount-sinai-1/drone-pilot/njlicdronefootage/#post_content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://dronepilotscentral.com/pilots/ny/mount-sinai-1/drone-pilot/njlicdronefootage/#post_content</a></li>
<li>LinkedIn - <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfolk1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfolk1/</a></li>
<li>YouTube - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@njlicdronefootage2087" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/@njlicdronefootage2087</a></li>
<li>Medium - <a href="https://medium.com/p/7ce9b333166" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://medium.com/p/7ce9b333166</a></li>
</ul>
<h5>Watch!</h5>
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Pilot story: james folk

22 November 2024
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/fJ0KpDIYvPzbDCjh6R5WiEJ2BngatoV4EnBNqFvW.jpg" alt="" width="118" height="147" />
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/jeff-dunworth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jeff Dunworth</a>
Hello and welcome to my profile! My name is Jeff Dunworth, and I&rsquo;m proud to combine my lifelong passions for aviation and photography into a fulfilling career as a drone pilot and visual storyteller. Through my work and my startup, <a href="https://heavenlycinematics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavenly Cinematics</a>, I aim to provide exceptional aerial and ground-level photography and videography that not only captures the beauty of our world but also tells meaningful stories.
<h5 class="p1">A Family Legacy of Aviation and Photography</h5>
Aviation and photography are more than just professional pursuits for me&mdash;they&rsquo;re woven into the fabric of my family history. My grandmother, Charlene Taylor, was one of the first women to pilot an airplane across the United States. Her groundbreaking achievement wasn&rsquo;t just an inspiration to those around her but also a milestone in aviation history, paving the way for future generations of female aviators.
Growing up, her stories of soaring through the skies filled me with awe and curiosity. From a young age, I admired her determination and the bold spirit that allowed her to break barriers. Her love for aviation planted the seeds of my own passion for flight, and her legacy continues to drive me to push boundaries in my own career.
In addition to aviation, the art of photography also runs in my family. The power of capturing fleeting moments, preserving memories, and telling stories through a lens fascinated me early on. I loved exploring the creative possibilities photography offered and began experimenting with cameras as soon as I could.
<h5 class="p1">A Childhood Love of Flight</h5>
For as long as I can remember, aviation has captivated me. As a child, family vacations meant more than just exciting destinations&mdash;the highlight for me was always the airplane ride. I cherished the thrill of takeoff, the wonder of seeing the world from thousands of feet in the air, and the quiet hum of the engines as we soared through the skies. Those early flights cemented my fascination with aviation and inspired me to pursue it as a career.
At the same time, I began developing a love for photography and videography. I would spend hours capturing photos and videos, learning how to frame shots, play with light, and tell visual stories. Over time, these two passions converged, leading me to embrace aerial cinematography as my creative and professional focus.
<h5 class="p1">The Creation of Heavenly Cinematics</h5>
Driven by my love for aviation and visual storytelling, I founded Heavenly Cinematics, a small startup dedicated to creating breathtaking aerial and ground-level content. At Heavenly Cinematics, I specialize in capturing moments and perspectives that are often out of reach for traditional photography and videography.
From real estate and commercial projects to event coverage, mapping, and security operations, I tailor each project to meet the unique needs of my clients. My mission is to deliver exceptional results that combine technical precision with artistic vision, helping clients bring their creative ideas to life.
<h5 class="p1">Mastering the Craft: My Tools and Expertise</h5>
For the past three years, I&rsquo;ve been flying the DJI Mavic 3 Cine, a top-of-the-line drone that excels in capturing stunning 4K video footage and high-resolution still photography. The Mavic 3 Cine&rsquo;s advanced features, including superior stability, exceptional image quality, and versatile shooting modes, allow me to achieve incredible results across a wide range of projects.
While capturing footage is the first step, my work doesn&rsquo;t stop there. I bring my content to life through skilled post-production, using DaVinci Resolve for video editing and DxO PhotoLab for photo editing. These powerful tools enable me to enhance colors, fine-tune details, and create polished, professional-grade visuals that exceed expectations. My expertise with these platforms ensures that every project I deliver is of the highest quality.
<h5 class="p1">Explore My Work</h5>
I invite you to take a closer look at my creative journey and recent projects through my social media and YouTube channels.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Instagram: Follow me at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.instagram.com/heavenlycinematics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@heavenlycinematics</a> for a glimpse into my latest adventures, stunning aerial shots, and behind-the-scenes moments.</li>
<li class="li1">YouTube: Check out my videos to see the world from a fresh perspective. Here are a few highlights:</li>
<ol class="ol1">
<li class="li2"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBA41tp1XIg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aerial Journey Over Majestic Mountains</a> &ndash; A breathtaking exploration of rugged landscapes from above.</li>
<li class="li2"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPOMzm_clrk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">City Lights at Dusk</a> &ndash; A captivating view of urban life illuminated by the glow of twilight.</li>
<li class="li2"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1kIlrUx020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coastal Serenity: A Drone&rsquo;s Perspective</a> &ndash; Tranquil views of coastal beauty where land meets sea.</li>
</ol>
</ul>
Through these platforms, I aim to share the artistry and technical expertise that go into every project while inspiring others to explore the endless possibilities of aerial cinematography.
<h5 class="p1">Looking Forward</h5>
As I continue to grow as a drone pilot and visual storyteller, I remain committed to pushing the boundaries of what&rsquo;s possible. The rapid advancements in drone technology and editing software excite me, as they open up new opportunities to capture even more stunning and innovative visuals.
At Heavenly Cinematics, I strive to expand our reach and take on diverse projects that challenge and inspire me. Whether it&rsquo;s working with businesses, individuals, or creative teams, my goal is to provide visuals that not only meet but exceed expectations.
<h5 class="p1">A Heartfelt Thanks</h5>
Thank you for taking the time to read my story and learn about my journey as a drone pilot and creative professional. Your interest means the world to me, and I hope my passion for aviation and photography resonates with you. If you&rsquo;d like to collaborate on a project, have any questions, or just want to connect, feel free to reach out via my website or social media.
Let&rsquo;s take flight together and create something extraordinary!
<h5 class="p1">Learn More</h5>
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Pilot Story: Jeff Dunworth

23 September 2024
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/henry-duquette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henry Duquette</a>
Ever since I can remember I was a go-getter, from becoming an Eagle Scout to winning the Science Fair in Junior High School for building a computer back in 1960. I was then approached by a man who handed me his business card and asked me&nbsp; to contact him after High School. International Business Machines I thought. What is this company and will they go anywhere? For those who are wondering, yes I threw the card away.
After serving in the military, I travelled the country for a few years, ending up doing a three-month wildness hiking trip in northwest Canada. It taught me many things, most importantly who I was and how to overcome any obstacles that got in my way. From that point on in my life I was never afraid to try something new.
While attending college in the late '70s I found the joys of film photography, flying, nature, landscape, infra-red photos, and developing my own photos in my own dark room.
After watching the movie&nbsp;starring James Stewart as Charles Lindbergh in&nbsp;&ldquo;The Spirit of St. Louis&rdquo; there was a commercial of a local airport in Rhode Island to learn to fly a plane, the first lesson was $10. The very next day I was sitting in the left seat of a Cherokee 150 plane. I was hooked for life and received my Private Pilot&rsquo;s License and flew from 1977 to 1983, booking over 250 hours of flight time.
I started to realize that I needed to make money to continue to enjoy my passions and to support a family.&nbsp; This is where I realized that I had a talent in starting a business and making it successful. My early days of wilderness traveling, overcoming obstacles, and never being afraid to try something new came into play. I am a person that does not have in my vocabulary, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do that, or it&rsquo;s too hard, or any negative thoughts to prevent me from attaining my goals in life.&rdquo; What does come to mind naturally when I have an idea is&nbsp;always, &ldquo;I can do that&rdquo; so with that attitude my direction in life was set.&nbsp;
My first business in the early '80s was in Computer Security. This was a time when micro-computers were in its infancy, and I wanted to jump on the band wagon. My idea took off, and within a year I had major national accounts under my belt. Businesses like Brown University, Hughs Aircraft, New England Telephone, JPL, etc. were buying my wares. After several years I sold the business at a very good profit. This allowed me to dive into another passion of mine, fishing. I had an idea to develop a laminated Nautical Chart that showed where the best fishing spots were but adding and using the local names of those areas. I also showed loading ramps, fuel docks, restaurants to travel to by boat and added other bits of information that a boater or fisherman would need while on the water. I called my business, Captain Segull's Sport Fishing Charts. I had charts from Maine to Florida and sold these charts for over the next twelve or so years before I sold the business in 2001. I am proud to say that Captain Segull Charts are still in existence today and are still going strong. Check them out, and if there is something you are interested in, just let them know that Henry the original Captain Segull sent you.
About the same time I was selling Captain Segull Charts, my beautiful wife, Roberta, had a hobby making beaded jewelry. She wanted to buy some expensive Dichroic Glass beads.&nbsp; I told her that I would invest in a studio and make her inventory, but I was not at all interested in making women&rsquo;s jewelry. Long story short, she fell out of bead making due to her career taking off and I pursued doing 38 Art Shows a year traveling from Maine to Florida and out to Pittsburg, PA for 16 years. I currently have been awarded over 17 First, and Second Place Ribbons and a $600 cash prize with a Honorably Best of Show Award during my Art Show history. These were fun and very profitable years, but the travel got to us. I am still blowing glass to the present day under the name of Forever in Glass LLC, but the work comes to me now from all over the United States, Canada &amp; New Zealand. I work out of our house in Maine during the Fall &amp; Winter and in our summer home in Swansea, Massachusetts. Even after 24 years of blowing glass, I still enjoy it, and its still going strong.
Being self-employed since 1980 allows me to still travel the world with my wife, and pursue other interests that gets me out of the studio. I started to fly drones in 2019 to take photos of our travels. My first was a DJI Mavic 2 Pro flying recreational. This led to re-igniting my passion for flying. I enrolled in an online ground school called&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://mzeroa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">MZEROA.COM</a>. I highly recommend this school as they will guarantee a successful experience. The instructor teaches everything you need to know and is done in a way that gives you the confidence that you need to pass the test. In 2020, I re-certified my Private Pilot&rsquo;s License in a High Performance / Complex C-182 plane. In the same year I enrolled again in the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://mzeroa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">MZEROA.COM</a>&nbsp;unmanned ground school for attaining my PART 107 sUAS License and started to fly drones commercially.
After investing over $30,000 in a drone, I specialize in roof inspections, mapping, insurance inspections, construction, real estate, solar etc.
My current drone inventory is,&nbsp;
Top of the line DJI M350 RTK drone, with a P1 / 35mm, and a H20T Thermal Camera Payload, an Emlid RS3 RTK Base Station, 3 pairs of batteries, a quick charging Case, an in-field gas generator to charge batteries on the go, DBTU 1300 digital solar power meter for solar inspections, all my PPE Equipment. Renewed Part 107 license, and a OSHA 10 Card. Nikon D850 DSLR Camera with a variety of lenses from 14mm to 600mm, and a DJI Osmo 6 iPhone stabilizer.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/kCkkzv6n8oU85jzVwteceo5BdvT8IPDZTPwJHOHE.png" alt="" width="314" height="259" />
DJI Matrice M350 RTK with a P1/35mm and a H20T payload.
I also continued my drone training by attending the ITC sUAS Level 1 Thermographer Certification, which I highly recommend. They also guarantee passing the course, or you can retake the course for free.
I am very familiar in getting a LAANC or a COA from the FAA. Skywatch $1,000,000 liability insurance renewed on a monthly basis, and of course my old fashion strong work ethic. The software that I currently use is the DJI Pilot 2 app, and I own a perpetual UgCS Pro license. I am familiar with DroneDeploy (but I do not have an account.)&nbsp;
I am willing to travel 150 miles radius for a mission any day of the week on a contractual basis and possible couple of over-night deployments.
I come with the following skills: An Old-fashion Strong Work Ethic &bull; Communication Skills &bull; Problem Solving &bull; Personal Integrity &bull; People Management &bull; Computer/Technical Skills &bull; And definitely, Going the Distance.

Pilot Story: Henry Duquette

12 August 2024
By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/brent-bernhart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brent Bernhart</a>
I live in the small town of Fredericksburg, Ohio with my wife and two kids. I am relatively new to the droning community, but I am passionate about drones and eager to learn all that I can about them. I am open to all opportunities that may be thrown at me with hopes of succeeding in this new adventure and building a business to be passed down to my children.
After I met my wife, I realized I needed to put some focus on finding a career so I could be able to support a family. In 2007, I enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. In 2008, I was shipped off to basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. After basic training, I was assigned to Fort Knox in Kentucky to complete schooling for Bradley Tank Mechanics. I served 6 years and was stationed out of Ravenna Ohio.
In those six years, I got married and had my daughter, but I still did not know what I wanted to do with my life. I worked odd jobs just to be able to support my family until one day my wife suggested law enforcement as a career. We prayed about it and I was able to enroll into the Kent State Police Academy and successfully completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training in the spring of 2013. I became a certified Law Enforcement Officer that summer after passing the Ohio Peace Officer Commission exam.
I began my law enforcement career at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. For eight years, I was assigned to the corrections division where during my time, was promoted to Sergeant of the Corrections Division. During that time serving in Wayne County, my son was born. In 2017, I received the Deputy of the Year Award, in which I was chosen by my peers. In 2020, I transferred to the Holmes County Sheriff's Office where I am currently assigned to patrol duties, as well as, being a School Resource Officer during the school year. I aim to develop positive relationships with students and staff. I believe the importance of having positive role models in the lives of our youth, and then changing the perspectives of how people view police. Being a school resource officer is a rewarding experience and I take pride in my accomplishments.
Although I find it rewarding, law enforcement has changed over the years and I needed to find ways to take care of my mental health from long days on the job. Shortly after I got married, I became fascinated with flying model airplanes. My father in law built and flew his own planes and he quickly showed me the ropes. I caught on quickly with using the controls and began flying nightly in a makeshift airstrip in my backyard. Although I had a few crashes, my father in law would always fix the planes up and we would be back at it the next day attempting the same tricks we crashed on the previous night. He still has a few planes that have yet to see flight time, and I still can&rsquo;t convince him to let me fly them. There is something about those WWII replicas of the P51 Mustang and the F4U Corsair that has his heart.
I first took interest in drones when a close friend, who is an airplane pilot, had mentioned to me about getting my drone pilot license and starting a business. I started researching drones and was able to purchase an Autel Robotics EVO drone. After fiddling around with it for several days, I fell in love with flying. I knew with time and patience I could develop a new career path. After several years, I felt that it was time to hunker down and obtain my part 107 drone license. I ensued countless hours of studying for my part 107 exam. I studied from websites, such as, Drone Launch Academy and Pilot Institute. I took hundreds of practice tests and as soon as I felt comfortable and with the blessing of my family, I scheduled a time to take the official exam. I felt relief and a sense of excitment as soon as I heard that I was successful and passed! I am still currently working with an Autel Robotics EVO drone, which has video and photo capabilities but am eager to upgrade once I get established. Since obtaining my part 107, I have logged over 30 hours of flight time. With my in-laws dairy farm in my backyard, most of my flight time has been capturing the endless fieldwork that a farmer endures. I feel privileged to capture this essence and hope that one day everyone sees the hard work that is put in on a daily basis. &nbsp;With each flight that I take, I have gained so much knowledge. I look forward to flying every day and enjoy learning something new while I am in the air.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/QmpBozeP2BXPqtVYc0gIDPXedthdqNqyKT2vwtjI.png" alt="" width="671" height="430" />
Aside from flying my drone, I enjoy camping and fishing with my family, as well as, just enjoying the great outdoors. I love to take our small boat out on a family pond to spend one on one time with each of my kids, or my wife.&nbsp; We all enjoy that time together whether we hook a fish or not. There is something special about immersing yourself in nature, navigating through trails with a map, or just soaking up the sun on a lake.&nbsp; A person learns things about themselves that they could never learn otherwise.&nbsp; As a small rural farming community, Fredericksburg is a great place to immerse yourself with Ohio history and Amish culture. Being able raise my kids in a small town, along with, teaching them the value and importance of the land is rewarding in itself. Both my kids are heavily involved in sports, I enjoy going to their games and practices and watching them learn new things.&nbsp; It is always a joy watching them succeed in the things that they do. My son has already taken an interest in flying so I hope to teach him all the tricks and trades of flying drones.
I am also an amateur radio (ham radio) enthusiast. Ever since I was a little kid, I enjoyed walkie-talkies.&nbsp; I found out about Ham radios, as a child, while at a friends house.&nbsp; He had a ham radio and I enjoyed listening to the banter that came through from all around the world. I have always been intrigued with ham radios, but I didn&rsquo;t become licensed until 2022. I enjoy connecting with other radio enthusiasts all over the world.
My mission is to serve others, contribute to society, grow my expertise and learn new skills. I am reliable, dependable and willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I look forward to continuing to grow as a pilot and drone photographer.&nbsp; Flying drones is now a passion of mine with hopes of turning this hobby into a career. I want to inspire others to follow their dreams and aspirations and continue to work towards achieving the goals that I have set for myself.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/a11eQlQjSSaELSskRgaGUEGEeFyCISBAcLGQ6raQ.jpg" alt="" width="706" height="397" />

Pilot Story: Brent Bernhart

05 July 2024
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Tm78pkqn8fpnLD2wXsSARigwReUxnkbRm5LK0oDd.jpg" alt="" width="102" height="110" />
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/joel-manfred" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Joel Manfred</a>
I started out in Spokane, WA, attending our local community college's Airframe and Powerplant course with the goal of becoming an aircraft mechanic while flying RC planes on the side as a hobby. The passion for flying ran in my family, and I always had the bug to become a pilot. After 9/11, I decided to join the U.S. Army through their Warrant Officer Flight Training program, launching my pilot career flying the incredible UH-60 Blackhawk. I served for 11 years as a UH-60 Blackhawk certified Flight Instructor, spending most of my time overseas from Europe to Central America and multiple deployments to the Middle East for the global war on terrorism.
In 2012, I married my beautiful wife and we decided to start a family. Quickly realizing the military wasn't the best place to raise our children and with the arrival of our first child, it was time to transition to a more family-friendly environment, so I moved on to a civilian helicopter air ambulance service. This job provided structure and more time off, making it an excellent transition to civilian life and offering the time with my family. However, after six years, I was experiencing burnout and began searching for a new career path. We had always wanted to venture into entrepreneurship and business ownership but never really knew what we wanted to do.
My interest in drones grew while working at an EMS base on a drone testing range for military and civilian organizations. I talked with drone pilots and crew, which led to a job offer from a big drone operator. Although corporate work wasn't appealing, it sparked an interest I hadn&rsquo;t considered. Along with a fellow Instructor pilot, we took the FAA online training course to get certified in drone operations and signed each other off on our FAA Part 107 Certifications.
I found a company that offered a complete drone business setup, including a website, drone, training, and would become a drone job aggregator for a percent of the business they sent. Despite the company's eventual closure, I received most of what I paid for, including a Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone, an in-person training course that spawned my love of mapping and the domain <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.DroneSolutionsLLC.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.DroneSolutionsLLC.com</a>. This turn of events forced me to quickly learn the ins and outs of the drone business and take responsibility for its future.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/k85x774hWMU9H08v4plwa1Lb22mMXRMIa0nuTu2v.jpg" alt="" width="677" height="450" />
This led me to dig into business ownership and I began taking entrepreneurship classes and small business training through my local college. They offered free business coaching and were a great source of information for business management and sales.
<h5>Our First Jobs</h5>
Once the backbone of Drone Solutions LLC. was built, we moved to North Idaho to pursue the business full-time. I was particularly interested in drone mapping, having always enjoyed map and compass navigation and was very interested in where it was going digitally. As most small drone companies do, I started with real estate work and secured a contract providing monthly construction update videos for a large construction company in town. Although my initial focus was mapping, the need for presentable videos pushed me to learn video production and editing, taking classes in Adobe Premiere and video production.
While producing those videos and thinking that might be what I end up doing a local surveyor contacted me through another FPV drone service provider, seeking orthomosaic and topography maps for his project clients. This collaboration taught me a lot about surveying and GIS work. The first project went well. However, I realized quickly the need for better equipment and skills, I invested in a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Emlid GPS units, ground control points, a generator, and an upgraded PC. I took a Pix4D workshop and practiced mapping constantly, eventually achieving a quality and repeatable deliverable.
With a solid product, we designed a sales plan and began building relationships with survey and engineering firms in my area, expanding our clientele and services throughout the Northwest U.S.
<h5>Currently</h5>
Since our inception, we've continually improved our systems and deliverables through better equipment, education, and processing techniques. I now fly the Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK and Multispectral, with an off-grid battery charging station and a modified truck for on-the-go charging, storage, and 5G upload capabilities.
Our projects primarily involve mapping and 3D modeling for survey topography and orthomosaic. Alot of our work has been way out in the mountains of North Idaho, Washington and Montana. As the farther you get out the handier drones get in gathering the data to save the surveyors&rsquo; knees, time and improving their margins in the rural areas. We also have been conducting cell phone tower inspections, golf course mapping, construction site mapping, and occasionally video and photo shoots.
Recently we have partnered with <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.Thread.one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.Thread.one</a>, offering a solution for managing and organizing the vast amounts of data drones can gather. This partnership addresses the bottleneck of data management, processing, and work order distribution in the drone industry as they can gather more information than most shops can handle for the inspection and vegetation management of distribution lines, transmission lines, wind and solar farms.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/zPiJMjarx6ufm9NI4PVBCcUfdQQxrHPvDvPf52Cm.jpg" alt="" width="469" height="562" />
<h5>Into the Future</h5>
This is always a difficult subject as drones are so versatile and capable in so many sectors however as we grow and look to add employees, we have been focused on maintaining and building long-term relationships in infrastructure inspection, forestry/fire management, and renewable energy sectors. We're also considering adding LiDAR and fixed-wing drones to our fleet to cover larger areas in Topo, and for inspection of infrastructure projects. I would love to start teaching more as that is a gift I have been given and love teaching aeronautics, aerodynamics, airspace, weather and drone technology.
<h5>In Our Off Time</h5>
Most of my off time is spent with my incredible family. My wife Tammy helps manage Drone Solutions LLC and homeschools our three children, aged 3, 6, and 9. When I have the time, I enjoy woodworking and building timber frame structures. Our off-grid drone charging system has also become a fun electrical engineering project that I enjoy working on with my children.
We live in one of the best outdoor areas in the world, with large, deep lakes for summer activities and plenty of skiing opportunities nearby for the winter months. We're developing a 5-acre property near our current home into a family farm, complete with an orchard, woods, a great shooting range, and a sledding hill that rips. Our family loves hiking, swimming in mountain lakes, picking huckleberries, and, when possible, going on multi-day mountain hikes and a bit of hunting.
I teach aeronautics whenever I get the chance at homeschool co-ops and still love chatting with local pilots and visiting with crew at the local airport. My son enjoys looking at aircraft and getting comfortable with aviation, which has been an incredible part of my life and has made me the man I am. I aspire to bring more aviation culture into the drone world, as much of it seems to get lost outside the airport environment.
We love attending church whenever we can and supporting Jesus&rsquo; mission as a family.

Pilot's Story: Joel Manfred

24 June 2024
<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/solomon-sharp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Solomon Sharp</a>
The sound of boots crunching on gravel reverberates through the darkness as I step out of the car. On this moonless night, the only sound signifying any activity was the soft chirp of crickets. The wind was still, the leaves of the trees silent. I hastily turned to grab my camera and tripod from the backseat, before jogging towards the railroad crossing. The gravel under my feet crunched loudly, yet lacking an echo. Soon, the sound blended into the rustling of leaves as I stepped across the tracks into a field of tall, moist grass that completely swallowed my legs. 
As I stopped and angled my camera out towards a calculated section of darkness, I heard it. A shrill, yet musical tone in the distance. A faint light began to appear in the patch of night&mdash;first on the camera, and then in my eyes as they adjusted to the darkness. I heard the sound again. A whistle, much louder now. The lights of the crossing suddenly ignited, flashing bright red. Its loud, almost static ringing broke the silence of the immediate area. Now, a distinct, fast-paced chugging could be heard as the train got closer. The forest around me began to flash as the rotating headlight on the locomotive scanned the landscape. The locomotive whistled once more as the train thundered by. The red crossing lights reflected against the glossy black paint of the boiler before the locomotive rolled back into the darkness ahead.&nbsp;
It is moments like these that got me into photography and videography. 
Capturing the essence of life. The colors, the movements, the sounds of the world, and putting them together in a creative way that does justice to the feeling of actually being there. Although my lifelong interests in nature, railroads, history, aviation and animals fuel the passion behind my skills, I invested much time and energy into telling stories through my work. In fact, storytelling through the visual arts is what allows me to share these lifelong interests of mine, and show them in a way that I can represent them best.
 As a result, I am a Part 107 Commercial drone pilot, a professional photographer and videographer, a copywriter, video editor, animator and artist. In my work, I have a great understanding of framing and a steady hand. More important than my skills, however, is my approach to the work. I treat each scene, each shot, each character, each edit with a high level of artistry and cinematics. These values and skills are important when taking difficult shots, such as tracking a pod of dolphins in the open ocean, or racing in front of a moving train while avoiding obstacles, all while maintaining optimal framing and precise camera movement. I always look forward to developing these skills every day as I continue to fly drones.&nbsp;&nbsp;
My introduction into photography started with my father. 
For as long as I can remember, my dad and I have been passionate railfans. It started with his father (my grandfather), where he and my dad would photograph historical trains that were restored to their original splendor. They made sure to catch as many as they could that went on excursions through his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. 
However, they had never photographed or seen any of the unique trains that were found all over the country. That changed with me. I caught the railfan bug early, and my dad and I bonded over seeing historic trains all over the country. From the rocky mountains of Colorado, to the deserts of Arizona, to the plains of Texas and the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, we got the opportunity to explore the beauty of North America while doing what we loved. I wanted to save these special memories forever, and show their beauty in the same way I not only saw, but felt them. And to me, that is the essence of photography and videography.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/IK4FCSqDua8LBvkwezxBbw4L0ex70M6VdaNa8iyg.png" alt="" width="691" height="520" />
In addition to trains, I also found myself catching the aviation bug. After piloting for the first time when I was 13, I knew I wanted to become a pilot. This kicked off my journey in aviation&mdash;a path I am still pursuing to this day. 
I founded and led an Aviation Club in high school, and organized events and activities that eventually led to my members getting to fly planes themselves. Now, I am studying for my Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Here, I recently obtained my private pilot&rsquo;s license for fixed-wing aircraft. Ever since my first flight, I was blown away by the unique perspective of seeing the world you live in from the air. Landmarks I recognized such as streets, schools, and offices, could be seen all at once. 
Why couldn&rsquo;t I explore a perspective like this in photography?
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/RbfQmsvMiadvnIa9SCFKFNEEw4K7IUeTmVESypAe.png" alt="" width="317" height="351" />
Soon, I began dabbling in recreational drone photography with my first &ldquo;serious&rdquo; aircraft&mdash;the DJI Mavic 2. Some of my first aerial footage was captured during a train trip my dad and I went on. I quickly realized this newfound capability not only changed my world of railfanning, but of photography as a whole, as I could now explore a new angle of something I loved. 
As my skills developed, I knew I wanted to take it to the next level. I studied hard and eventually earned my Part 107 Commercial drone license. I also upgraded to the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, confident that I wanted to advance into the professional world of photography careers. For a few years now, I have been practicing with many types of videography and aerial techniques for the perfect shot. Cityscapes, Nature, and of course, trains, have all been a part of my aerial portfolio alone. 
My experiences out in the world have enriched my life and my perspective on the earth, full of its wonder and culture. But they also have engaged my creative spirit and fueled my artistic skills. Wherever I go, I see shots. I envision the framing, the motion, and how I would compose it into something grand. I want to save those moments through the arts, and continue to hone my skills. I would do so whether for recreation or profession. I have learned that there I can facilitate the vision for a client, showcase their amazing products, or tell their compelling story. Now, I want to share my skills, showing others a world of unique compositions, settings, and environmental conditions that I know I can showcase in a creative space.
Do you need someone who is reliable and dependable? I&rsquo;ve built a reputation on it. Do you need someone with a versatile skill set? Not only can I provide artistic and professional drone and video services, I can take care of editing, music selection, writing, creative concept consultation, and much more. Need a safe driver to get to location? That&rsquo;s me! 
In short, do you need a professional, reliable, eclectic, and highly passionate person to work with you on your next projects? Look no further. I would love to work with you. I&rsquo;m incredibly excited to bring this wonderful world of aerial photography to your life and/or business, and I look forward to meeting many people who are looking to expand their horizons, as I expand mine!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbgRWNWf7pQ?si=UW0OHhAbzza6wAZf" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

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