Trending News

Expos

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>27 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">By Mike Hirschberg, VFS Director of Strategy</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) has been a leader in the advancement of the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) revolution since it held the word&rsquo;s first conference on the topic in 2014. VFS is holding its 11th Annual eVTOL Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, on Feb. 4&ndash;6 &mdash; part of the VFS Transformative Vertical Flight (TVF) 2025 conference &mdash; focusing on the promise, progress and challenges of eVTOL aircraft, with more than 75 speakers from leading aircraft and technology developers, suppliers and government agencies.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">VFS is the world&rsquo;s leading non-profit organization working to advance vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology and advanced air mobility (AAM) applications, including battery-electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen-electric propulsion for electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) and electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) applications.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">TVF 2025 also includes the Society&rsquo;s 12th Biennial Autonomous VTOL Technical Meeting, with two dozen technical paper presentations on the latest theories, breakthroughs and developments in autonomy and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). TVF 2025 is preceded on Feb. 3 by its Short Course on Electric VTOL Design and followed by an open house of Honeywell&rsquo;s flight center on Friday, Feb. 7, providing TVF 2025 attendees with a tour of its Boeing 757 and Leonardo AW139, and showcase the company's AAM technologies. The seventh annual short course &mdash; taught by eVTOL pioneer Dr. James Wang, who invented and designed the AgustaWestland Project Zero, the world&rsquo;s first all-electric VTOL technology demonstrator aircraft in 2011 has had a major impact in the development of today&rsquo;s eVTOL leaders and workforce.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">TVF 2025 is the world&rsquo;s longest running conference on eVTOL aircraft and will provide comprehensive updates and insights into this exciting new sector of the global aerospace industry. What sets TVF 2025 apart from other conferences is that it is organized by the technical and business leaders of the vertical flight and advanced air mobility (AAM) industry. VFS members have been at the forefront of helicopter/rotorcraft, powered lift and other VTOL developments for the past 80+ years. TVF 2025 provides an opportunity for engineers, technology leaders, business leaders, scientists, regulators and investors to hear in-depth briefings what&rsquo;s been accomplished and what&rsquo;s on the horizon, and network with the visionaries and technology leaders.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/WFTHQiEwkuHAUjnfCGLiFeuWWmTzRPLKRm2MEF9L.jpg" alt="" width="793" height="446" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, TVF 2025 has a packed agenda with nearly 100 speakers from industry, academia and government, covering eVTOL, drones, helicopters, advanced rotorcraft and other AAM technologies. Details &mdash; including the technical paper presentation schedule, plenary and AAM speakers, the short course, tour and exhibits &mdash; are posted at <a href="http://www.vtol.org/TVF2025">www.vtol.org/TVF2025</a>.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;In 2014, VFS&rsquo;s first TVF conference was organized and attended by the leading visionaries who created today&rsquo;s AAM industry,&rdquo; said VFS Executive Director Angelo Collins. &ldquo;TFV 2025 continues this legacy with an in-depth focus on the latest eVTOL developments and the challenges that remain. VFS has been instrumental in bringing the community together and the TVF conference has been a catalyst for broad research, investment and regulatory support for eVTOL developments for more than a decade.&rdquo;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/v0T3IZfJXJC8HRpWToMfbuaJ5pK43ic0rfAgKSNM.jpg" alt="" width="769" height="433" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>TVF 2025 in Detail</strong></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">TVF 2025 features a full day opening plenary session with more than 15 leaders from industry, academia and government addressing developments in both autonomous VTOL and electric VTOL aircraft. Government plenary speakers represent the US Army, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as well as the Mayor of Phoenix. The FAA&rsquo;s Larry Fields, Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety (AVS-2), is the government keynote speaker and will provide insights and updates on the agency&rsquo;s regulations for autonomous aircraft, AAM, UAS, beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations and a perspective on future plans.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Executives and technical leaders from Honeywell, Boeing Vertical Lift, Daedalean, Near Earth Autonomy, GoAERO, Archer Aviation, Beta Technologies, Joby Aviation, Pivotal Aero and Wisk Aero, will also provide insights into their industry-leading developments in autonomous and electric aviation.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Over the following two days, the Electric VTOL track includes talks by executives from AAM developers Elroy Air, Eve Air Mobility, Jaunt Air Mobility, MagLev Aero, Odys Aviation, Piasecki Aircraft, SkyDrive, Sora Aviation, SURVICE Engineering, Transcend Aero and Unmanned Aerospace, among others. Technology companies include BAE Systems, Bloomy Controls, Dassault Syst&egrave;mes, Rotor Technologies, Toray Advanced Composites, VerdeGo and many others. Representatives from the FAA will give insights into regulations, standards and research developments, while the US Department of Transportation will give an update on the AAM Interagency Working Group (IWG) and its efforts to develop a national strategy for AAM.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Autonomous VTOL track includes presentations and technical papers on research from NASA, the US Army, US Navy and leading research companies, as well as numerous universities around the world. In addition to the &ldquo;Titans of Autonomy&rdquo; session of VIP subject matter experts, technical topics include air vehicle design, autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI), simulation and testing, electric propulsion and key challenges.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/XPMaODpYfH3LwguwFTgyzP4ENZPz3Q5MXZ8pDR71.jpg" alt="" width="758" height="505" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The Autonomous VTOL Technical Meeting was first held in January 2005 in nearby Chandler, Arizona. The biennial meeting was originally called the &ldquo;Unmanned Rotorcraft Systems&rdquo; conference, but quickly expanded to cover micro air vehicles (MAVs), large and small UAS (sUAS), their ground stations, various levels of autonomy, and off-world uncrewed VTOL aircraft.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">TVF sponsors include Honeywell (Diamond sponsor level); BAE Systems (Platinum); Boeing, Bloomy, Dassault Syst&egrave;mes, Joby Aviation, Piasecki Aircraft, SkyDrive, Toray Advanced Composites and Unither Bioelectronics (Gold); as well as Pivotal, Phoenix Sky Harbor and Stell Engineering (Silver).</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>A History of Advancing VTOL and AAM</strong></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">VFS began supporting the eVTOL revolution in 2013, holding the first TVF conference the next year &mdash; the world&rsquo;s first meeting of the eVTOL community. At the time, the idea of electric VTOL aircraft was greeted with widespread skepticism; since then, growing technical progress, flight demonstrations, government validation and private investment have helped reverse public perception. It is now recognized that the vertical flight market is poised for significant expansion over the next few years as eVTOL aircraft enter service that may be better suited than conventional helicopters for certain missions, such as lower operating costs, lower noise and greater design safety.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As of today, the Society has cataloged more than 1,175 different electric VTOL concepts from some 450 companies and innovators on its authoritative World eVTOL Aircraft Directory at <a href="http://www.evtol.news/">www.eVTOL.news</a>. When VFS launched the site in April 2017, only a dozen eVTOL programs were known to be under development. The site currently also hosts more than 1,000 eVTOL news stories, including more than 400 in-depth articles from the Society&rsquo;s<em>Vertiflite&nbsp;</em>magazine, the leading periodical on eVTOL and rotorcraft developments. VFS has also published its Electric VTOL News e-newsletter every two weeks since 2016.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">VFS was founded as the American Helicopter Society in 1943 by the visionaries of the early helicopter industry, who believed that technological cooperation and collaboration were essential to support this new type of aircraft. Today, history is repeating itself, with VFS playing a similar role helping to advance today&rsquo;s revolutionary eVTOL aircraft.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">VFS has been the world&rsquo;s largest technical community of engineers, technologists and specialists developing vertical flight aircraft for more than 80 years. A growing number of professionals are entering the vertical flight industry and VFS provides them with numerous opportunities to increase their knowledge and exchange ideas.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">All those interested in vertical flight, autonomy, UAS and AAM are invited to join VFS at <a href="http://www.vtol.org/">www.vtol.org</a> and come to TVF 2025 in Phoenix!</p>

Vertical Flight Society holds 12th Annual eVTOL Symposium

Featured News

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>22 January 2025</em></span></p>
<div>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/caleb-webb" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>By Caleb Webb</strong></a></span></p>
<p><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">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;</span></p>
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<p>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;</p>
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<p>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;</p>
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<p>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;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/reRTVgbiomISgGIQvgHet34C78PfegICD2t1wo87.jpg" alt="" width="454" height="340" /></p>
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<p>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;</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>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;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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;</p>
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<div>
<p>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;</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>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;</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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;</p>
</div>
<div>
<p>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;</p>
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<p>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;</p>
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<p>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;</p>
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<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Here's to safe flying and clear skies!</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 665px; height: 374px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6SXSpKKW-M?si=z_Jo-VYxxnCtvcqt" width="665" height="374" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 663px; height: 372px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWvesBj5QwU?si=qFV43Cf4Pofrq0K3" width="663" height="372" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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Pilot Story: Caleb Webb

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>20 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/KlVMUtTFAZL3Xboc2BxURXlg4HpY86NUx7Q1K28A.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="130" /></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/nathan-mantor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Mantor</a></strong></span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOi4c8J3kAw?si=D5Ai1ebGwl9FgEaG" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 667px; height: 375px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duuwwNIo2yE?si=KcjnKHRYQCacb3BA" width="667" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
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Pilot Story: Nathan Mantor

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>13 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://skymagic.show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Skymagic</strong></span></a> has truly upped the drone-show game with its stunning laser drones, which were developed along with <a href="https://www.lightelectric.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Light Electric</strong></span></a>.</p>
<p>The new tech dropped at&nbsp;a the <a href="https://www.grucci.com/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Fireworks by Grucci </strong></span></a>New Year&rsquo;s Eve show at Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. In a fleet of 1,400 conventional LED drones, 47 of the new laser drones were added to the production.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/s2jqIM2QCu2f8sWfd09nUYGwp5BEgPkU7avCWdXH.png" alt="" width="315" height="257" /></p>
<p>In a message on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-o-mahony-2b04126_lazers-drones-eventprofs-activity-7282305012150464512-WrA7?utm_source=social_share_sheet&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></span></a>, Skymagic cofounder and director Patrick O'Mahony shared: "The Laser Drone is here. On 31 December 2024 at Ras Al Khaimah Skymagic Drone Shows took to the sky with our new Laser Drone. This new swarm drone developed by Skymagic in collaboration with Light Electric is a major technical revolution in the use of swarm drones to tell stories in the night&rsquo;s sky."</p>
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<p>Previewed during a discussion at SWSW 2023, the laser drones are now ready for primetime in 2025 and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<div class="text-body-medium break-words" data-generated-suggestion-target="urn:li:fsu_profileActionDelegate:-1108296204"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-o-mahony-2b04126_lazers-drones-eventprofs-activity-7282305012150464512-WrA7?utm_source=social_share_sheet&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Click here to see a short video of the laser drone on LinkedIn</strong></span></a>.</div>
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Skymagic Astounds with Pioneering Laser Drones

<p><strong><span style="color: #34495e;">[Above photo courtesy of L.A. County Fire Dept.]</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>10 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p>The FAA reported yesterday it is investigating an unauthorized drone that crashed into the wing of an L.A. County Super Scooper firefighting aircraft over the Palisades fire.</p>
<p>Happily, the fire department aircraft was able to land safely.</p>
<p>"Aerial looky-loos" seeking to capture stunning footage of the Los Angeles fires are dangerously impeding the efforts of firefighters and other first responders. The FAA has issued the following reminder:&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations."</p>
<p>Sadly, someone has already caused an incident over the Palisades fire, damaging and grounding the aforementioned Super Scooper when it is obviously needed to bring the fight to the fires.</p>
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<div id="google_ads_iframe_/21787098806/web.latimes/california/story_inline_1_0__container__">Despite FAA and FBI warnings, drone pilots are capturing and sharing photos of fire devastation via social media.</div>
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<div id="google_ads_iframe_/21787098806/web.latimes/california/story_inline_2_1__container__">While drone pilots can apply for waivers to fly in restricted airspace, the FAA has not granted any.</div>
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<div>"Due to the number of manned firefighting aircraft in the airspace, we are currently not able to accommodate drone flights with the TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)," said an FAA spokesperson.</div>
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<div>The FAA also announced the TFR near the wildfires has been extended until January 23.</div>
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<div>To our <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>The Droning Company</strong></span> community&mdash;Please stay out of the affected airspace and let firefighters do their job safely and unimpeded. This tragic fire needs to be contained by professionals&mdash;not documented by unauthorized social-media content providers.&nbsp;</div>
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Small Drone Smashes into Super Scooper Aircraft Over Palisades fire

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>10 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/OImUURVXnsELMUf3Yy4zOQCfxHRD0OPQeadwZ8d2.jpg" alt="" width="111" height="108" /></em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/adrian-pueyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Pueyo</a></strong></span></p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">As a child I would constantly get my hands on anything RC or anything to do with planes and aviation. I would constantly play <em>Galaga</em> or <em>Gradius III,</em> and eventually I would try to sneak some time in on my grandfather&rsquo;s Microsoft <em>Flight Simulator</em>. I would also constantly window shop at Radio Shack and daydream about what I could play or get my hands on.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<p class="p1">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.</p>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 668px; height: 376px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPvFnuBnX5o?si=2DBmU7i51FbRQlt5" width="668" height="376" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 665px; height: 374px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gm57uRtuykQ?si=-1BPMYJ0AoU58n_Y" width="665" height="374" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>

Pilot Story: Adrian Pueyo

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>09 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p>The 37-year-old Green Beret who blew up a rented Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump Towers in Las Vegas left an apparent PTSD-fueled manifesto claiming the mysterious drone sightings of the past few months have originated from the Chinese.</p>
<p>In notes and emails discovered by the FBI, Matthew Livelsberger&mdash;who took his own life by gunshot before the Cybertruck exploded&mdash;explained his actions as a "wake-up call" for the United States, as well as stating his distress over fallen comrades and the lives he took in combat.&nbsp;</p>
<p>His writings also made unsubstantiated claims regarding the drone sightings that have bedeviled U.S. infrastructure&mdash;especially in an email he allegedly sent to <em><span class="skimlinks-unlinked">Military.com.</span></em></p>
<p>"What we have been seeing with 'drones' is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the U.S," said Livelsberger. "The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC. They are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the White House if they wanted. It's checkmate."</p>
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<p>As investigations continue to try to accurately explain the mystery drone appearances, the episodes obviously weighed heavily on Livelsberger's mind, prompting the unproven statements in his manifesto.</p>
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<div class="rPeykc" data-hveid="CAMQAQ" data-ved="2ahUKEwj70sXBvemKAxXGLkQIHcx6O84Qo_EKegQIAxAB"><span data-huuid="3527302979010539586">According to the&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a class="uVhVib" style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Center for PTSD</a></strong></span>,&nbsp;<mark class="QVRyCf">approximately 7 percent</mark> of veterans experience PTSD at some point in their lives. </span><span data-huuid="3527302979010543137">This is slightly higher than the 6% of adults in the general population who experience PTSD.<span class="UV3uM"> At 23 percent, the figure is significantly higher for veterans who utilize VA health care. In addition, veterans account for 20 percent of the suicides in the United States.</span></span></div>
<div class="rPeykc" data-hveid="CAMQAQ" data-ved="2ahUKEwj70sXBvemKAxXGLkQIHcx6O84Qo_EKegQIAxAB">
<h5 class="Gur8Ad"><span style="color: #ba372a;" data-huuid="6609783928155121519"><strong>Veterans Crisis Line</strong></span></h5>
<div class="vM0jzc"><span data-huuid="6609783928155120998">If you feel you are suffering from PTSD, or are in danger of self harm, please call 988, then press "1" to speak with a responder qualified to assist Veterans. </span><span data-huuid="6609783928155120477">You can also text 838255 or chat online with the Veterans Crisis Line.</span></div>
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<h5 class="pw-border-incontent-after"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
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Cybertruck Bomber "Solves" Mystery Drone Sightings

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>06 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Gwyneth Paltrow may be an oracle of eroding international relationships...</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">The actress' popularization of author Katherine Woodward Thomas' term "conscious uncoupling" can soon be applied to the what appears to be a growing "tech divorce" between China and the United States.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Well, except when applied to human relationships, "conscious uncoupling" speaks to applying compassion and respect as a romantic partnership ends. The impending U.S. and China uncoupling over drones and other technology, however, appears to quite a bit fraught, and even <em>meaner</em>.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">America's threat to ban DJI&mdash;and other Chinese manufactured&mdash;drones has continued, despite some governmental ebbs and flows, as well as hope from most of the drone community that DJI's typically affordable and techologically advanced UAVs be marketed in this country unscathed. The nation's first responders, for example, could be significantly compromised if forced to switch from DJI models to more expensive American-made drones.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Recently, President Joe Biden supported cutting China out of the U.S. drone trade&mdash;a move that obviously wouldn't be enacted (if at all) until president-elect Donald Trump's administration.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">But China hasn't taken the threat quietly.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Mere hours after Biden's announcement, Beijing mandated export bans on 28 American corporations, including defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Oh, and China has cited U.S. concerns regarding "national security" as their own reason for the export ban. "Payback is fair play," anyone?</span></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>You Have a Voice</strong></span></h5>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Whatever your opinions on whether DJI drones actually pose a risk to our national security, the <a href="https://www.bis.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>U.S. Department of Commerce&rsquo;s Bureau of Industry and Security</strong></span></a> is asking for public commentary on a potential ruling to ban Chinese drones. Deadline is March 4, 2025. <a href="https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-issues-advance-notice-proposed-rulemaking-secure-unmanned-aircraft-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO</strong></span></a>.</span></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Battle of the Drones</strong></span></h5>
<p>While the United States reportedly has the largest combat drone fleet on the globe with 13,000 UAVs at the ready, China's drone tech&mdash;especially in the area of AI and its deployment for warfare&mdash;is seen as not just fierce competition, but also as a threat to the U.S. forces in a confrontation with Beijing over the Indo-Pacific region. <span lang="EN-GB">The U.S. Defense Department has warned that &ldquo;China&rsquo;s development of new unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities for military use is rapidly catching up to the United States&rsquo; own advancements in the technology.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">In fact, China's MD-19 military drone, recognized as a "ground-breaking" platform that can fly at supersonic speed and land horizontally, shows clearly that Beijing is investing in speedier, brainier, and more battlefield adaptible drones.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">As for the potential of a U.S. ban on DJI drones, the Chinese foreign ministry has stated the country will "take all necessary measures to firmly defend its legitimate and lawful rights and interests."</span></p>
<p>In addition, China's state media, <em>The Global Times</em>, has commented that "the world economy has already become too deeply integrated for protectionist measures to remove cost-effective products from the market to succeed."</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/25d8qpXuZB8?si=y_1p87JyJiSRwTAH" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Drone Wars: China Fights Back

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>02 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Incredibly, those mystery drones are still coming to New Jersey, and the FAA is adding more restricted flight zones to the state.</p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The current total is 57 temporary drone-flight restrictions in New Jersey towns&mdash;all of which should be in affect for approximately three weeks. The FAA has stated the restrictions were enacted "at the request of federal security partners," as security concerns continue regarding the safety of critical infrastructure.</p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The current list of New Jersey towns were the FAA has restricted drone flights are:</p>
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<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Absecon</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Atlantic Highlands</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Avenel</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bayonne</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bayville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bedminster</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Belford (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Branchburg</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Brick (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bridgewater (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Burlington</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Camden</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Cedar Grove</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Clifton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Colts Neck</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Columbus</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Delran</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Edison</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Elizabeth</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Evesham</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Fort Hancock</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Gloucester City</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Hamilton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Hancocks Bridge</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Harrison</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Highlands</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Howell</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Jersey City</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Kearny</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Lebanon</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Linden (4 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Metuchen</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Neptune</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">North Brunswick Township</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Paulsboro (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Perth Amboy</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Pleasantville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Port Reading</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Sewaren</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Short Hills</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Somerset</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">South Brunswick</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">South Kearny</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Wall Township</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Brick</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Creek</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Deptford</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Westampton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Westville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Winslow</li>
</ul>
<p>While the continuing sightings remain mysterious, President-Elect Donald Trump said in a news conference two weeks ago that "the government knows what is happening."&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no one is sharing the data with The Droning Company or anyone else.</p>
<p>Maybe UFOs <em>do</em> exist.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>See the Trump Press Conference</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h-vYp6Q-38Y?si=Sd-Z1uBKALo6Plhi" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

FAA Restricts More Drone Airspace in New Jersey

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>27 December 2024</em></span></p>
<p>President-Elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Government Efficiency is no military expert&mdash;and he evaded South Africa's mandatory service in that country's armed forces&mdash;but Elon Musk nonetheless sees the future of airborne combat.</p>
<p>It's not about fighter pilots and manned jets.</p>
<p>Yesterday, Musk posted on X:&nbsp;"America needs a large quantity of long-range drones (air, surface water &amp; submarine) and hypersonic missiles. Anything manned will die very fast in a drone war."&nbsp;</p>
<p>The recent post follows similar thoughts he shared on the site last month:&nbsp;"Future wars are all about drones &amp; hypersonic missiles. Fighter jets piloted by humans will be destroyed very quickly."</p>
<p>Musk is also no fan of the F-35 fighter, which he calls a "sh*t design."</p>
<p>"The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people," Musk stated in a November post. "This made it an expensive &amp; complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed."&nbsp;</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>How Bad IS the F-35 Fighter?</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bSS0JbWczAQ?si=FTMVtK5DCIWi6TtS" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fX3HG4mw32o?si=aj2-nOPrq7pZimFB" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Whatever one's opinion on the F-35 and other manned combat jets, Musk&mdash;along with likely tons of The Droning Company community&mdash;sees that drones offer mission-critical advantages without significant risk to pilots, and that the future of warfare will most probably be written by drones. We already have incrediblle data from actual war zones and military think tanks regarding the success rates of combat drones.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So, while we can probably thank Musk for stating the obvious, warfare is a tricky business and combat advancements typically take years&mdash;and staggering expense&mdash;before they are proven and battlefield ready.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What are your views on drone combat? Feel free to share them with us at <a href="mailto:mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com</strong></span></a>.</p>

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