Just ordered my DCI Phantom -- Suggestions on how to make some money with it?

After reading this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1287191

and posting how an aerial platform was a bad idea shooting low altitude commercial property, I received my monthly copy of pop photo, which actually had an article on this very topic. They introduced me to the DCI Phantom, and after doing some research, I was hooked on the idea.

So hooked, I bought one!

Will be here on Thursday, and looking for creative ways to make some cash with it. Real Estate is my easy plan, but I can't help but feel like there are some more ideas out there. If anyone has any thoughts????.......

Umm...not really helpful and probably won't make you much cash, but this is about the most creative thing I've ever seen done with one:

http://www.geekologie.​com …axidermied-cat-into-a.php

I just crapped my pants!!! How funny!

Please don't take this as a "flame",insult,or being too negative, but just advise from experience.

That's great you feel competent enough to fly a very potentially dangerous piece of equipment with no flight simulator or hands on (without gps/accelerometer technology) experience. But realize this technology is by far not perfect and failures do happen creating a risk of harm to yourself and/or others. While the thrill of cheap awesome aerial photography sounds lucrative, you should know the FAA considers it illegal to fly RC for commercial purposes. I started out 7 years ago with RC planes, helicopters and custom quads, only to receive a cease and desist letter from the FAA. I since moved full scale and have no regrets with the added expense for myself and my clients. Does it cost me jobs? Yes.. But I am in compliance with the law.

My suggestion would be find a local flying field to practice getting used to the equipment and enjoy the hobby for personal satisfaction and obey all safety standards and use your best judgement when flying near populated areas.

If once you get the experience of navigating through difficult situations and training yourself to completely understanding orientation and depth perception you feel confident to accept the risks, then by all means have at. Just be prepared to hit the streets hard and try to sell on price.

Realtors generally don't want to pay even a discounted price, so I would try commercial and Municipal type work. Often you will need to commit to long projects and be under contract.

I really don't look at RC as a threat because it will never be able to provide the quality of work I am able to achieve with full scale.

I will also add that I wouldn't be able to get the consistent quality I do without doing the RC work first though.

You may be interested in joining, if not at least discovering what the AMA has to offer as well..

http://www.modelaircra​ft.org

I would strongly suggest visiting sites such as: (Click on links below)

RunRyder......

RC Groups......Look for aerial photography thread

RC Universe......

My Personal favorite APLanding......

Here are a couple safety reads..

http://rc.runryder.com​/helicopter/t169336p1/

http://thestar.com.my …ation/12872254&​sec=nation

http://www.helifreak.c​om/showthread.php?t=45​8563

http://abcnews.go.com …one-landing-york-18654926

http://jarviestudios.c​om …ters-and-the-dji-phantom/

...

My personal experience cost me 75 stitches to left arm, 25 inside, 50 on the outside. I can't find the photos at the moment, but you probably wouldn't want to see them anyway.

So again, please don't take this as being tOo negative, just be aware of the leagilities and risks associated with what you are intenting to do.

Best wishes.... -AP-

Thanks so much for the input. And I don't consider it negative at all.

Since starting this thread, I have received my quad, and it is AWESOME. But I have learned a few things too:

1) FAA, if youre reading this -- I have not intention of using this for commercial purposes.

2) The local RC field is 10 minutes away, and will soon be our home away from home.

3) While its easy to fly, it can get away from you quick. If it weren't for the GPS, I would have lost it twice already.

4) It will crash. Mine is a nice shade of muted grasstain now.

Its a pity that it will be a while before they figure out how to permit these, cause I already have a penny jar started that says "infinite jib" on the side. Maybe by the time I save up I can make it all legal and all. Until that time -- Im staying 3 miles out and below a 400' ceiling.

Cheers!

I'll be honest, if I saw one of those flying over my property, I'd shoot it down. I think they are way too intrusive and prone to abuse. JMO

Drug pick ups and deliveries or foreign intelligence ops would be a couple of things that come to mind quickly. Let me know how you go.

El Pedro wrote in post #15872303
Drug pick ups and deliveries or foreign intelligence ops would be a couple of things that come to mind quickly. Let me know how you go.

If you know anything about general aviation, you'd know it be a waste of time. Easier to load up a king air and fly it des moines, given the way customs are handled at private terminals.

MikeD18 wrote in post #15872008
I'll be honest, if I saw one of those flying over my property, I'd shoot it down. I think they are way too intrusive and prone to abuse. JMO

I wouldn't be too excited to see it over my property. Although, based on what I understand (and I am not an attorney) its illegal to shoot it down, as we don't own the airspace over our property.

good luck on your endeavors and the cat video was funny..

mattograph wrote in post #15835888
...and looking for creative ways to make some cash with it.

mattograph wrote in post #15871556
I have not intention of using this for commercial purposes.

Well, these thoughts seem rather inconsistent. Not to mention the thread title, lol.

Seriously, these things are dangerous. I'm so tired of people taking risks with other people's lives. Find some other way to make a quick buck.

judyg wrote in post #15873828
Well, these thoughts seem rather inconsistent. Not to mention the thread title, lol.

Seriously, these things are dangerous. I'm so tired of people taking risks with other people's lives. Find some other way to make a quick buck.

If you'll notice the "Since I started this thread, I have learned a few things...." Hence the inconsistencies, or as I prefer to see it -- permission to change my mind.

Since I can't change the name of the thread, guess I'm stuck. And since the abject failure of my pole dancing career, I am running out of quick buck opportunities.

In the meantime, you should try one out before you judge. I promise you a cell phone in the hands of a driver is far more dangerous than this.

BTW, you never made a cell phone call while driving, have you?

Changed Title

mattograph wrote in post #15873918
Since I can't change the name of the thread, guess I'm stuck.

Why can't you change the title of the thread? I do not have any special privileges and I think I can change the title of threads that I have started.

On the first post, click Edit, and then Go Advanced. I think you should be able to edit the title.

Edit: I just changed the title of this post.

Heath wrote in post #15874078
Why can't you change the title of the thread? I do not have any special privileges and I think I can change the title of threads that I have started.

On the first post, click Edit, and then Go Advanced. I think you should be able to edit the title.

Edit: I just changed the title of this post.

See that -- I can't change the master title, if thats the right word.

mattograph wrote in post #15874312
See that -- I can't change the master title, if thats the right word.

Ahh, then what fun is that.