All You Need To Know About Aerial Drones + Top 4 Entry-Level Models

Also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), drones are rotor-elevated crafts and are mounted with top notch cameras, letting you explore lands and skies with a bird’s point of view. This handheld controlled little technological marvel gives great freedom, but it also gives its owner responsibilities and regulations to follow, as more and more people are taking drones as a hobby.

In fact, there are rules imposed on drone owners by the Federal Aviation Administration. As the technology gets more and more popular and widespread, rules are constantly evolving but currently, you’ll have to be over 17 and go through an aeronautical test to get an FAA license. Drones themselves are also subject to regulations.

If it weighs more than 55 pounds, you’ll have to get aircraft markings as well as an airworthiness certificate, go no faster and no higher than 100 MPH and 500 feet. It is also forbidden to fly drones during nighttime.

These of course, are regulations made to protect you as well as society at large. In any case, if you’re looking to purchase a drone, first of all, my compliments, flying drones is quite the fun activity. Here is the Top 4 entry-level drones for you to consider. Enjoy!

P.S: It is recommended to join an UAS online community or local group that can answer all your questions, and help each other with upgrades, spare parts, and other drone related material.

1- Estes 4606 Proto X Nano:

This is a very small, yet, a decent drone.This little 1.8 inches baby can rest in the palm of your hand,  and can be flown around for about 6 minutes. You can use the 4-rotor quadcopter Estes indoors; and while it can’t exactly carry anything, it is perfect for getting your first feels flying an UAS and see if eventually you would want carrying this exciting hobby by investing on a fully-fledged aerial drone.

2- Blade Nano QX:

If you think the Estes is too tiny but you still want a smaller UAS, you ought to consider the 5.5” Blade. It is also too small to carry a camera as well as designed to be used indoors, but it is the perfect model for beginners. This particular quadcopter can fly in two different modes. One assists the user in stabilizing the drone and keep it straight; and the other one  is a freer mode, obviously more challenging to manipulate as the drone becomes more agile, allowing for tricks and other piloting skills to be realized. This model is great to learn how to fly drones, as both modes use a SAFE technology (Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope), an assisting flying program.

3- Parrot AR.Drone 2.0:

Small and yet big enough to hold a 720p HD video camera, the parrot is a great beginner drone with all the perks a camera can bring. The controller interface does in fact make use of an application you can download on smartphones and tablets (Android and Apple systems), as well as a Wifi connection in order to display instant feed from the drone’s camera. Other features include a maximal vertical ceiling, and a mode with controlled hovers that is great for more stable videos and still-shooting. Thanks to its batteries, the drone has an autonomy of 36 minutes and you can fly it under 165 feet afar from the Wifi feed.

4- DJI Phantom 2:

This is a very popular UAS among drone enthusiasts. The phantom is indeed a highly competent drone. It has a ceiling of an amazing 1,960 feet, an autonomy of 25 minutes, and a 14 MP HD camera with a 1080p HD video live-shooting. The remote control features a very interesting option: you can plug it to your computer and do simulation flights via some installed application. This UAS also makes use of your smartphone to display live footage. Last but not least, the Phantom is built with a shell-protected anti-static compass that can help you keep track of the drone’s course.