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Rafael Suárez

Rafael Suárez

Rafael Suárez is a drone journalist and content creator with more than 20 years behind the lens. He began in film photography in 1998, moved to digital in 2005, and has been flying and filming with drones since 2016. As a commercial videographer he has produced work for premium brands including BMW, Porsche, and MINI, and his documentary work champions a #flysafe mentality across the industry. Based in Quito, Ecuador, he covers drone news, hardware, and the policy and business shaping the industry for DroneXL, and shares reviews and cinematic flight on his YouTube channel. A dad and a lifelong aviation nerd, he's happiest when something is in the air.

1,178
Articles
144
Beats covered
2025
Writing since
Aug 13
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Portland Council Reopens Police Drone Debate
Skydio

Portland Council Reopens Police Drone Debate

As Spectrum Local News reports, the Portland City Council is preparing to revisit a drone proposal that it rejected only a few weeks ago. The vote takes place tonight, and it will decide whether the Portland Police Department can move forward with buying a drone priced at forty five thousand dollars. Absolutely not chump change.…

Schofield Soldiers Build New Drones for Pacific Missions
United States

Schofield Soldiers Build New Drones for Pacific Missions

Schofield Barracks has become one of the most active testing grounds for soldier built drones inside the United States Army. The 25th Infantry Division’s Lightning Lab is leading this push as Defense One reports. The unit is building, modifying, and flying new first person view drones that are meant to support operations across the Pacific.…

Suspect Shoots at Police Drone in Lee’s Summit Chase
Police

Suspect Shoots at Police Drone in Lee’s Summit Chase

A late night drone operation helped Lee’s Summit Police catch a suspected car prowler who fired at the aircraft before running through several backyards. According to KCTV, the incident happened on Nov. 30 in the area of Applewood and NE Dreamweaver Drive after residents called in reports of someone pulling on car door handles. Officers…

Heven AeroTech becomes Israel’s first defense tech unicorn
Israel

Heven AeroTech becomes Israel’s first defense tech unicorn

Heven AeroTech has reached a new milestone in the global drone industry. The Israeli founded and US based drone company is now valued at more than one billion dollars, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. The new valuation follows a one hundred million dollar investment round led in part by the American quantum computing company…

Hawaiian Electric Uses Drones to Install Bird Diverters
Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric Uses Drones to Install Bird Diverters

Hawaiian Electric is using drones to install new bird diverters on power lines across several parts of Maui. As reported by Maui Now, the work takes place from December 1 to December 22 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., weather permitting. Power service will stay normal during the entire operation. The company selected three regions…

Miami PD drone catches suspect on camera in fast response
Skydio

Miami PD drone catches suspect on camera in fast response

A recent incident in Miami shows once again how drones are changing police work in the United States. As reported by Local10 News, on Nov. 11, Miami officers used a drone to track and apprehend a suspect in a domestic battery case. The entire chase was recorded from the air, giving us a detailed look…

Drone mystery in New Jersey still not solved
Department of Defense

Drone Mystery in New Jersey Still Not Solved

More than a year has passed since a series of drone sightings over New Jersey created one of the strangest aviation stories in recent memory. The events started on November 13, 2024, when a large drone appeared inside the restricted airspace of Picatinny Arsenal. This is a major United States Army research center. Residents, officials,…

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8,400+
Articles published
340+
Beats & desks
2020
Covering drones since
100%
Independent