51 Drones · DJI
Top 11 Tips for New Drone Pilots After 8 Years of Flying
I've been flying drones for over 8 years, reviewed dozens of them, and made my share of mistakes. Here are the 11 things I wish someone had told me before my first flight.
51 Drones
News, deep dives, and analysis — every 51 Drones story, newest first.
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FCC Ban
FCC Opens Comment on Blocking Sales of 9 DJI-Linked Brands, and Russ Says U.S. Buyers Are Running Out of Options
Russ from 51 Drones says he got this one wrong. After arguing that DJI-style drones would keep reaching American buyers through shell companies, he now says the FCC’s latest proposal targeting nine covered UAS brands shows just how far regulators are willing to go, with the Sky Rover X1 and Xtra camera line directly in the crosshairs.
FAA
The FAA Is Cracking Down On Drone Pilots, And DETER Explains Why
Russ from 51 Drones breaks down the FAA's DETER enforcement program, why first-time violators may face faster penalties, and why every drone pilot now needs to check airspace before every flight.
Antigravity A1
Antigravity A1 vs. DJI Avata 360: The One Feature That Changes Everything
I flew the Antigravity A1 and DJI Avata 360 head-to-head in Puerto Rico. Here's how they compare on size, goggles, signal, flight time, and which to buy.
DJI
DJI Neo 2: Six Quick Tips To Get Better Video Out Of This Little Drone
In this one I’m going to cover six things to get the most out of this amazing little drone, the DJI Neo 2. We’re going to talk about obstacle avoidance settings, a quick way to fix your video footage right out of the drone, the best expo and gimbal settings, and we’re going to dive…
Police
The FAA Controls the Sky, But Can Cities Ban Your Backyard Drone?
Russ from 51 Drones breaks down where local drone bans stop and FAA airspace authority begins, with real examples from NYC, Lakewood, and Lakeville.
Search & Rescue
Could This Be What Saves DJI in the United States? The FCC Is Now Accepting Public Comments
The FCC is accepting public comments on DJI's covered entity list status until May 11, 2026. Here's why your voice matters — and the economic numbers to use. (~154 chars)
DJI
Pentagon Urges FCC to Reject DJI’s Petition: What This Means for Drone Pilots
So, let me get this straight, and you tell me if I’m way off here, but DJI drones are dangerous enough to block future models, but not dangerous enough to ban the estimated 2 million that are flying around in this country right now. Because that’s exactly what this situation is starting to look like.…
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