IBIZA SPECIAL
Flying eye
The dream of flying is as old as mankind itself. No surprise
therefore that drones are being used with enthusiasm,
and not just by professionals. This summer in Ibiza Chinese
manufacturer DJI wooed the young in-crowd with a boat
party with DJ, followed by basic drone-flying instruction.
A
bird’s eye view gives us a new
perspective; it makes large
things appear small and offers
an uninterrupted view of our
surroundings. The new camera
drones have long found their niche, and not
just within the professional film and TV industry. Chinese manufacturer DJI, the market
leader in entry-level drones, also offers semiprofessional drones with cameras and professional equipment, and in comparison
tests has found itself in the top five places.
This summer the company brought the New
Pilot Experience, its very own flying instruction for beginners, to Ibiza as a three-day
event. A party boat with DJ brought the participants to Formentera, where they got to
know one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
Flying instruction took place the following
day with experienced DJI pilots showing the
first-time flyers how to keep the quadcopter
on course. They flew the new DJI Phantom 4
with obstacle avoidance and a 4K camera.
Its predecessor, the Phantom 3, enjoyed
huge success. The upgrade has given the
body a more sporting design, and its glossy
finish gives it more of a premium feel. The
carrying case has space for the drone, its
propellers, remote control and two batteries.
To get started all you need is a fully charged
battery, the propellers fitted, and a
Smartphone or tablet with the DJI GO App
installed attached to the remote control with
a USB cable. The most important innovation
is sport mode which allows you to fly the
drone at speeds of up to 72kph. Ambitious
aerial photographers will be rewarded with
high-quality footage; the new U-shaped gim-
70 DELUXE
bal ensures first-class action shots of vehicles, motorboats or skiers. DJI’s success story
began with a love of remote-controlled helicopters. Since 2006 Frank Wang’s company has been developing innovative camera
technology for pioneering aerial photography. Its intelligent robotics and flight systems
have been used in the film, advertising and
construction industries, as well as in firefighting and agriculture. In 2015 DJI cosponsored the first Rise of the Drones Film
Festival to enthuse professional and amateur
pilots alike. The festival received 120
entries from 20 different countries, and with
more than one million views was deemed
such a success that it was repeated again
this year. For all those who have never
flown