Flying drones into fireworks - stupid or genius?

[Ervin Farkas]

Watch and decide for yourself whether this was stupid or genius...

YouTube (Short URL)

[Duane Adam]

Perhaps unwise from a safety perspective, but absolutely amazing artistically.

[Brian Drysdale]

It really depends on what is on the ground underneath, in the area where the fireworks are being fired from and on the flight path back to the landing site in case of a hit, if they've got permission and if the operator has a clear view of the drone.

Nice shots, needs something to use them with in cinematic terms.

[Mark Williams]

I see the day coming when you can only fly over your own property as a hobbyist and other property only if you are a licensed operator.

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Ervin Farkas

........ decide for yourself whether this was stupid or genius...

Both. Genius in that they are undeniably spectacular images. Stupid in that they can only fuel the case of those who would prefer to legislate drones out of existence. If they encourage others to imitate, it can only eventually end in tears - either physically and/or legally. There must be a risk of a drone being hit by a firework, and the latter possibly exploding somewhere it shouldn't. More likely is that an organiser may feel forced to halt a display if an object is seen in the area - and think of the newspaper headlines the following day....... "Thousands disappointed as display ruined by irresponsible drone operator!"

That aside, the video could do with better editing, and in particular cutting out a few repositioning twitches - there really are some spectacular shots in there, but the best are when the camera is stable. (Which it is most of the time.)

[Paulo Teixeira]

That video have gotten so popular that GoPro decided to put some of that guy's fireworks footage on the GoPro YouTube channel.

GoPro: Fireworks From A Drone - YouTube

[Dave Partington]

I've had to video fireworks from the ground many times, but having a drone in the air would be an interesting alternative, especially when the fireworks are reasonably offset from the crowd, or it's being done as a promo for the fireworks company.

Not sure I'd want to put that much cash in harm's way though!

[Dave Allen]

What part is stupid? He's flying it over the water where the aerial shells are being fired over. It's not a drone, it's a multirotor radio control toy. The only people who call it a drone is the media and someone wanting the video to go viral in part by using the word drone so the media will pick up on it.

[Dave Partington]

Originally Posted by Dave Allen

It's not a drone, it's a multirotor radio control toy.

The only people who call it a drone is the media and someone wanting the video to go viral in part by using the word drone so the media will pick up on it.

Dictionary definitions of drone:

• A continuous low humming sound

• A monotonous speech

• A continuous musical note of low pitch

• A male bee in a colony of social bees, which does no work but can fertilize a queen

• A remote-controlled pilotless aircraft or missile

Whoa, there we go.... could a multirotor possibly be a remote controlled pilotless aircraft?

Just to be sure, let's look up aircraft:

• any machine capable of flying by means of buoyancy or aerodynamic forces, such as a glider, helicopter, or aeroplane

Let's not get picky about whether a multirotor is a helicopter or not (perhaps the dictionaries will update in time), and we may not like the negative emotions the term evokes in people, but seriously, 'drone' seems a perfectly useable word for this type of device.

[Ed Roo]

Flying A Drone Through Fireworks May Land You In Prison - Forbes

[Jim Michael]

The backpedaling in that article in response to the comments is pretty funny.

[Ed Roo]

This from an aviation perspective...

Drones and Fireworks: Is This Really Stupid? - AVweb Insider Article

[Paulo Teixeira]

Nearly 7 million views and nearly 4,000 subscribers just because of that one video. It's too bad he had to use copyrighted music because if he had eighter kept the audio or used royalty free music, he would have made enough money to get a far more expensive drone and a nice camera to go with it like a Panasonic GH4 or Sony AX100.

[Dave Allen]

Originally Posted by Jim Michael

The backpedaling in that article in response to the comments is pretty funny.

Agreed. That was a horribly written, sensational, squishy-vague-what if-maybe-could have, should, might have could be article. Junk.

Since some seem to want to reply upon a dictionary definition of a drone, make sure you keep consistent and call the next kids' paper airplane a drone or pilotless aircraft.

"Phalanx" elsewhere wrote this most excellent rant:

You know, honestly, I just can't stand all of the useless press on "Drones". If it is an RC airplane, it is a drone. If it is a model helicopter, it is a drone. If it is a weather balloon, it is a drone. If you put a Gopro on a hang glider, some news agency will call it a drone.. If you put a Gopro on an ultralight aircraft, someone will call it a drone. A quadracopter is only as safe as the person operating it. As with anything else, the operator is responsible for all property damage that occurs from it crashing. Now, take Yosemite, they say you can't fly a drone in the park because it could cause injury to someone..... But, they will allow you to climb the side of a sheer face cliff, you can hang glide from the side of the mountains, and that's ok. Some how, neither of those are considered dangerous to others.... In addition, neither of those requires ANY license. Let's hop into an ultra light aircraft for a second.... It can weigh less than 254 lbs and requires ABSOLUTELY NO license to operate it. You can launch a weather balloon with 12 lbs of weight in it and launch it all the way into space... Not a single license is required. None of these things require a license.. All of these things could cause injury to a person. But, for some reason, "drones" are considered dangerous and can't be allowed...

[Chris Medico]

Originally Posted by Ed Roo

This from an aviation perspective...

Drones and Fireworks: Is This Really Stupid? - AVweb Insider Article

This seemed like the most sensible writing on the event I've read so far.