Drone Stunting Techniques

Handheld drones are becoming the newest gadget to have if you can get your hands on one. Anyone can take photos and with a personal drone, pilots can capture recreational aerial views from hundreds of feet away. The key is to produce exceptional video that will be memorable.


More and more photographers are expressing themselves from their point of view with incredible drone footage. How are they doing this you ask? Photographers and drone enthusiasts alike, are mastering the art of using stunt techniques to get the best footage. If you're an amateur photographer, consider adding a camera once you hone in on your flying skills. Below are some tips on how to become a better drone pilot using several stunt techniques. The skill levels range from easy to hard.

Dive Bomber- This is where the drone starts off at a high position and then drops or swoops down low. Start off at a reasonable altitude and speed. Take the left stick, move it down decreasing the throttle which will drop the drone in a downward position. Once it's near the ground, the right stick should be pulled back while throttling up with the left stick. This skill level for this stunt is considered easy, but you can practice at high altitudes first before flying too close to the ground.

Fly-Through- While this technique is not quite difficult, it is considered the most dangerous. Piloting a drone through a narrow gap or hole can be challenging to say the least. FPV is required for this stunt and having exceptional spatial relations is key. Move the drone as slow as possible.

Orbits- A technical stunt which requires a reliable gimbal with excellent dampening. These are essential as you're making hundreds of adjustments on both the left and right sticks. Keep in mind you will need a constant yaw rate and it's equally important to adjust the fore, back and side motions to keep the drone at the right distance from the target. Practice this technique repeatedly and FPV can be beneficial here.

Flip- This is pretty self-explanatory. The drone completes a front or back flip while in flight. It's best to use this technique when trying to mirror the first person cockpit view. The best way to implement this move is to apply the throttle, gaining speed and fly straight (approximately 20 feet). Maneuver the right stick with a hard forward or hard backward for one second. While the drone is in flip mode, centre the right stick and maintain balance. It sounds difficult, but to make it easier use stability mode right after the flip to maintain and stabilize your drone. Try to refrain from doing double flips as these are really risky even for the most seasoned drone pilot.

Showcasing your filming skills via drone can be very impressive and frustrating at the same time. l After all, photographers didn't perfect their craft over night. Practice, practice and more practice will help alleviate your frustrations. Also look into investing in a simulator with a RC controller to help improve your skills. It's a gradual process and the results can be very rewarding.