Flown, not unboxed
The Drones I Fly
I document roofs, steeples, pavement and job sites in Hampton Roads for money. This is the DJI kit that does it, what I would buy first if I were starting over, and what I am saving for.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only list what I fly or what I would hand to someone starting out, and I say which is which. I am an independent remote pilot. Nothing here is endorsed by DJI or the FAA.
What I fly
Two aircraft, both DJI, both earning. Everything after this section is a recommendation. This section is my flight log.
DJI Mini 4 Pro
The aircraft I fly most. Under 250 grams, which keeps the paperwork simple, and the camera is good enough for paid listing work.
DJI Matrice 4E
The inspection aircraft. Wide, medium and tele cameras, RTK, and the reason I can train custom detection models and run them onboard.
What I would start with
I do not own these. If you are studying for your Part 107 and asking what to buy first, this is the honest answer.
DJI Neo
The cheapest way to log real stick time while you study. Buy it to practice, not to earn.
DJI Mini 5 Pro
If I were buying my first serious aircraft today this is where I would look. Same sub-250g class as the Mini 4 Pro I fly, newer sensor.
DJI Air 3S
The step up when you know you want to fly commercially. Dual camera and more air time than the Mini line, at the cost of registration.
What I would buy next
One step below an enterprise airframe, and the aircraft most clients already know by name.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
The flagship I would move to before jumping to an enterprise airframe. Three cameras, and the one most clients recognize by name.
The rest of the kit
Half the job happens on the ground. These are the cameras and the microphone that make the footage usable once you land.
Osmo Pocket 3
What I would hand someone filming the business rather than the roof. Gimbal stabilized, pocket sized, and it never needs a preflight.
DJI Mic Mini
Bad audio kills a client video faster than bad footage. This is the cheapest fix for that problem.
Osmo Action 5 Pro
The ground camera for job sites. It survives weather and ladders in a way a phone does not.
Not certified yet?
Buying the aircraft is the easy decision. You cannot charge for a single flight without the FAA Part 107 certificate, so start there. The course I used and a free twenty question trap sheet are on the study page.
Get your Part 107Rather hire the aircraft than buy it?
If you own property in Hampton Roads and need a roof, a steeple, a site or pavement documented from the air, that is the day job.
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