How I Lost My Drone Virginity

My name is Jason Reagan. I’m 43 and, before Sunday, July 13, I was a drone virgin. 

“How?” You may be asking. “You’ve been writing for DRONELIFE since April.” That’s true but until last week, my knowledge of UAVs was academic and one-off. Yes, I have researched the red-tape jungle of state drone regulation. I have sensed the thrill of flight as I watched a wide array of drone videos.  

However, until last week, I had never personally witnessed drone flight. That all changed for me while attending the High Country Ford Model T Tour in Boone, N.C. (a shout out to my adopted hometown). As I marveled at the historic significance of Ford’s vision, I practically bumped into an earnest young man carrying a strange device. My drone-reporter senses kicked in and I said to myself “Aha, he’s carrying a quadcopter. There could be a story in this.”

And so, that’s how I met Jordan Nelson owner of Nelson Aerials, a Western Carolina-based startup specializing in spectacular mountain footage.

I approached Jordan, explained my journalistic interest and began to feel a sense of euphoria as he set his UAV (which I had incorrectly identified as a quadcopter – it was a hex).  I realized my drone-flight virginity would soon be history. 

Jordan’s UAV (all $4,500 of it) seemed fairly sophisticated to my newbie eyes – the remote control as complicated as a real airplane console. My wow factor kicked up a notch when Jordan donned a pair of goggles that would allow him to see what his drone would see. 

And just as my geek levels reached critical mass, my enthusiasm deflated as I witness the approach of a police officer from the corner of my eye. “Great!” I thought. “This flight will be grounded before it starts.” 

As a DRONELIFE contributor, I already knew a bit about police harassment of UAV pilots and I expected more of the same. 

My dread turned to delight as I recognized the glint in the officer’s eye as one that is usually reserved for christmas mornings and he launched into a stream of questions for Jordan. 

As the engines whirred (louder than I had expected), the copter jumped off the sidewalk and hovered expectantly over the Model T’s. The crowd seemed to love it, waving or simply gawking in wonder. 

Jordan filmed about 10 minutes of footage and brought the UAV earthward. And, I have to admit, as my eyes devoured the wonder of modern technology against the backdrop of 1920s innovation, I teared up a bit. I walked away – a drone virgin no more. Not a bad way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Model T International Club in Boone NC from Nelson Aerials on Vimeo.