Update!
Got some great news this weekend, got contacted by email that someone who believed what I found was their friend’s drone that went down. They spoke with their friend and got his FAA number and model to me and it was an exact match. After some questions I got in touch with the owner himself and confirmed it was in fact his.
This morning we met up and I am pleased to announce it is back in the original owner’s hands now. He was so happy to have it back and so pleased and grateful I could get it back to him, and to be honest I was equally as happy to see him so thankful. It’s great to know this “case” is now solved!
So for those of you who were wondering…
What was the quad type?
This was a race drone. The main body was an ImmersionRC Vortex 250 Pro Racing Quad. It had a Spektrum FPV Racing Receiver, Blue Bullnose Tri-Blade Dalprops, Xnova Racing Motors, Pulse 1550 Quad Lithium Battery Pack, 120 Degree Cloverleaf Antenna, Immersion RC Upgrade 12 LED With Diffuser to name a few of the most noticeable aftermarket parts.
How’d it get lost?
It lost signal from the park on the south side of route 50 and took off and dropped down approx. 3500 feet north east of where the flight point started at. Either the failsafe failed or wasn’t set and it traveled nearly 3/4 of a mile and dropped down on the highway were I found it 5 days later. So for those of you that don’t have a failsafe program, get it. For those of you that have one, test it out first… especially if you are flying your drone at over 60 mph. In less than a minute it can be nearly a mile away. This being a clear case and point.
How’d it get recovered?
I found it on my morning commute and I posted it as found on quite literally every main forum I could find, as well as numerous lost and found forums. I posted in lost and found areas on craigslist too. But what ended up being what worked, in the case specifically, is I posted in the "for sale" section of craigslist with a “drone found” post. His friend, who is also a drone hobbyist, saw the post when searching for parts for himself and notified his friend.
Lost on Nov 8th, found on the 13th, contacted the 18th and back in owner’s hands the 20th.
What can be learned here?
First and foremost, put your Email and or Cell Phone number on your drone. Just a printed label from a label maker will work.
Second, if your drone has the ability to fly outside of your line of sight or at speeds that it may damage something if it went loose. You need to have a failsafe programmed. Not just to not lose your drone… but also not to have your drone injure someone or something else.
Those two things could really help out if and when your drone gets loose.
I learned a lot about flight recovery while trying to find the owner, and If I get the time I may make a separate post just to share what I leaned.
Thanks to everyone who also helped get the word out!
You da' man.
