I put black tape over the LEDs that I can't turn off, including the battery. This meant I could fly at night in the city incognito. It worked well, the bird was almost invisible.
Anyone else do that?
Anyone else do that?
Ever use black tape to cover your lights?
- Thread starter anotherinfidel
- Start date
That is quite a bad idea in my opinion. The lights are used as indicator, and also helps you to orientate your bird. And there is a reason why you can't turn it off. So I don't really suggest anyone doing that.
-Eric
Considered it after a friend a couple blocks away saw mine fly away the other direction over farmland during my only night flight.
I turned off the front LEDs but I could still see it a looooong way off. Like, almost 1.5 miles away. Guess conforming with LOS guidelines is easier at night...
I turned off the front LEDs but I could still see it a looooong way off. Like, almost 1.5 miles away. Guess conforming with LOS guidelines is easier at night...
I know what the lights are for, but people get annoyed and this makes it invisible to them.
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If you need to be sneaking around in the dark (or in the day for that matter) obvious question is are you flying somewhere you shouldnt be?
Yeah sure- the video downlink and map are all you need when all is good, loose connection and good luck finding your aircraft. More importantly anyone it is likely to cause injury to will have no chance of seeing it before it may be too late. Other aircraft included.
Not worth the risk for a bit of fun.... just my opinion.
Yeah sure- the video downlink and map are all you need when all is good, loose connection and good luck finding your aircraft. More importantly anyone it is likely to cause injury to will have no chance of seeing it before it may be too late. Other aircraft included.
Not worth the risk for a bit of fun.... just my opinion.
None of those are a factor. It's not over people, and you'll hear it before you see it anyway. It's also not high enough for plane interference. What it can do is not worry about someone shooting it down or reporting a disturbance.
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Yes I have taped off the lights but now use some wide black velcro bands instead for quickly dousing the lights without messing with tape. I cut them to be just the right length for use. Only need them on the rear for the P3 units since you can shut off the front markers remotely. Comes in very handy for maintaining stealth while covering something like a fireworks display. No one even knows you are there! 
No one knows, until it crashes into them... Then you will know too.
The meaning of incarceration... Hahaha
When ever I fly after dark, it's in a large open park, away from people, homes and vehicles.
RedHotPoker
The meaning of incarceration... Hahaha
When ever I fly after dark, it's in a large open park, away from people, homes and vehicles.
RedHotPoker
Unless you invent the equivalent of Blue Thunder's whisper mode, no Phantom is ever going to sneak up on anybody.
Considering the Baltimore fireworks display is launched from a barge in the middle of the harbor, cordoned off to all boat traffic during the event, I'd say that it is well away from people, homes, & property.
Jeez guys. I'm sure everyone here flys under 400, within LOS, and only over places with preapproved permission. Get real.
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FYI, I've only done it once, but may do more as more people threaten to harm my equipment.
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Guy in adjacent neighborhood said he'd shoot it down. It's not like I was buzzing his house either.
I barely fly around my house, but when I do I stay high and over green spaces.
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I barely fly around my house, but when I do I stay high and over green spaces.
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Used to tape rear ones.. later bought 3d-printed led-guards @gimbal-guard.com but those are not worth ****, so taped again. Later, got rid of rear ones permanently with rubbercoat - front ones still functional via app. When i need to open the body again, i will install small external switch for rear lights and peel the rubbercoating off.
Lights are still visible if you know where to look, light comes out from vent holes when it's dark.
Lights are still visible if you know where to look, light comes out from vent holes when it's dark.
If you have to cover up lights to fly incognito in areas where flying is questionable, you probably shouldn't be flying in those areas. A good example is Baltimore. Despite fireworks being launched from barges in the water, the police have authority and directive to cite those who fly near that area during a show. Thus one would be risking a rather expensive ticket to do so.
I used dark blue electrical tape. Does that count?
For filming fireworks on a P2 - taped out the reds but left the greens flashing.
For filming fireworks on a P2 - taped out the reds but left the greens flashing.
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