I’m travelling to northern India in July to do a 12 day motorcycle trip over the three highest motorable passes in the world. We’ll be getting up to just over 18,000, so I was wondering if anyone can give me some insight into if I will need to make any modifications to my newly purchased a Phantom 4 Pro. I’m a complete newbie to drones, so still need to learn how to fly it, but I had read somewhere about slightly larger rotors or three blades rotors etc. I’ve seen / heard people successfully flying at this altitude (Everest Base Camp, volcano in Bolivia) but can’t find any details. Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you!
Flying at 18,000 feet
- Thread starter JohnnyMac18
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Welcome to the forum.
18K is very high and very few people can speak with experience at that Alt.
I would be concerned about shortened flight times and sluggish performance more than anything else.
You can't really get a performance increase on an aircraft like a Phantom with new props. The Flight Controller makes the adjustments within the aircraft to maintain certain parameters.
Be sure to take LOTS of pictures and VIDEO and come back here to share with us.
18K is very high and very few people can speak with experience at that Alt.
I would be concerned about shortened flight times and sluggish performance more than anything else.
You can't really get a performance increase on an aircraft like a Phantom with new props. The Flight Controller makes the adjustments within the aircraft to maintain certain parameters.
Be sure to take LOTS of pictures and VIDEO and come back here to share with us.
Don't forget about your own performance at those altitudes.
Sorry, not much else to add except "good luck!"
Sorry, not much else to add except "good luck!"
captainmilehigh
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Can only wish you good luck on that endeavor. Not much ‘air’ for those props to bite on at FL 180.
Hi JohnnyMac18. I worked at high altitudes in Nepal for a number of years, but not using a drone. Bad Andy’s advice about not forgetting your own performance at altitude can’t be stressed enough.
I’ve witnessed many tourists suffer altitude sickness to varying degrees. I’m sure you already know the three bits of advice if you feel unwell: “descend, descend, descend”. It’s shocking how many people ignore this, even after prior reading.
Mental processing is easily affected at high altitudes. It’s actually common. Keep well hydrated and don’t drink alcohol for 24 hours before or whilst at altitude as this will make the problem worse.
I know this point is off-topic, but please make sure you get the best possible advice for malaria prevention before travelling. I had very bad malaria for 17 years, and still get lesser attacks now, because I only got advice from a good GP. A medical clinic I established and managed for 25 years saw 5,000 malaria patients every year. Treatment and prevention is getting harder because of increasingly resistance, and sometimes you need certain medication based on specific regional advice rather than national advice. I don’t know where you are, but contact a hospital specialising in tropical medicine in your capital city for the latest/best advice because malaria kills a huge number of people every year.
This final point is also off topic. My wife was apparently one of the two first women to travel most of the way round the world on a motorbike many years ago, including where you’re going. She would like to remind you to make sure your horn works well, as it’s essential for safety on those passes.
I’ve witnessed many tourists suffer altitude sickness to varying degrees. I’m sure you already know the three bits of advice if you feel unwell: “descend, descend, descend”. It’s shocking how many people ignore this, even after prior reading.
Mental processing is easily affected at high altitudes. It’s actually common. Keep well hydrated and don’t drink alcohol for 24 hours before or whilst at altitude as this will make the problem worse.
I know this point is off-topic, but please make sure you get the best possible advice for malaria prevention before travelling. I had very bad malaria for 17 years, and still get lesser attacks now, because I only got advice from a good GP. A medical clinic I established and managed for 25 years saw 5,000 malaria patients every year. Treatment and prevention is getting harder because of increasingly resistance, and sometimes you need certain medication based on specific regional advice rather than national advice. I don’t know where you are, but contact a hospital specialising in tropical medicine in your capital city for the latest/best advice because malaria kills a huge number of people every year.
This final point is also off topic. My wife was apparently one of the two first women to travel most of the way round the world on a motorbike many years ago, including where you’re going. She would like to remind you to make sure your horn works well, as it’s essential for safety on those passes.
Since writing the above, I’ve just phoned a good contact in India. He has wanted to get a drone for his work but not done so because there has been a complete ban of drones in India. There is currently a review by the authorities, hopefully with new favourable laws, but with acute sensitivities in border regions, but he couldn’t tell me more.
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According to the P4 Pro specifications, the 'Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level' is 19685 feet (6000 m). Notwithstanding, of course, India's total ban on drones as mentioned above, but if this ban is lifted prior to your trip, fly it stock and enjoy.
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It can be, and for those not familiar with oxygen deprivation issues, things can go very badly very fast. I'm assuming that an outing such as the OP intends would come with all of the standard safeguards - such as pre-acclimation and having oxygen bottles available during the higher portions of the ride.
Oddly enough, probably one of the more dangerous things to do during a trip like this, would be to stop at 18,000 +' and take the time to set up the copter and equipment and do a bit of photography and/or filming. It's not the quickly going there that get you, but the lingering about...
Yeah OP, definitely bring oxygen with you, and also make sure while in the valleys that all of this equipment works.. I hope India lifts the UAV ban and you get some great footage and return here to share it with us us..
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I've flown my drone at 13000 feet plus. I also fly in the mountain ranges where I live. Cold temperature for batteries is also another issue as well as wind gusts. I did use standard props they work fine. I would not suggest as a newbie taking a drone to high altitudes where firstly you might get altitude sickness. Even above 12000 feet some people will already get headaches and need O2 already.
Still the pictures can be worth it.
Still the pictures can be worth it.
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I would recommend you get a parabolic antenna of some kind, just to give you a little lee way in reaching that height, its the wind that is going to be your biggest factor and moisture. You might consider a Phantomrain Wet Suit to protect and seal the battery from the cold and the moisture as your best safety precaution. A drone dropping from that height could hurt someone,..
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FAO blackcrusader: A few weeks ago, a forum member kindly sent a PM suggesting you were probably the expert when it comes to flying a drone through and above cloud. He pointed me towards another forum, which I joined but it wouldn’t allow me to post anything. I’ve just seen (above) that you’re also on here.
If you search “clouds” you’ll easily see the relevant thread and an explanation of what we’re filming.
Look forward to hearing about your experience and any advice.
If you search “clouds” you’ll easily see the relevant thread and an explanation of what we’re filming.
Look forward to hearing about your experience and any advice.
PhantomWetSuits
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Thats the problem with these picture, they are so **** tempting to want to rocket up there, Mods Mods Mods I think about getting them at times like these so I can visit the clouds.
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Guys
You can't fly a drone above 17999 feet, your entering controlled airspace at that point, where jets or any plane have to have a IFR flight plan and be speaking to ATC, have transponders etc...
Plus at those altitudes I would be surprised if you would get any lift at all due to density altitude
You can't fly a drone above 17999 feet, your entering controlled airspace at that point, where jets or any plane have to have a IFR flight plan and be speaking to ATC, have transponders etc...
Plus at those altitudes I would be surprised if you would get any lift at all due to density altitude
I live for reading/watching rtw Motorcycle trips. Is your wife’s trip documented somewhere? Last year I hosted Steph Jeavons here at my house for a couple of days on her RTW.
And to the OP. Looking forward to seeing some video of your trip when you’re done. What bike are you using?
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Just remember, the thinner the air, the less "bite" your props will have. Also those passes have a bit of wind running through them. Unless you're from the Colorado Rockies area (above the 1 mile altitude) you are going to have a dry throat, tight chest, and feel like you can't breath. So follow the advice, above, about hydration, O2, & Malaria prevention, (and every other disease known to common man. It's India, after all). Best of luck.
PhantomWetSuits
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This is what moisture looks like after coming out of the clouds, so be careful if you are flying without a Wet Suit as this could drop it out of the sky if the battery gets wet.
