Still can’t get the hang of the quoting… 
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I got mine from Argos too. I think it was said tongue in cheek to get a point across more than anything 
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I was beginning to lean that way as well. But when I tried to install the DJI Fly app on the new tablet - ‘not compatible’. Thanks for nothing, DJI. Back to square 1. I wonder if there’s anyone near me with an X8 2020 so I could test my tablet once lockdown eases - I know the app installs, but is it fully functional?? I live in Hexham Northumberland.
Cheers,
Peter
Where did I say they were?
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You never, I knew where you were coming from… … But tbf my first flight was at NT clumber park, before I knew their rules, so in some way I possibly do tick the Argos buyer box 
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I used Argos as an example of easy availability, nothing more. Today you can buy a fairly advanced drone on almost any high street and they just hand you the box and you’re away. With that kind of availability and the increasingly affordable price point it’s inevitable that something will go wrong soon.
It’s not a big leap of imagination to picture a NT property this summer with 50 people attempting to fly mini 2s around at the same time. 50 people with potentially very little experience. Carnage will ensue, the Daily Mail will be outraged, tighter legislation will immediately follow.
My honest view on this is be careful what you wish for. I’m all for a negotiated access where numbers can be controlled and you can know that each pilot has done DMARES or more as a minimum. If the NT suddenly change their policy to unrestricted access then I’m not sure it will end well.
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@leeheyes maybe that’s the responsible answer that people should be required to show or enter their flyer ID or operator ID prior to purchase. I know that’s not 100% bullet proof but least its a start (seen many op ids on drones for sale). Least people would be more aware of the DMARES prior to purchase.
The small footnote on the argos sales page about registration is not sufficient really.
Would show NT and EH that we drone operators are more responsible than they give us credit for.
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Who here register’s all their flights on NATs or Guardian Angel prior to flight?
If this was agreed at NT sites then they could be aware of who’s flying in the area and record. Encourage more responsible behaviour and trust.
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Guys, this I believe is the crux of the matter. I don’t think anyone on here is advocating a carte blanche drone flying free for all around their properties. I’m certainly not. It’s in everyones interest, theirs and ours as pilots to come to an amicable and workable solution. One that ticks their boxes from a liability/safety perspective and one that satisfies the drone community with regard to understood access to some wonderful buildings and land.
There has to be understanding, common sense and compromise on all sides otherwise, as @leeheyes says I fear this will only end in a change in the current legislation and a clamp down on where and when we can fly.
I shall be writing to English Heritage this afternoon outlining my same concerns regarding their outdated and misleading website policy on drones and asking what, if any, plans they have for addressing the recent change in legislation.
I shall keep you all updated
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Slightly off topic but just trying to help!! Did you try the DJI store for the app? I downloaded it from there as opposed to the play store. It works ok but FPV only works on my tablet with the over exposure highlights on. Other than that little quirk it’s fine. Maybe worth a shot if you haven’t already tried, mate.
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I agree what you say, but the byelaws have been in since 1965, they have been using them from that date to rule over their fiefdoms. You would have thought they’d have looked into it by now, but to blame the pandemic for not doing so is pure invention. Unless of course this is the first time they’ve been properly challenged 1965.
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So in theory,… If they follow the caa rules and we are allowed to fly over their land but not TOAL from it then I could use my van roof as a landing pad or take off and land on my hand? 
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It’s always been that way since 1965!!! They can’t stop you flying over, only from take off and landing on their property. It’s nothing to do with safety, never has been, they are charged with protecting and maximizing a revenue stream by selling ‘rights’ to professional photographers to take photographs.
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Thanks for your interest 
I looked at Google Play Store at first, but the app wasn’t listed. So did a Google search and the DJI Fly app came up. But in any case the tablet is a Lenovo 8" and I then found it about half way down this page in the list of incompatible devices. 
What a nightmare. Even if I eventually get a smart phone, possibly a secondhand one just to control a drone, there’s no guarantee it’ll run the app - have to test it in the shop! I think I’ll wait until DJI get their act properly together and make the smart controller compatible with the Mini2. Then try to win the lottery!
Cheers,
Peter
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I used to be a member of two Ridge Soaring clubs that were permitted to fly RC Gliders on the North York Moors and Marsden Moor. Both NT Sites. Most of the membership fees were donated to the Trust. Motors on models were banned at the NYM site. However an agreement was made at the Marsden Moor site, whereby short motor runs were allowed on Gliders equiped with an electric motor only. All other powered models were banned.
I think it is so much easier to fob individuals off.
Interestingly we had to stick to designated slopes, we couldn’t just rock up anywhere and fly.
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Relating to my post above. I recall a very in depth health and safety assessment done and submitted by the clubs. Also an agreement to police the flying sites for any non members turning up. It wouldn’t work with Drones though, mainly due to the roving nature of the hobby. I think the NT would see us as being difficult, if not impossible to control.
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I wonder if it’s as simple (regs and health and safety aside) that they fear losing revenue by allowing (endorsing) Drone Pilots to fly over ‘their’ land.
Sometimes, people - especially organisations are very risk averse and its far easier and simpler (not to mention lazy) to give a categorical NO! - than going through the whys and wherefores.
Regards,
Clive
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Peter, I use an old iPhone 7 just as a drone phone with no sim or apps and it works fine, I got it from a friend for free 
it had been in a draw for months as she had an upgrade, you can buy them for £50 or so second hand.
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I think they fear everything, and not surprisingly when you see what some people get up to. Yes, they definitely fear loss of revenue through photography. They fear noise, nuisance, disturbance and danger to visitors to their sites. They fear damage being cause to property by a runaway or badly controlled drone (and the penalties for damaging a Listed Building are pretty large). They fear wild animals and livestock being disturbed. They fear being sued if anything goes wrong, and those incidents not being covered by their own insurance.
I think there are two avenues worth pursuing:
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Get them to understand the law as it stands so that at least their guidance is made to be compatible with that. This is not as easy as it sounds, as their own bye-laws are unclear in many ways.
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Pursue the possibility of “drone days”, outside normal opening hours. I think this is only realistic with a partner organisation, as the NT will want a commercial partner that they can hand off liability to, for them to take control of the activity, qualifications, insurance, airspace coordination etc. They’ll be concerned that anything like this will just encourage more drone incursions, so I suspect this second option will be difficult to pursue.
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