Hi. 72 yrs old and in need of a new challenge so I am off this weekend to attend a half-day drone flying course at Warwick. Complete novice. No experience and don’t do controller games so bricking it atm. I so want to combat my fears and become competent.
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Hi @Bobmsmart and welcome to Grey Arrows 
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Flying a drone is great fun but sometimes you feel the need to have a purpose for doing so and the Challenges category provides some great reasons for you to fly.
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Welcome once again!
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72! You’re nobbut a boy, Bobsmart, says Johnster, 73…
Started a year ago, with cheapo drones that were next to impossible to control and very frustrating. One flew away and was never seen again, not that it’s missed, and I gave the other one to a neighbour when I bought a DJI drone on advice from people in this site. It hasn’t all been plain sailing, drone murdered by seagull mob but I was insured, but it’s addictive and very satisfying! Make sure any drone you buy has effective GPS positioning, though; accuracy of control and the re-assuring ‘RTH’ feature is dependent on this!
Don’t know about you, but I’d got myself in a bit of a rut after Covid, not going out so much, not getting fresh air & exercise, festering in the flat a bit. My main hobby is model railways, which is great but doesn’t encourage outdoor activity or social interaction, and I was becoming increasinly isolated.
Drones have put me back in touch with the outdoor world, with the tides and winds, and the weather, and have given me an activity that exercises my motor skills and speed/positioning perception. People are interested in what I’m doing and stop to start conversations, and I usually go for a beer on the way home, and possibly fish’n’chips. It’s put me back in contact with a world I was unintentionally but definitely withdrawing from, and is A Good Thing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it greatly.
This site is full of help and advice, given freely and enthusiastically, not to mention some quite lively banter. The access to ‘Drone Scene’ and the £5m PLI are worth the club membership, but there is a lot more than just that to be had in the forums. Welcome!
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Fantastic read Johnster.
I hope to get some if that ‘buzz’ myself.
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Thank you for this weath of advice. I’m going to need it.
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Hi Bob, if you’d said earlier I’d have come and given you as much training as you needed for nothing. I’m not far away (Walsall) so it wouldn’t have been any problem. If you get stuck, let us know and I’ll come on down and help.
Welcome from the Black Country mate.
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Beating all of you, I’m 74. Being a senior has its advantages - the public tend to leave you alone (though dogwalkers can get chatty) and people don’t suspect you of nefarious intent. Also, you can get out at quieter times of day, so can make your mistakes aka crashes in private.
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Be interesting to hear about how you get on at the course……
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Best of luck,you’re never too old to have fun.
I’m just turning 70 and love getting out with my drones.
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Hi and welcome… Great thing drones… Good for all ages.
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What a great positive attitude and story.
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Hi Bobmsmart , and welcome, After reading some of these tags at 68 feeling quite young , new to this myself and loving it , think we should get a meeting sorted for us novices over 60s lol.
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I’m in!