Will Reflective Tape Help Spot My Drone In The Sky

Questions & Answers
1

I know this has been asked and talked about for birds but does the reflective tape help spot the drone better when in the sky I was thinking of getting some red reflective tape so I can keep better look out.

My thinking is that the light will hit it and sparkle better on the sky and make my mini 3 a bit easier to see

2

I’m not sure about reflective tape, but I’ve got a small strobe I can velcro under the mini 3 and it really makes it easier to re-locate after looking down at the controller. As its velcro it fits on the Neo as well (that thing is tiny in the air !)

3

Maybe worth having a look Have you wrapped your bird here for possible ideas :+1:

4

I’ve got a cree strobe but it takes it over 250g I 3d printed a mou t for it that stick underneath with a rubber bands got loads of bands to keep changing so they don’t snap but still over weight.

I was looking at taking the a2 coc for the extra weight but gonna weight for the new laws coming in don’t wanna pay out for it and then it’s not used anymore.

I suppose if I’m in the middle of nowhere the extra weight won’t matter to much but wouldn’t like to do it and get pulled for it

5

Reflective tape is designed to reflect light directly back the way it came from, so it will only show things up if you are shining a light directly at them.

I use fluorescent paint and tape, available in art & hobby stores. This glows in ultra-violet light (which sunlight contains a lot of), so it keeps the drone well visible until sunset, even when not in direct sunlight. I enjoy flying at dusk, and I find this is very effective. And if searching for the drone in long grass at dusk or night, a good UV torch shows up the fluorescent paint realy well.

Also for flying at dusk and after dark, I made a little light unit. A 3AAA switched battery box, powered with a 10500 Li-Ion rechargeable cell in the middle, LEDs pointing out on each side: Red & Green for port and starboard, White in front and Blue to the rear. The standard bullet LEDs shine a slightly narrow beam, so I can see which side of the drone is toward me. (Battery chargers for these basic Li-Ion cells are cheap.)

6

I posted about this in Feb 2022 using gold tape. Search “mini 2 visibility aid” I think.
Works well when the sun is out!

7

It’s over here @geoff :slight_smile:

8

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s-l1600720Ă—720 35.6 KB

I have just fitted one of these, much much better than the cheap shit I bought first :rofl:

9

STROBON Cree® Standalone - Drone Night Light Strobe - Genuine Flytron UK Product

11

As recommended here for years and years

Gold and silver members also can a discount on them here …

https://greyarro.ws/t/flytron-exclusive-discount-for-grey-arrows-drone-club-members/59673

12

thats the one ive got i got it way back for my mavic mini stuck it on will velcro

thanks for the sugestions will have a look into them

13

How far are you flying with the need to have reflective tape to spot your drone?

14

not that far today i was about 120m away and it blended with the sky for a couple of seconds that swhy i thought about tape or something

15

And it brings it over 250 gram threshold

16

I don’t think anyone at anytime soon is going to get busted by the pocket weighing scales police.

17

Which of course is only relative if you are flying in certain places

18

Tu could be right on this one buddy :+1:

19

No, unless you are exceptionally lucky with sunlight and reflection angles and whatnot. But it will keep the raptors off your arse while you’re in the air. And reflect any light you may have going on up there with it. With a strobe for example, distance visibility is maximally increased.

20

Thanks! I wanted to do what you did, but couldn’t work out how to do it🤣

21

I have found it pretty good when there is clear sun!