Mile high guy moves to TX

[Sideshow]

Hello from Colorado!

I'm a plank flyer from waaaay back. Flying fixed wing since I was 11, and now I'm over 40. I fly IMAC and freestyle, have about 30 hours in Cubs and Wacos(antique biplanes) with a few Cessnas and homebuilts thrown in. Never got my licence, but have been an aviation lover since I was little. I'm lucky enough to be sponsored by www.milehighrc.com, Aeroplus RC, and Bull Engines.

My father (built a Rutan Dragonfly, and an RV6 with my uncle) has decided Suas is the way of the future and bought us an Inspire 1. Part of the obligation for my sponsorship is to compete in local IMAC contests and film a freestyle routine. I'm hoping to use the Inspire as our camera platform. I've been reading up, but still have a lot to learn! It's a whole new world. Working on my part 107 now.

Eventually we (my dad and I) hope to start a specialty aerial inspection company, and leave all the videography, real estate, and wedding photography to everyone else. I'm hoping to acquire a certified FLIR camera for industrial work, and potentially do agricultural and volumetric surveys. I've been a self employed cabinet maker/ high end trim carpenter for almost 20 years, and my body is starting to complain. So, it's either be a project manager/superintendent or try to phase into this brave new world of aerial inspections.

If anyone has had the patience to read all this, and has any real advice I could sure use it! I have quite a few friends operating overseas contracting for the military, and one of my old connections has been self employed doing specialty inspections for years as a department head under the umbrella of a major company. I must admit, I'm a little jealous of my flying buddies going legit flying UAS.

Any advice or experience would be appreciated!

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to the forum

 

[lake_flyer]

Welcome!

 

[JonCahillPhoto]

Welcome! What part of Texas?

It's a big state here and lots of ways to utilize an energy/efficiency way of inspection. Particularly in the summer months.

Our FLIR gimbal shipped yesterday, as a matter of fact. We cannot wait for it to arrive as we already utilize several hand-held IR devices and look forward to a bird's eye view.

 

[ExpressAerial]

Hello from Colorado!

I'm a plank flyer from waaaay back. Flying fixed wing since I was 11, and now I'm over 40. I fly IMAC and freestyle, have about 30 hours in Cubs and Wacos(antique biplanes) with a few Cessnas and homebuilts thrown in. Never got my licence, but have been an aviation lover since I was little. I'm lucky enough to be sponsored by www.milehighrc.com, Aeroplus RC, and Bull Engines.

My father (built a Rutan Dragonfly, and an RV6 with my uncle) has decided Suas is the way of the future and bought us an Inspire 1. Part of the obligation for my sponsorship is to compete in local IMAC contests and film a freestyle routine. I'm hoping to use the Inspire as our camera platform. I've been reading up, but still have a lot to learn! It's a whole new world. Working on my part 107 now.

Eventually we (my dad and I) hope to start a specialty aerial inspection company, and leave all the videography, real estate, and wedding photography to everyone else. I'm hoping to acquire a certified FLIR camera for industrial work, and potentially do agricultural and volumetric surveys. I've been a self employed cabinet maker/ high end trim carpenter for almost 20 years, and my body is starting to complain. So, it's either be a project manager/superintendent or try to phase into this brave new world of aerial inspections.

If anyone has had the patience to read all this, and has any real advice I could sure use it! I have quite a few friends operating overseas contracting for the military, and one of my old connections has been self employed doing specialty inspections for years as a department head under the umbrella of a major company. I must admit, I'm a little jealous of my flying buddies going legit flying UAS.

Any advice or experience would be appreciated!

Welcome to the great state of Texas! I'm in the Lubbock area. Hit me up in PM.

 

[Sideshow]

I will be in the Austin area. I have family there, and my wife's best friend will be putting us up until we get our footing.

Thank you for the warm welcomes! Sometimes I get the sense the suas world is a little dog eat dog, especially in the commercial areas. I'm hoping there is enough room for everyone with dedication to find their niche and be successful!