JP Thompson

08/26/2026

07/22/2026

Truth.
I’ve done this before.
Going straight up is the smartest move.

The absolute worst reaction you can have when a territorial hawk or eagle begins circling your drone mid-flight is to panicking and pull the left joystick straight down to land.

Birds of prey are evolutionary dive-bombers; they hunt by striking targets from above at high vertical velocities.

If you attempt to descend, you are entering their exact strike vector.

To survive an avian attack, do the opposite: punch the throttle vertically upward as fast as your motors allow.

Drones can ascend at a rapid vertical climb rate that birds cannot match from a hover.

Climb over them, clear their territory, and execute an emergency landing far away from their nesting zone.

🦺 SHARE this flight safety tip to help fellow pilots stay safe around wildlife!

05/27/2026

05/21/2026

This is a Gulf Fritillary, and it was one of the first few photos I took when I got my first mirrorless camera a few short years ago.
The Z7II is still amazing, and I can’t think of a better quality camera.

01/25/2026

Historic Photo

82 years ago 75,000 American soldiers stormed Normandy to free Europe from fascist tyranny. (1944)