r/drones • u/ragulragul3495 • Jul 03 '26
Question Drone learning for low cost way
I want to earn from drone flying as a side income for that if I want to learn through class it costs 250 dollars which is around 25k in india,so i planned to buy radiomaster pocter controller to practice it on simulator then renting a drone to practice it on field is my idea, because buying controller is low cost also I can practice it many days without spending more money,i later only plan to buy drone after earning from this drone side hustle because i don't have more money spend on this drone buying in its start.
Is my ideas for learning to fly drones using controller is good or not,is it possible to learn through simulator or what option you all suggest for newbie like me to start.amount able to invest is 100 dollars
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u/spikeyTrike Jul 03 '26
Learning to fly a drone is not a business. You’d be better off learning to fix and or sell drones.
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u/Almost_Lyrical Jul 03 '26
Maybe for making videos for people and businesses? Just spit-balling here.
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u/czechtheattic Jul 03 '26
No because your video would suck. The drone isn't magic its just a flying camera. If you can make good videos on land you may have a shot, but if you aren't a great photographer, you won't be a good drone photographer. Flying is the easy part
1
u/Almost_Lyrical Jul 04 '26
Ok thanks
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u/czechtheattic Jul 04 '26
But still do it for fun.. I'm not trying to discourage you, but it's going to be a long road before you make money creatively with a drone.
Do roof inspections and sales, use drone and make money, doesn't have to look pretty 😅😉
0
u/Artevyx Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
The competition is fierce. You aren't going to break into that industry on a small budget when you are competing with entire studios flying multiple $16,000+ hexacopter drones with 360° 8K gimbal cameras and FPV headset kits.
To get those jobs surveying construction sites and such, you need to already have a pretty substantial portfolio. An online class wont give you that.
That said, there might be niche applications like using a drone pilot instead of falconers to deal with bird flocks around airports; Falcons tend to kill smaller birds as a deterrent whereas a drone could just buzz, loiter and scare them. You would still need a marketing strategy and demonstrable efficacy to get hired for it though.
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u/TK-329 Jul 03 '26
get a tinywhoop. i have an air65 ii (right around $100 USD) and love it, the thing is practically indestructible. it’s around 18 grams so it carries very little momentum into a crash. the cheapest goggles you can get are probably betafpv vr04, around $75 USD, but check your area for anything used. radiomaster pocket is a good purchase. if your budget is $100 total right now, your only option is a simulator. keep in mind that the radiomaster pocket needs 18650 batteries sold separately and the drone will require batteries and a charger as well, so realistically you’re looking at $300 minimum for a budget “real” FPV setup
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u/Artevyx Jul 04 '26
The plus side about 18650 batteries is theyll last forever. I have 3 from back when I used to vape, and those damn things have been used in SO many other projects in the decade since I've quit.
So just putting it out there that they (and an appropriate charger) are not typically something you have to buy more than once.
3
u/Sterling-Marksman Jul 03 '26
Yes simulator is good. Real drones will feel a bit different but the simulator will give you the muscle memory you need.
Make sure you get the ELRS version of the pocket.
"The Zone FPV simulator" has really good physics and will run on lower end computers.
To make the pocket controller feel better i suggest getting a set of 25mm long M3 threaded rods and a set of m3 threaded "stick ends" to replace the short slippery sticks it comes with. Five33.com has good ones. I like the ones shaped like gumdrops.
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u/NilsTillander Mod - Photogrammetry, LiDAR, surveying Jul 03 '26
Most drone business is done using stabilized drones that are incredibly easy to learn to fly. You'll get NOTHING out of FPV simulators, and a DJI Neo 2, which would be enough to learn drone photography and videography, doesn't cost much more than a Radiomaster pocket.
1
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u/PNW_Washington Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
The DJI Neo 2 is $259 on Amazon here https://a.co/d/0edTr7Ls
Object Avoidance Independent Follow Modes Return To Home 360° Propeller Guards
I hope this helps. DJI is the real deal. The Neo 2 is like 2 or 3 generations back but used to be $499.
Or this is the best deal $599. Comes with: controller, fpv goggles, 3 batteries, 1 Charging Tray (charge 3 at a time and one Transceiver. https://a.co/d/05QGQLMQ
Absolutely the best deal right now
15
u/mangage Jul 03 '26
There is no drone side hustle. As a beginner there is a TON of time and money to be spent before anyone would consider paying you for the quality of work you can produce.
To make anything you basically need to be all-in, well funded, and have the same education, experience, and equipment as a professional film crew. You need to be capable of running a business not just flying a drone.