Bay man’s search for missing drone

A man who lost his brand new drone on its maiden flight is appealing to anyone who may have had an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) pay them an unexpected visit in Papamoa last night.

Alan Forward wants to hear from anyone who may have found his UAV after he lost sight of it whilst using it for the very first time on Monday evening.


An image of a DJI Phantom 2 Vision, identical to the one lost in Papamoa on Monday. Photo: DJI Global Facebook.

Alan was testing out his new $1500 DJI Phantom 2 Vision between 5.30pm and 6pm at a vacant plot of land off Grenada Street, near Evans Road, when things went wrong.

'I went through all the pre-flight checks,” he explains, 'and put a brand new fresh battery in it.

'I set it up to do way points, where it goes from one to the next and then returns home.

'It went through the third of six way points and veered off towards the houses and on my screen it said ‘lost connection, system failure'.”

The last sighting Alan had of the UAV was heading towards a house with a red roof near Gloucester and Pacific View roads as it lost altitude.

Having purchased the UAV on Sunday, Alan intended to use it for aerial photography and videography.

Weighing 1.2kg, the aircraft can fly for up to 25 minutes and is able to video an entire flight and take 14 megapixel images.

But since losing signal and GPS data, he has been out scouring the neighbourhood and handing out flyers in the hope it will return.

'I just want people to come forward if they know anything about it or have a drone in their backyard,” he says.

UAVs, commonly known as drones, are aircrafts without a human pilot aboard. Its flight is autonomously controlled by on-board computers, or by the remote control of a pilot.

Anyone with information on the UAV can contact Alan on: 021 820 045.

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21 comments

Bummer

Posted on 12-05-2015 17:15 | By benkfie

This doesn't correspond with the mysterious lights seen off shore does it?


Drones

Posted on 12-05-2015 18:09 | By R1Squid

May have been intercepted under the new law passed just recently. Apparently permission is now required from property owners to fly 'Drones' over their properties. Probably say goodbye to the $'s.


Using Waypoints!!!

Posted on 12-05-2015 18:45 | By Pottzz

Sorry to here that Alan but using waypoints is recommended after a few weeks under your belt.. Did you set the compass and GPS so your Return to home kicks in?


Drones

Posted on 12-05-2015 18:48 | By Pottzz

Flying a drone over a house is still legal but hovering is a different story. I don't recall giving Air New Zealand permission to fly over my house.


By Pottzz

Posted on 12-05-2015 19:51 | By R1Squid

Not sure that Air New Zealand are particularly interested in what goes on in your back yard even if they could hover over it and take high definition video, if that is what your response to the subject 'Drones' is.


i

Posted on 12-05-2015 21:50 | By Capt_Kaveman

would have tested it in daylight


Privacy issues

Posted on 13-05-2015 08:13 | By RawPrawn

As the popularity of these surveillance craft increases, I can imagine so will the sales of 12 bore shotguns


Was going to get one

Posted on 13-05-2015 08:59 | By Surfwatch

Until, the feedback was that they are a nuisance to people. The general public do not like random people taking photos, videos, and drone pictures of their private lives. I had a camera on my bike until I noticed, people near the beach covering up as I went past. Camera gone now. We need to be more sensitive to the rights of others.


Drone

Posted on 13-05-2015 09:51 | By Alan1

Hi All , Just to clarify on a few things, I would never use this on a Spy mission; I was flying around a large green area when the system malfunction took place, my intention was to use it at my daughters wedding and for a film I


@RedPrawn

Posted on 13-05-2015 10:08 | By GreertonCynic

Google "Portable EMP Cannon".


Beyond annoying

Posted on 13-05-2015 14:16 | By sojourner

I don't care what the excuse for flying a drone over my private space is. It's private. With all the noise and intrusions already in place the last thing we need is somebody's drone plaguing us. It's an invasion of privacy and I do not take kindly to it.


drone

Posted on 13-05-2015 16:30 | By Alan1

And really don't blame you i have never done this or intend to if the machine hadn't malfunctioned it would never be anywhere near any house's i am a landscape photographer and i am really not interested in other peoples lives. but thank you for your comment and i appreciate your point of view.


drone

Posted on 13-05-2015 16:30 | By Alan1

And really don't blame you i have never done this or intend to if the machine hadn't malfunctioned it would never be anywhere near any house's i am a landscape photographer and i am really not interested in other peoples lives. but thank you for your comment and i appreciate your point of view.


drone

Posted on 14-05-2015 16:36 | By Alan1

thanks to every one and sunlive for trying to help.


The big issue....

Posted on 21-05-2015 22:22 | By GreertonBoy

with drones... is when one brings down an airliner or small plane and people perish due to the plethora of these things using airspace with no way of detecting a 747 coming up behind it, or a Cessna... there will be hell to pay. It is good that yours was to be used within your view from the ground, but so many aren't. Some are quite a lot bigger than your lost one too...Daytime would have been better to test in I agree, I guess I would have been excited to give it a whirl too... bugga! hopefully you will get yours back.... any news?


GPS Woes

Posted on 25-05-2015 10:50 | By Joshz

Hi Alan How unfortunate mate... Expensive machines. Im also from Tauranga I've been flying RC since I was young and have been flying Drones for 3 yrs for a company. We use all DJI products aswell.. Im still yet to loose a Drone and dreading the day. But I have had issues with the Onboard GPS. I find it better to fly in manual mode as it will never ever do a "fly away". + here in NZ way points are almost useless as your not allowed to fly beyond your visual range, in my case this is about 300m for the Phantom or S900..


Drone Privacy

Posted on 25-05-2015 11:04 | By Joshz

And too all those people complaining about privacy when it comes to drones... Its just too bad.. the world is what it is and people are gonna do it. Complain away but google will keep circling the world taking Higher Definition images than a Personal drone can, I could find anyone's house and tell you what it looks like, thanks google. You'll be on CCTV footage more in your life than this petty problem, and who isn't to say the guy managing the CCTV footage doesn't take it all home to review in a perverted sense. Just let it go. or go hide somewhere.


chill out.

Posted on 25-05-2015 21:52 | By JayR

nobody buys these things to spy on their neighbours. They cameras that people put on these have wide angle lenses, and at operating altitude, you can't see much detail. Stop thinking that you're so important that people would want to spy on you. It's just a toy and they're here to stay. get with the program. If you're not going to complain about cell phone cameras, governments spying on its own citizens and google street view then you're a hypocrite.


the sky is falling

Posted on 25-05-2015 21:54 | By JayR

a drone of this size could not take out a civil aircraft. You're in more danger from hitting a flock of birds or pieces of ice. I have seen no proof that hobby level drones of any size pose any threat to airplanes.


to alan

Posted on 31-05-2015 22:50 | By JayR

Alan, best of luck finding your quadcopter. You shouldn't have to defend yourself about using a toy. Don't listen to idiots.


Any update?

Posted on 09-06-2015 01:13 | By GreertonBoy

Would be nice to find out if the drone got found or not?


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