Taking your drone out of the box and flying it around a bit: most people can do that. But really improve your drone flying skills? That takes a little more than just a few laps around the park.
Good news: you don’t have to be a professional pilot to make rapid progress. With the right exercises and a little structure, you’ll be flying much more smoothly, precisely, and creatively in no time.
In summary: You can improve your drone flying skills by repeating targeted exercises, tackling progressively more difficult challenges, and consciously working on your weaknesses. Always start in a safe location, know the rules, and build up your skills gradually.
You learn to fly by doing it—that’s true. But just flying around aimlessly won’t make you a better pilot. Just like with a musical instrument or a sport, deliberate and focused practice much more effective than doing the same thing for hours on end without a goal.
Specific benefits of targeted training:
Whether you’re using a DJI Mini 5 Pro or fly a DJI Mavic 4 Pro, the basic skills are the same for everyone.
Before you start practicing, there is one important starting point: fly legally and safely.
See also: What is the best drone for beginners?
Every good pilot has a solid foundation. Start here if you’re just beginning, or use these exercises as a warm-up.
For many pilots, landing is the most difficult part. A controlled, gentle landing at an exact spot requires patience and fine motor skills.
Exercise: Place a mat, Frisbee, or chalk circle on the ground. Try to land the drone as accurately as possible on that spot. Do this 10 times in a row and see if your accuracy improves.
Fly in a straight line from point A to point B at a constant altitude. Note: As soon as you fly your drone away from you or toward you, the control directions reverse. Many beginners struggle with this.
Exercise: Place two markers 20 meters apart. Fly back and forth, maintaining the same altitude throughout. Focus on a smooth, fluid motion without any jerks or jolts.
Once you’ve mastered the basic movements, it’s time to improve your accuracy.
The figure-8 is one of the most commonly used maneuvers in the world of drones. You combine a smooth left turn with a right turn, while maintaining a constant altitude and speed.
Exercise: Use two trees, poles, or bottles as anchor points. Fly a smooth figure-8 around those points. Increase your speed as you get more comfortable. Do this for 5 minutes without stopping.
Choose an object as your focal point, keep the Camera pointed at it, and fly in a perfect circle around it. This is the basis for the Point of Interest mode that modern drones can perform automatically, but you’ll learn much more by doing it manually.
Exercise: Choose a tree or a pole. Fly three circles around it, in both directions, without losing sight of the object. Reduce the radius as you become more skilled.
To fly backward with the drone’s nose pointing away from you is intuitive. But to fly with the nose pointing toward you while navigating backward? That takes a little getting used to.
Exercise: Fly to a point 15 meters ahead of you, then turn the drone 180° and fly backward back to your starting position. Maintain a constant altitude and pay attention to the area behind the drone.
Once you’ve mastered the basic movements and precision, it’s time to move on to fluid, dynamic movements that will take your footage to the next level.
Use the Cine Mode (or a lower sensitivity mode) on your drone for slow, cinematic movements. This will help you practice smooth tracking shots.
Exercise: Walk yourself or have someone drive while you keep the drone at a constant altitude and distance behind that person. Do this for 5 minutes without any sudden movements.
A low pass is a shot in which the drone zooms at breakneck speed and skims low over a surface. The footage is spectacular, but it requires complete concentration.
Exercise: Find an open field. Fly as low as is safe (at least 50 cm above the ground) in a straight line for 30 meters. Increase your speed gradually. Always watch out for obstacles.
The OrbitMove combines forward motion, sideways motion, and camera movement at the same time. You rotate around a point while the Camera remains constantly focused on it.
Exercise: Choose a striking object or person as your focal point. Manually fly in an orbit around it at a constant speed, then accelerate once, then decelerate once. Pay attention to how smoothly the transition occurs.
Besides flying, there are other ways to improve your skills.
That depends largely on how often and how consciously you practice. With 3 to 4 structured sessions per week of 30 minutes each, you’ll notice clear progress after just a few weeks. You’ll learn the basics quickly; it takes more time and patience to fly fluidly and cinematically.
Fly in an open area with no obstacles or people nearby, such as a sports field, open meadow, or a quiet park outside of peak hours. Always check via the Droneguide to see if you’re allowed to fly at that location.
Absolutely. The DJI Flight Simulator is an excellent way to practice without the risk of damaging your drone. A simulator is a very useful tool, especially in bad weather or when you want to try out new maneuvers.
Start by hovering and precision landing. These two exercises will give you a feel for how your drone behaves and teach you to use the controls smoothly and with precision. They are the foundation for everything that comes next.
No. Even with an entry-level model, such as one from the DJI Lito series, , you can complete all the basic exercises and challenges. What matters is how you fly, not which model you have. Check out our full selection of DJI drones if you’re looking for a drone that suits your skill level.
View the complete selection of drones at DroneDepot and find out which model suits your flying skill level and goals, or contact our team for personalized advice.
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