Growing up in Southern California, skateboarding was mandatory. Learning to ollie and kickflip were rites of passage. So much of the allure of skating was the attitude: “We’ll do what we want, skate where we want, be on the outside and not give a shit”. Skating was on the fringe of normal society. The tricks were cool; the attitude was cool; sometimes there were chicks (that’s a big sometimes) … every now and then you busted your face… not that fun but still cool ; )
As the years passed and responsibility called, the skateboard gathered dust in the garage, but the attitude and love for skating and it’s culture were ingrained. Anything in life is like this; some parts of your life get put away but their impression remains.
Now as the Drone Revolution is in full swing, Southern California is perhaps THE epicenter. It makes it interesting and often difficult, because the competition is strong and stacked, just as it was for skateboarding. Pilot’s are AMAZING and getting better; post production skills are literally Hollywood level (could it be anything other?) and running the hottest gear is a competition in itself. It’s easy to get intimidated.
But I grew up skating.
In Southern California.
So I know that at the end the day. It’s how you skate that does the talking. Or how you fly. Use what you got. Squeeze every ounce of talent you have into the simplest of gear and masterpieces will be made.
Now as my passion towards aircraft, flying and creating has found a new outlet in drone flying, I find the skating attitude pushing in. I wanna fly this drone like we used to skate: Toss it out my sunroof on the 405 during traffic; down bustling city streets, through ferris wheels , in condemned buildings, into places I shouldn’t . Because goddamn, I can. Or I could.
Drones and their ability to quickly capture the world from views previously only captured by manned aircraft (not long before that only by birds), provide us a new freedom, new escape. Something wild.
A few years back when this drone tsunami was first starting to crest, it was like the wild west (I’m talking Phantom 2’s with GoPros). I’m sure some of you remember this. There weren’t even rules yet. The powers’ that be (government agencies and politicians) didn’t even know what to do . Places you can’t drone NOW, we’re being droned, because no one knew to say “NO! You can’t do that!”
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. Reminded me of skating. People were shocked. Enamored. Many scared. “WTF is that thing?” (Along with all the same technical questions you get now) Best of all, it was fringe.
All cool times come to an end though; usually cuz some assholes screw it up for everyone else. And the responsible aerospace professional side of me knew it was getting dangerous; something had to give. Now the landscape is different and still changing, but I find that skater whispering in my ear when I fly:
“Closer to those rocks…”
“Lower over the water…”
“Go Big or Go Home”.
And I’m happy he’s there. And that the skateboard is no longer just sitting in the garage…
#dronethefringe
Happy Flying. Safe Travels.
