If you are a drone enthusiast, you’ll know that when you want to fly your drone there’s not a lot that can stop you—including the wind! But can this cause you some trouble? I did some research and here’s what I found.
You can fly a drone in the wind, but this also depends on the wind speed and the type of drone you have. The rule of thumb is generally that a drone can be flown in wind speeds that are about two-thirds of the drones’ maximum speed. For example, with a max speed of 40 mph, a drone should be able to handle wind speeds of up to 22 mph.
Using the rule of thumb mentioned above, here are the most popular drones with how much wind they should be able to withstand.
| Drone: | Drone Top Speed in Sport Mode: | Maximum Wind Speed Drone Can Handle: |
| DJI Mavic Mini | 30 mph (48 km/h) | 20.1 mph (32km/h) |
| DJI Mavic Air | 42.5 mph (68 km/h) | 28.5 mph (45 km/h) |
| DJI Mavic Air 2 | 42 mph (68 km/h) | 28 mph (45 km/h) |
| DJI Mavic Pro | 40 mph (64 km/h) | 26.8 mph (43 km/h) |
| DJI Mavic 2 Pro | 44.7 mph (72 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
| DJI Spark | 31 mph (50 km/h) | 20.8 mph (33 km/h) |
| DJI Phantom 3 | 35 mph (56 km/h) | 23.5 mph (37 km/h) |
| DJI Phantom 4 | 44.7 mph (72 km/h) | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
Keep reading below to find out more about flying a drone in the wind and which drones handle the best in these conditions!
How To Fly A Drone In Windy Weather?
So now that you know that you can still fly your drone in the wind, that does not mean that you should necessarily do it! Even though flying in the wind (depending on the speed of that wind) can be done, it is still not the safest thing to do.
I say this because there are still chances that you could either wreck your drone or hurt someone. However, if you feel the need to do it, follow these tips to fly as safely as possible.
Stand in front of the drone to block the wind during take-off.
Probably the most difficult part of flying a drone in the wind is the take-off. When starting the drone and getting ready for the flight this is where most crashes take place. When taking off the drone can be displaced or flipped over by the wind, and this can result in a crash that damages the propellers and other parts of the drone.
One way to combat this is to stand in front of the drone during take-off to act as a shield. Try taking off in a place that is shielding the drone from winds like buildings that will help it to take off. The drone will also tilt itself to look like it’s flying forward even though it is just hovering in place.
It does this because it is trying to compensate for the wind by flying against the direction of the wind. The drone will also sound a lot louder than in normal situations which are just an indication that it needs more power.
When flying down-wind, make sure you leave enough battery power to fly back home.
When flying downwind the drone is moving with the wind and therefore needs less power. It will then actually save the battery, but you also have to remember that the drone still has to come back to you.
The direction you are flying in is also very important when flying in strong winds. A lot of people lose their drones by flying downwind and when they decide it might be a bit much for the drone and want to bring it back, they attempt an upwind flight and lose control of the drone.
Keep in mind the higher you go, the faster the wind will be.
When you get above tree level or above hills and buildings, the wind speeds can greatly increase. This can be where pockets of calm or much higher winds are located and can be gusty.
Make sure you’re flying in sports mode.
You also need to be careful when flying a drone in strong winds. A lot of drones are limited to a certain speed by software like all the DJI drones have a “P” mode which limits the drone’s top speed.
You might have a drone like the Phantom 4 with a max speed of 45 mph but struggles in winds of 15 mph because of this software limiting your speed. This is why you need to check beforehand!
If you do have a DJI drone, you need to switch the mode to sport mode in the DJI GO app. This will help you fly in stronger wind speeds.
3 Drones That Tackle The Wind The Best
| Drone Name: | Max Speed: | Range: | Price: | Purchase Link: |
| DJI Inspire 1 | 50 mph | 1.2 miles | $2,890 | VIEW |
| DJI Mavic 2 Pro | 44 mph | 11 miles | $1,599 | VIEW |
| 3DR Solo | 54 mph | 0.9 miles | $625 | VIEW |
01. DJI Inspire 1
The DJI Inspire 1 was designed to be powerful yet lightweight. It is a flexible drone but it still provides stability when flying. The Inspire brings together some of DJI’s best technology to create the most complete package.
Camera: The Inspire 1 comes with the Zenmuse X3 camera that shoots 4K video and takes 12 MP still shots. This camera rig also allows for the camera to have a 360-degree range which helps you take footage at any angle you might be in.
The camera also has a 3-axis gimbal attachment which means your footage will remain stable even though you might be flying in stronger winds and the flight might be a little bumpier than usual.
The Inspire 1 can also change its camera to equip the other cameras in the Zenmuse series of cameras that best suite the pilot and what they want to do with the drone.
Flying in the wind: This drone is my number one pick for flying in windy weather. The Inspire 1 is flexible but still sturdy with great flying capabilities for flying in the wind. It has a 22 mph maximum wind speed resistance.
The Inspire 2 is also a great drone and is an upgrade of the Inspire 1, but the Inspire 1 is the better choice for flying in the wind because of its Altitude Mode which allows the drone to use the wind to its advantage when flying.
Price: At a price of $2,890 it’s not a cheap drone, but chances are if you are willing to risk flying a drone in heavy winds you can afford to buy this drone!
02. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
This drone embodies all of DJI’s advanced technology, and has redefined what is possible in the world of aerial photography!
Camera: With a collaboration with Hasselblad, the Mavic 2 Pro takes a stunning 4K video with 4K 10-bit HDR support. The Hasselblad cameras are renowned for their iconic ergonomic design, image quality, and Swedish craftsmanship. The brand new 1-inch CMOS sensor has an active sensing area four times more effective than the original Mavic Pro!
Flying in the wind: This drone is capable of handling 15 mph winds and may be higher depending on the experience of the pilot. DJI claims that the Mavic 2 Pro has a maximum wind speed resistance of 24 miles per hour which is major considering the Inspire 1 has a resistance of 22 mph.
Price: With a price tag of $1,599, The Mavic 2 Pro, in a way, earns that price tag with its amazing video and photography capabilities as well as its flight time and range that blows other drones out the water!
03. 3DR Solo
The 3DR Solo is a unique drone as it allows for an advanced set of open-source programming services (SDKs and APIs) that allow hobbyist operators to tweak the platform, this is not a common thing in the droning community.
The software-upgrade potential of the Solo platform means you won’t have to swap out your hardware every year as the next model comes out like you would have to do with other drone manufacturers.
Camera: The drone is designed to be used with a GoPro mounted on its 3-axis Solo Gimbal which is sold separately for $399. You are able to control the camera settings from the 3DR app as well as choosing all the Smart Shot options.
Flying in the wind: The 3DR has a flight simulator that will allow you to practice your flight and see how the drone will handle the conditions as well as test your abilities as a pilot.This is great for beginner pilots, so they are able to see firsthand the dangers of flying in strong winds through the app!
Price: This drone costs $625 which might not seem like much on this list. But, with the addition of the GoPro as well as the gimbal attachment, the final figure is a few hundred dollars more than this.
Final Thoughts
Flying your drone might be fun, but flying in heavy winds can be dangerous for the drone and for the people in the area you are flying in.
I think it is fine to fly a drone if it is a little windy because after all, you can never get rid of the wind! But at a certain point, the wind speeds are too high and that’s when flying becomes dangerous. So, I suggest that before you take flight you first check your weather apps and check wind speeds to make sure it is safe to fly your drone.