15 Beginner Drone Maneuvers (Sharpen Your Skills)

If you're new to flying drones or are looking to get better, these 15 basic drone maneuvers are perfect to hone your skills and will show you how to fly your drone.
Join Greg in this video for an introduction to practice maneuvers for your GPS-enabled drone such as DJI, Autel, Skydio or Parrot. We’ll cover basic movements, climbing and descending, and work our way up to basic tracking and orbits. We’ll also discuss some basic cinematic drone shots along with your basic maneuvers.
These basic drone maneuvers are perfect for beginners and will make you a much better pilot.
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Straight Flight
02:47 Vertical Box
04:15 Climb & Travel
05:52 Reverse Sensing
08:59 S-Turn
10:43 Rectangular Pattern
13:07 Rounded Corner Rectangular Pattern
16:27 Vertical Triangle
18:15 Follow with Yaw
21:19 Orbit
24:11 Forward Reveal
26:19 Corkscrew
28:22 Zoom Reveal
29:34 Yaw & Reveal
30:29 Tracking
For more maneuvers, consider these two courses:
- Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. bit.ly/3hkWkG3
- NIST Made Easy: pilotinstitute.com/course/nis...
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[@afanofdieselengines675]

I'm sure you are tired of hearing this but...... this is the best video I have found for a newbie. I flew R/C planes and especially glider for years. 40 years ago! These things are different because they fly sideways. These exercises will give me a good handle on this skill. Thank you for your excellent video!

[@PilotInstitute]

We never get tired of hearing how good our videos are :) glad we can help you get better at flying!

[@boatdetective]

Greg is so unbelievably patient. I imagine that he is a master at dealing with five year olds!

[@carolinesmith1]

Wow, I was looking for an instructional video of different things to practice and this is absolutely incredible, you guys nailed it! Thank you so much for everything you do

[@francogallo6573]

Love haw you show this maneuvers not too easy, no to hard but very nice to practice with your drone . Very more technical

[@Loverboy_Bernice1977]

With this detailed training i can secure a drone certificate with an ace! Thank you Sir. God bless you.

[@kaweeka]

This is just amazingly well produced and presented. Thank you for this introduction.

[@donniemeyers3215]

This is the best learning video that I have ever watched. Thank You!!!

[@PH-md8xp]

Excellent video. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@dennisbrooks240]

Internal and external cameras really help with perspective and what drone is doing!

[@DesertAdventuresinArizona]

Very well done video Greg - I’ve had my Mini I for almost a year now and after taking your Part 107 Course passed the FAA Test early this year. I’m gaining experience flying and starting to use 2 stick maneuvers - It really makes better video! Thanks so much. Steve

[@cvx2dog549]

Perfect, perfect! Just what we needed to get out there practicing.

[@DestinationsNextwithNandagopal]

Very well explained all the moves.. Thanks.

[@dronevids1611]

Highly recommended channel for Drone enthusiasts!

[@oleson82]

I’m new at flying Drones I found pilot Institute by a search of learning to fly drones. I’m blessed to have found pilot Institute, which I took the test from pilot Institute. Great learning video Steve. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and teaching how to fly UAS safely

[@universalutopia175]

Thank you, Greg, just what I needed. As always (for me), the learning curve is a long slow struggle. From setup to first flight, disappearing connections, mishaps, etc, I'm surprised that I am not bald! Poor Rubi Redd, my DJI Spark, OMG, I think she hates me! I managed to nick her front blades even with the propeller guards fitted during first test flight...indoors. Oops! Gave her a break as I refreshed my memory over a few days and then took her outdoors for another attempt. Success! But, I am taking baby steps while working inside the 'box'. Motor memory takes time but I did manage to capture a few stills and a couple of three minute video clips which I process and infused with music. Thanks, again Greg, for this most helpful class. You rock!

[@benjimw]

Thanks a lot for the great demonstration! I'd like to add two suggestions. To make the s-turns more challenging, try performing them over a fence line or something similar, making sure to cross it perfectly perpendicular. Second, for the orbit, you might need to adjust your control inputs based on the wind's direction and speed because the wind adjusts how fast the drone is moving over the ground. Here in southwest Texas and in other flat, somewhat treeless states, winds of up to 20 mph with gusts up to 25-30 mph are common, making such adjustments even more important, especially on the lighter drones like DJI's Mini series. Every time I practice orbits, I remember how my flight instructor for manned aircraft always emphasized these two aspects in our lessons as I was preparing for my private pilot license.

[@davemccorquodale5148]

Amazing Tutorials...so informative!! Thank you!

[@garritj]

30 minutes of good stuff. These are good reminders of what the drone can do. I learned these maneuvers before the quick shots. Great information here!

[@benjimw]

Good for you for learning the manual way first. Although the quick shots are definitely convenient, being very comfortable with the manual method makes a pilot much better than relying solely on automation.

[@thecuriocat]

I picked up some great info - very helpful as I learn! Excited to try them out on my next film project this week - especially the corkscrew and forward reveal! Thanks for sharing this!

[@lynsmith1096]

Great tutorial this is the best I have found on U-Tube. As a new Drone flyer I will use this as a refferance to help me learn to be a better pilot. Thank you.

[@MrBigMalT]

Thankyou for this tutorial ❤ I’m new to drones and it’s so helpful having the view of what stick movements you are doing superimposed over the drone’s view.

[@RackBaLLZ]

Just bought a Mavic 3 with the fly more package and the DJI RC for my 1st drone ever. A bit nervous about flying it 🤣. It should be here this week, so I've been watching every video I can find. I believe this is one I'll be watching over and over

[@titaskareiva2362]

How its going?

[@frankc.9853]

I was really hoping to see basic turning, but I did enjoy an try some of these maneuvers asap. I gave me a better understanding of the joystick effects!

[@danielmulcahy9005]

Great learning tutorial on maneuvers with a drone. Practice makes perfect. Awesome in person guide on how to perform these tasks. 😃🚁

[@bozidarluzar5857]

Perfect explanation, thank you!

[@pierresakr1811]

A Great Explanation , Thank You .

[@nwright2851]

Thanks for the tip!! 😎🇺🇸

[@tarenga1957]

Excellent explanation and very nice cinematic maneuvers. I'm going to practice them the next time my mini 2 flies. Thank you very much. Subscribed.

[@billbishop8915]

Great video for beginners!

[@Charlie-wq1gi]

The reverse portion just reminded me of trying to teach people how to back a trailer up. Weather it was a boat or container. Gave me a smile.

[@vonheise]

What many don't realize is that the longer the trailer, the easier the backing control... I was a commander's driver many years ago and drove a military jeep, pulling a 6' trailer. It would jackknife on a dime.

[@fredcarter7003]

Great video

[@trains4one]

I've had my drone since Christmas. Learned the flying in reverse mode the hard way, ended up hanging the drone in a tree about 40 feet up? 🥴 Got it down safely with do damage. I have a big flying field available, so I will be going there to practice what you have shown. Thank you so much for your time and professional video.👏👏👏

[@garymosley8494]

Just finished my Part 107 exam and ready to fly, really enjoyed this basic beginner information..👍

[@LiveAlohaOhana]

This is so great stuff ! Im really hard of hearing when people talk to fast but i was able to keep up with you and understood all you said! Thanks for my first lessons 😃

[@RODPIKERDRONESUK]

Thanks so much for sharing cheers

[@dronebuzz]

Thank you Greg! :-)

[@williamstucker2348]

great video keep em coming

[@TimothyWhite1955]

Absotively posilutely fantastic.

[@millerhamilton2592]

Great tips. I think checking the wind and weather forecast on apps like UAV forecast or Tomorrow Weather (used to be Climacell) before flying can help in getting the best shots.

[@explorethewonder]

So nice .. Thank you for sharing this very informative video!

[@timelapsebylkunl72]

Great tutorial! Thank you

[@neklamp2431]

Thank you!!!

[@wtb927]

Very nicely done!

[@raykeogh1972]

Great video to let beginner watch before you take them out to do the real thing, Thanks for sharing, Ray K. UK. YNWA.

[@robthewaywardwoodworker9956]

What a great and detailed tutorial. It was like sitting in a class. Thank you so much. New subscriber for sure!

[@LaurenRoerick]

I’ll have to bring my drone when I visit and we can try it!

[@alaasemaka]

Great video, I took my drone out on my first fly not knowing what to do but after watching this video AND practice, I’m much better pilot now…one thing I was doing wrong, I was controlling the joysticks with my thumbs only, like a video game controller, and it didn’t work well, now that I’m controlling them using two fingers I can get much better control on my drone.

[@jaxbrie]

Thank you. This is very helpful for newbies such as I. 💫

[@lambilamulikita3734]

Many thanks..Great video

[@FR-PL-UA-WARSZAWA]

Very clear for non-perfectly English speaking people. I even learned a new word: To yaw. Only one negative feature: You don't use the metric system.

[@lesscan]

Thank you for making this video. You are a great instructor and make things easy to understand. Do you have a video on how to maneuver out of the toilet bowl effect?

[@solarstrategy9967]

Most excellent mate.

[@drone-ph]

Clear and precise tutorial 🎉🎉🙌🙌

[@vonheise]

Great stuff! Thank you, some good reminders. This works fine for a younger person, but I am 75, and it just doesn't work for me long term as I lose the muscle and brain memory if I don't do it every week which I rarely do. One day I did some of these, and concentrated on doing figure 8s in my backyard, and got really good at it. The next time we had some warm weather a month later, it was gone... I suspect that if I would make myself do it a few times a week for a while, I would be able to retain it. It is just like when I played basketball and tennis many years ago, it takes more than one practice ! (I have to do some post-work to make my videos appear smooth as I even tilt the gimbal the wrong way at times.)

[@albertkadyakale9164]

BEAUTIFUL STUFF

[@mekhushal523]

This is the video I need😍

[@yoelroque3950]

Great video 👍👍

[@robbiejohnson5989]

thank you I really needed this instruction awesome

[@terencewillimott1810]

Fantastic video mate so much information for beginners like me keep up the great work you do regards Terry in Australia 🇦🇺 👍

[@AHMEDHAMINE]

Great man

[@DownslideWI]

I was at that park when I was out there last year! :)

[@JHJohnson]

Thank you i just got my drone and these are so helpful

[@alononthedrone1463]

Nice 👌

[@ironhorsegladiator5034]

Speaking of small movements, one of my nerve wrecking takeoff trainings in a Cessna 150 was turning the steering to the left to compensate for the engine’s rotation on takeoff in a not so smooth movement, never liked it while learning, so I went solo Skydiving instead as my trainings were getting too expensive. I think such drones or RC planes are easier control for pilots and those who understand aerodynamics. I give you credit for having various FAA licenses at your age. I studied Aeronautical Engineering and these things are great toys but with strict FAA rules and regulations.

[@jejoko]

I would say they are great tools.

[@myintthein2801]

Thanks

[@cvftv1123]

good information

[@donaldheon]

But can you do a juicy flick LOL. Great video Greg. Perfect set of moves to practice for smooth cinematic shots.

[@PilotInstitute]

We're keeping the juicy flick tricks for Octozilla!

[@mikebelanger4165]

My friends and I fly out at Watson Lake Park a lot, but we're usually on the opposite side of the grass area, next to the parking area. I fly a DJI Phantom 3 Standard (nicknamed "Big Un") and a Hubsan Zino 1 (Standard) I nicknamed "Nemesis" (yes, from the Star Trek movie), one of my friends has a Mavic Pro and the other friend has an Air 2S, and a new one (don't know the make/model) he calls "Kermit" because of its green color. He also has a Yuneec Q500 Typhoon, he calls "Kilrill". We all still fly 44809 right now, but eventually plan to get our 107's. I've been trying those maneuvers with Big Un even before watching this video; haven't mastered the more complex ones yet, but I will. Come out & fly with us sometime, Greg!

[@mikebelanger4165]

And I'm curious - how many (drone) batteries, total did you need to use to make the video?

[@PilotInstitute]

We try to fly there every Friday morning, hopefully we can you one of those days.!

[@PilotInstitute]

This only took 2 or 3 batteries to film.

[@thehillbillyhermit7681]

Excellent video ! Are the joystick controls the same across all the different makes and models of drones?

[@kr4awkr4aw5]

That was cool !! My drone has an automatic orbit but I can't ever get it to orbit exactly around the object I am filming. Doing it as you showed manually will work best for me thank you.

[@justplanefred]

This was a bit more basic than I expected. Maybe it’s because I have 30+ years of multiple different types of model aviation. The cinematic stuff is somewhat new to me. With helicopters I flew H patterns in multiple orientations. That was interesting

[@francisrevil854]

I just flew about +30 flights and trying to consolidate everything (controls) in my head.. i can imagine but i am not really sure.. this vid confirms my own understanding and the truth in what i think is true, or not.. thank you man...!

[@DonBrowne]

As a manned aircraft pilot and 107 drone pilot, it may be pointed out to use a "light" touch on those controls in learning the maneuvers.

[@keenanfernandez]

Nicely done Greg. I just bought my first drone. Tried taking it out for a test flight. Silly question. My controller doesn't seem connected to my phone as none of the controls are responsive. Is there an easy way of syncing the remote controller to my phone? I can only do the start, take off and landing through my phone

[@argentosebastian]

Great video, thanks. There's any good FREE video editor for windows?

[@m.pietro9087]

Thank you for the video. Can it be flow in a straight line and yawning to one side or another without loosing the straight forward moving?

[@PilotInstitute]

Yes absolutely. Yaw sideways first using the left side sideways, then use the right stick sideways to move sideways.

[@m.pietro9087]

@@PilotInstitute thank you so much.

[@galimirnund6543]

I start my dji like that. I'm very new to the drone.

[@revjohnhusband8644]

These maneuvers are good for developing good eye hand coordination which is vital for drone operations.

[@dronevids1611]

True. buddy.

[@IndyAerialDronePhotographyLLC]

Good buy followers! Good videos.

[@bunnylove273]

Hey bud thank you for this vid it helps noobs like me

[@Arcticwolfbc]

Greg what type of display unit are attaching to your remote controller?

[@PilotInstitute]

Here we used an Atomos Shogun, which is what is recording the footage from the smart controller. We also have an Atomos Ninja for that (smaller unit).

[@iamsetset]

I believe he left out the right stick left and right (roll) moves when he introduced the controller stick controls at the beginning of the video

[@user-uc9kt5zv6p]

Thats what I wanna know. The Maneuver to left and right. I'm just a Novice in Drone, and I'm Confused on that.. THANK you

[@k4x4map46]

Great stuff Greg! What monitor are you using (flashing red light in the back)? Thanks in advance!

[@PilotInstitute]

That's the Atomos Shogun that we are using in the background as an external recorder for the smart controller.

[@k4x4map46]

@@PilotInstitute Copy that! Thank you!

[@k4x4map46]

@@PilotInstitute Thank you!

[@Owner7979]

Do it with Skydio 2+ please, I know the joy sticks, I just am nervous to do the first flight 😄🤔✌️

[@photographybyliamanderson1659]

reallly detailed, slow, thorough explaination none of which ive heard even though ive used my drone for the last year.

[@robertbenedetti6099]

Greg: What top-mounted camera are you using on the drone? Thanks, Rob in Phoenix

[@PilotInstitute]

The Go2 from Insta360.

[@mikebelanger4165]

One more thing, possibly for the more 'advanced' pilots: what about maneuvers using what a lot of drones have: "headless" mode? I think that causes the drone to move whichever way you move the rudder and elevator/aileron sticks, regardless of which way the drone is facing; e.g., it's nose is facing (your) left and you give it what would normally be a forward (right) stick; the drone then moves to its right - consequently, moving the aileron (right) stick to (your) left moves it in a forward direction, etc. I could be wrong (and I probably am) about this mode, though.

[@PilotInstitute]

I've never seen a drone using this, i think it would actually be pretty confusing.

[@mikebelanger4165]

@@PilotInstitute My friend, Bret has one that seems to be flying in this mode, his Yunec Q500; last time I flew it, I noticed that, no matter which way the drone was facing, moving the right stick forward would bring it away from you, etc.

[@normanacree1635]

I think a lot of experienced pilots encourage you to stay away from headless mode for one reason or another. For one thing, if you fly over your head and past you, the drone would..... I'm not sure but I don't think the result would be favorable.

[@azdigbee]

Do you offer a part 107 training course ?

[@PilotInstitute]

We do: www.pilotinstitute.com/course/part-107-remote-pilot/

[@chy0658]

This was like out of the box never flown a drone basic lol

[@shawnbittner893]

Can you tell me what your set up is? Looking at getting into the drone world and have no idea where to start.

[@PilotInstitute]

What do you mean by "setup"?

[@normanacree1635]

At the start, you didn't finish the right stick. Excellent video, though. Major problem for me. If the drone is more than 30 feet away, I can't judge how many degrees it has turned when I want to go another direction. I have to make it go forward before I can tell it I turned it as much as I wanted to. Any exercises for that?

[@PilotInstitute]

I recommend looking at the video feed as well for additional information about the drone's direction.

[@gadget_Bob]

I'd like to know where you found that much green grass in Prescott!

[@PilotInstitute]

Watson Lake Park :) And we had a wet summer so things are pretty green right now.

[@bugmanmd1576]

hmmm.... not sure if you were using the DJI go fly app? If so, how do I get a reticle in the center of my screen?

[@PilotInstitute]

It’s in the option menu (3 dot on the top right) under camera.

[@bugmanmd1576]

@@PilotInstitute Thanks!

[@BBWinner48]

good vodeo, sort of, in the beginning you "show" left, right , up and down for drone , but I see nowhere where to move the camera , @ 25 minutes when you do the reveal I dont see " fingers on controls to move camera gimbal"??..

[@raysdronevideos8151]

How do you make it so the reverse sensing is basically turned off? My phantom 4 could do this....

[@PilotInstitute]

You can’t do that on drones. That’s just the way they are flown.

[@raysdronevideos8151]

@@PilotInstitute My old Phantom 4 had that option. Was hoping the Mavic 3 Classic did as well. It was a cool feature.

[@sudburydrone466]

👍👍✌️

[@gkess7106]

How about the come-back-here maneuver to keep the thing from disappearing over the houses and trees as you regret you ever bought the thing. I would’ve liked to have known that maneuver yesterday.

[@normanacree1635]

All that info was in the booklet that came with the drone. Always a good idea to read all the directions before doing anything new. Incidentally, I learned this the hard way with other items that were new to me.

[@terencewillimott1810]

Hi Greg can we do your course here in Australia regards Terry willimott

[@PilotInstitute]

Which course? Part 107? or the maneuvers course?

[@terencewillimott1810]

The manoeuvre course regards Terry willimott

[@PilotInstitute]

@@terencewillimott1810 Yes absolutely, it is applicable to any countries in the world!

[@terencewillimott1810]

@@PilotInstitute thanks mate will sort it out when back home in 4 weeks regards Terry willimott

[@guillermocarrasco5059]

What is the difference between maneuver 9 and 15? They look the same.

[@jforger]

Greg - How different are these maneuvers than the maneuvers you cover in your paid course? I was ready to pull the trigger on your course and then saw this video come up in my feed so decided to investigate.

[@PilotInstitute]

Most of them are different than the ones in the course.