UK drone guides
Learn to fly drones, safely and legally.
Plain-English guides to the UK rules, your first flights, FPV, batteries and filming. With drone videos from the JD Quad channel.
Get legal
Flyer ID, Operator ID and what they cost.
Pick a drone
What actually matters in your first drone.
Learn to fly
A ten-flight plan from hover to figure eights.
Find a spot
Airspace, parks, beaches and landowners.
Latest guides
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The Eachine E520S app overview: getting started (video)
How the Eachine GPS app looks, how to find the options, and how to get around it if it’s your first time.
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3 folding quadcopter drones: which is better? (video)
The three best folding quadcopters I’d flown, and what makes them so different.
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My top 5 DJI Spark features and functions (video)
Palm launch, gesture control, palm landing, helix and ActiveTrack: my favourite DJI Spark features.
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My top 5 RC simulators for iOS and Android (video)
Five RC simulator apps for your phone, covering drones, planes, cars and helicopters.
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Hubsan H502E GPS calibration (video)
A short video on GPS calibration on the Hubsan H502E, a technique that works on many other drones too.
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Drone smartphone apps vs transmitters: three apps in detail
Flying with your phone instead of a bulky transmitter. A closer look at three quadcopter apps.
From the JD Quad channel
Rules and law
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Where can you fly a drone in the UK?
Airports, parks, beaches, National Trust land and military sites. How to work out whether you can fly somewhere, and how to check…
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How to get your Flyer ID and Operator ID
A step-by-step guide to the free Flyer ID test and the yearly Operator ID, and how to label your drone properly.
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UK drone rules in 2026: a plain-English guide
The UK drone rules changed on 1 January 2026. Here is what applies to you, in plain English, whatever you fly.
Batteries and maintenance
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Drone batteries: charging, storage and safety
How to charge, store and travel with drone batteries safely, and how to make them last longer.