Anyone flown a Drone at High Elevation?

[White Wonder]

I'll be heading to about 9,000 feet high in future times, just wondering what drone would be best for it? If anyone had flown at that altitude (Above Sea Level).

 

[SleepyC]

There have ben MANY that have flown at high altitudes and you would be surprised at how much lift is lost.

I had heard that @kloner took a large "RED EPIC" lifting rig up into the mountains like 10K feet above sea level and after trying everything could only lift a GoPro with the massive rig.

Thin air = no lift.

 

[hjls3]

I live at 8000 - fly up to 10k all the time - very familiar with where Kloner was - he was closer to 13,500 or so. @SleepyC is absolutely correct - WAY DIFFERENT THEN SEA LEVEL - I guess no shock there - to give you an idea - my NEX flyer here is built for a RED.

 

[SleepyC]

THERE YA GO!

 

[White Wonder]

Is 9,000 feet ok though?

Got an 800 sized hexacopter and a 3D gimbal and camera (Ilook).

 

[SleepyC]

It's all "OK" it will just be weather or not your rig can get into the air!
Try it, if it takes 80% throttle to lift off, ya might want to change something around.

 

[Hedonist222]

Air is thinner
Less oxygen
More nitrogen

I imagine thrust will be weaker & you batteries will finish quicker because they're RPMing excessively to yield you the same power.

 

[White Wonder]

Well, I just had the White Baron flying at 3,500 feet no issues. Next flight, 10,000 feet!

 

[Mike Chevalier]

I live at 7000 and have flown quads at up to 10,000 ft. I've never flown them at lower elevations so I don't know what I'm missing. I notice a little less thrust at 10k.
I recently bought a 250 racer RTF and suspect it was setup at sea level. It came with 5030 x 3 props, I replaced them with 6045 x 2 and it flies much better and doesn't sound like it's working as hard. Flight time is also longer.