Drone Videos
Devil’s Kettle Falls Drone Flyover
Quick drone flyover at Devil’s Kettle Falls on the Brule River in Judge C. R. Magney State Park on the North Shore of Lake Superior. This specific set of falls, about 20 minutes east of Grand Marais, draws visitors far and wide for it’s unique mystery: half the river disappears into a hole (kettle) and no one knows where all that water goes. (more…)
Five Mile Rock Drone Flyover
Five Mile Rock is located five miles north of Grand Marais (hence the name) and 3/4 miles off the shore of Lake Superior. Aerial video and photo shot with the PDD Drone on May 19 around 11:30 a.m. and operated by Liftoff Aerials, an FAA-registered drone operator approved for commercial use.
Oliver Bridge Flyover
Adam Jagunich took his Q500 out on a windy day to capture scenes around the Oliver Bridge on the St. Louis River.
Aerial Duluth
Jake Moore’s Twin Cities-based video production company RedbellCentral recently completed this Duluth video, with footage from last summer.
Goodbye Winter
Gooseberry Falls aerial video by Above U Productions.
Bentleyville 2015
Duluth’s mega Christmas-light spectacular closes for the season tonight. Video by Above U Productions.
Drone crashes behind skier. Safety first!
A multirotor drone crashed on live TV behind skier Marcel Hirscher in a slalom event on Tuesday. It shattered on the icy slope a few seconds after the Olympic silver medalist started his second run. (more…)
North Shore Fall Colors Fly Over
See the stunning autumn leaf colors on Partridge Ridge in this short aerial fly over. Location of aerial drone fly-over was here: https://goo.gl/maps/
Bird’s Eye View of Leif Erickson Park
Here’s the first installment in the North Shore Series by BlueSky Aerial. I flew around Leif Erickson Park in Duluth and got some really gorgeous video! If you like what you see and/or you want to learn more, don’t be afraid to like and subscribe on YouTube and keep checking in for more footage of the North Shore.
Sunflower Drone Flyover
Shot somewhere on a road less traveled in West Central Minnesota.
Poplar River Falls Aerial View – Lutsen Ski Area
Poplar River falls is just north of Lutsen Ski Area and the Superior Hiking trail crosses the river at the apex of the falls.
Baptism River “High Falls” Aerial View -Tettegouche State Park
Aerial drone video of “High Falls” on the Baptism River. The Baptism River “High Falls” in Minnesota’s Highest waterfall at 60 feet. During spring run-off it flows heavily and is a great time to visit and hear the thunderous roar of the falls. Mid-summer you can swim the pool at the base of these falls. Tettegouche State Park is one of the best campgrounds on the North Shore of Lake Superior. https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/tettegouche/
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon 2015 Video
The PDD drone, piloted by Cory Fechner (liftoffaerials.com) was at the start of the 2015 John Beargrease Sled Dog marathon yesterday to shoot aerial footage. There were other drones at the starting line so we ventured out into the woods to capture the mushers a quarter-mile into the race.
Music: “Guit. Ditty” by Hattie Peterson from Twenty3 Years Into 4teen Songs.
FAA could release commercial drone regulations by end of 2014
The expected release of new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) regulations later this month and the recent commercial drone incident with TGI Friday’s in New York (TGI Friday’s Dumb Mistletoe Drone Cut Somebody’s Face Open) have me thinking about the future of commercial drone use. Perfect Duluth Day has been somewhat on the forefront of the use of drones since I purchased a quadcopter capable of shooting photography and video back in 2013.
I utilize my 4 drones (DJI s800evo, Tarot FY680 Pro, DJI Phantom 2 Vision & Vision 2+) to shoot content for digital media, which has drawn attention beyond PDD via the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, MPR and also Duluth news outlets. I was contacted by the Federal Aviation Administration in early 2014 after shooting the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and told I was in violation of FAA regulations because my footage was considered commercial.
I won’t get into the specifics of what the current regulations entail, but needless to say they are bit vague and need clarification. The National Transportation Safety Board felt the same way, dismissing multiple instances in which the FAA fined UAV operators $10,000 for commercial operation. There has been kind of a wild west approach to commercial use of UAVs since then, with little risk of citations or fines until the new regulations are released. (more…)
Aerial Tour of Fall on the North Shore of Lake Superior
Aerial Footage by Liftoff Aerials. Music by Sarah Krueger.
Brule River by air and underwater
Go Pro video with P2 Drone by Sam Alvar of Seaquest Productions.
Aerial fly over of Thomson Dam near Jay Cooke State Park
Drone fly over of the Thomson Dam and Munger Trail foot bridge on the St. Louis River near the entrance of Jay Cooke State Park. This is also home to the UMD Outdoor Program Outpost on the St. Louis River/Thomson Reservoir.
Aerial Footage by www.liftoffaerials.com
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Glensheen Mansion Aerial Flyover 2014
This drone flyover of Glensheen Mansion was shot June 3. The footage is by Liftoff Aerials.
PDD Drone flight over the High Falls on the Pigeon River
Quick video at the High Falls on the Pigeon River last week. This waterfall is the highest in Minnesota at 120 feet. It was a very windy day but my new rotopixel two-axis gimbal performed well to keep the camera pretty steady. You can visit the falls at the Grand Portage State Park just a few blocks from the Canadian border on Highway 61. Aerial Footage by www.liftoffaerials.com
Music: “Especially Me” by Low
chairkickers.com
Gooseberry Falls State Park Drone Flyover
A little drone flyover at Gooseberry Falls State Park accompanied by Southwire music. Aerial Footage by www.liftoffaerials.com
Duluth Denfeld Sing-along Drone Video
Footage by Liftoff Aerials.
The Halls of Denfeld (alma mater)
Oh, we love the halls of Denfeld
That surround us here today.
And we will not forget,
Though we be near or far away. (more…)
Enger Tower inside and out
The PDD Drone takes an up-close and faraway look at a Duluth icon.
PDD Drone over the ice … and on the news
The PDD Drone’s latest mission took it to the skies of Grand Marais last week, hovering across the icy shore of Lake Superior. Before the trip, however, the drone and its “pilot,” Cory Fechner, spent some time with the Northland’s NewsCenter’s Kevin Jacobsen for the report below.
Apologies for the commercial before the clip, which we can’t control.
2014 John Beargrease Aerial Drone Video
The PDD Drone was back in the skies yesterday capturing the start of the 30th annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The weather was great and the winds held off just long enough to get in some air time above the race starting line at Duluth East High School.
Music courtesy of the4onthefloor (www.4otf.com)

