Reddit mentions: The best boat strobe & safety lights

Lume Cubes are delightful little flashlights, but they have a relatively few use cases on a drone. I say "relatively few" because the light source still has to be somewhat close to the subject to receive enough illumination. You can see some demonstrations in this video.

If you're looking to do photography from your drone at night, I don't think Lume Cubes will do much for you. The photos will probably look rather lame. However, if you're looking to do some photography using a handheld camera with your drone as a lighting device, you could get some use out of Lume Cubes.

I purchased a couple Lume Cubes to put on a mount with a GoPro Session camera. I then suspend this mount from a drone, fly it far out over the ocean at night, and drop it off so that it floats about 2 feet under the surface of the water until the lights run out of battery. I will then be able to reel the mount into shore using a fishing pole. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to use this setup yet, but the idea is that any neat nighttime ocean creatures hanging out in the water column will be attracted to the light and I could capture them on video. I suspect that I'd be able to see little squids.

If you're looking for an accessory for making night flights safer, I strongly recommend looking at this product over Lume Cubes. These little LED lights are insanely bright. If you turn them on while looking straight at them, you'll have rainbow blotches in your vision for a long while. They are definitely visible for at least 3 nautical miles. Despite their phenomenal brightness, the battery lasts for well over an hour and they weigh almost nothing. They are absolutely perfect for drones. I give the lights five stars.

If I was was going to carry a light source for emergency signaling, personally I my choice is a small but powerful PFD style marine emergency strobe light. These units are comparatively small (Designed to be worn on a life-vest), reliably waterproof, rugged, reliable, designed to emit a very bright and regular strobe of light for up to two days on a fresh set of batteries, visible for miles and universally recognized by rescue personnel as indicating that a person in need of immediate help.



http://www.amazon.com/ACR-Electronics-FIREFLY-PRO-SOLAS/dp/B00KC5PPMQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462159198&sr=8-1&keywords=ACR+FIREFLY®+PRO+SOLAS+STROBE+LIGHT


http://www.amazon.com/SEA-STROBE-Light-LIFE-PRESERVER/dp/B002MFOQTC/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1415121465&sr=1-7&keywords=acr+strobe



Due to their comparatively narrow beam angles, laser pointers are comparatively useless as a signaling devises unless you have a specific target to aim that beam towards. Additionally, pointing any type of laser in the direction of possible rescuers is potentially very dangerous for the vision of any individuals in the path of the beam.


I also carry several glow-sticks with me in my emergency pouch for just this purpose. The military utilizes a technique referred to as a "buzz saw" signal.


Chemical light /glow stick rescue signaling

I purchased this as my first fuel can and really like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Surecan-CRSUR5G1-Gasoline-CAN-Gallon/dp/B00DE2EDAY/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=gas+can&qid=1564078992&s=gateway&sr=8-6

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These firehouse strobes are popular (but I have not used them).

https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Technology-Approved-Flights-Quadcopter/dp/B073PMGLXR/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=firehouse+strobe&qid=1564079064&s=gateway&sr=8-1

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I picked up this mirror

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RZQI68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When paddling at night, you're supposed to have bow and stern lights. Here's a set that I got off of amazon. If you look in the reviews, you'll see pictures of people and how they have them attached to their yaks. Of course you can always visit the youtube, or even search this sub for light ideas and setups.

Edit: have a friend who uses this kind of light he likes it because he can just suction it on when he wants. He's tied a string/rope to it, and affixed it to the handle so if it loses suction he doesn't lose the light (despite it being able to float).

Carabiners & line, paddle leash, waterproof flashlight, running lights (I got these: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00ZCDD62O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01), a good waterproof sun hat with an underchin strap, and if he's got good glasses, he'll need the strap to keep them on

https://www.amazon.com/Mudder-Boat-Navigation-Light-Green/dp/B00ZCDD62O/ref=sr_1_3?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1474581932&sr=1-3&keywords=kayak+lights

Check to see what your state's regulations are before you buy something.

White light has to be 360 degree visible. i.e. no headlamps.

https://www.amazon.com/UST-Marine-Manual-See-Me-Light/dp/B00J8S6838/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466710331&sr=8-1&keywords=360+light

This is absolutely true. However. The modifications required are a stick on light that can be had on Amazon for under $50:

https://www.amazon.com/Firehouse-Technology-Approved-Flights-Quadcopter/dp/B073PMGLXR/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=uas+night+light&qid=1556464058&s=gateway&sr=8-6-spell

People get 107 night waivers using those, never mind recreational flights.

As for the footage itself, it looks compressed, IE shot with a telephoto rather than wide angle lens. (I was thinking inspire here until someone mentioned class B... That is unfortunate and an Ins. pilot kinda should know better so perhaps a Mavic 2 zoom? ) That compression means it's hard to have a good idea of exactly where he was or what he was flying over. (Kinda why you're not supposed to fly FPV without a VO, ya know?) I agree that the general area is bad if it is class B but I don't think there's sufficient evidence that he's flying over people, including that highway.

My point here is that there is a degree of ambiguity about whether or not this was legal. I see people frequently rush to judgement on these flights- and my suspicion is that the "crime" may sometimes be SLANDER. Yelling about how other people are commiting crimes has the potential to be a crime itself, and is regardless a somewhat unwelcoming thing to do to new members of the community.

PS regarding that Class B business: Recreational pilots are still allowed to follow community based guidelines like those published by the AMA. Here's the whole guidance:

www.modelaircraft.org/files/100.pdf

He doesn't need to be in class G, write a letter for a waiver, use LAANC or any other shenanigans. He needs to be 5 miles from an airport. Fin.