Pricey Drone Woman Readers,
Thanks. Thanks for 10 years of The Drone Woman. Thanks on your help, your knowledge-sharing, your generosity, your continued readership.
Tonight I’m set to just accept a trophy inducting me into the inaugural class of the Ladies in Rising Aviation Applied sciences Corridor of Fame. This award means a lot to me, nevertheless it solely comes due to you.
This yr marks 10 years since I revealed my first weblog put up to The Drone Woman, which ran on June 27, 2013.
Most of you long-time readers know the story. In January 2013 — this actual week, 10 years in the past — I walked within the door of the primary school course I ever took on drones. It was provided by way of the journalism division on the College of Missouri, and we studied how drones could possibly be utilized in journalism, equivalent to documenting excessive climate occasions. College students flew homebuilt DJI drones, primarily the DJI Flame Wheel with a GoPro mounted to it. We coated information tales, like a native prairie fireplace. My job on the time was enhancing the footage.
Although, by way of what I can solely guess is unconscious bias from the professor, not one of the feminine college students had been provided the chance to fly drones, except for a pair observe flights. Positive, I might have requested to proceed observe, however I had a job to do — enhancing video footage. The male college students go to observe extra and fly the true flights.
When the category ended (and I graduated) in Might 2013, my curiosity for drones didn’t cease. I moved to Southern California to take a reporting job at The Orange County Register, and I used commencement reward cash to purchase my very own drone, the DJI Phantom. Lastly, I might discover ways to fly alone drone, and observe as a lot as I wished.
And with that, my weblog known as The Drone Woman was born. Initially, my weblog was simply to deal with my very own movies and doc my very own flights as a type of diary. The footage was by no means “good,” principally simply parks, sizzling air balloons, waterways and selfies.
Nevertheless it’s uncommon that anybody is ever nice at one thing originally — it takes work to enhance. And for me, the work confirmed within the type of persistence and consistency. Slowly, folks began discovering my weblog and asking questions — the place they might fly, what drones they need to purchase, what was authorized and wasn’t.
And with that, I noticed there was a necessity for dependable, reliable drone info. What was a private diary grew right into a community-driven information supply.
The entire group is what drives The Drone Woman daily, nevertheless it’s often the ladies who stand out. Each breakthrough I’ve ever had is due to one other girl going out of her manner to assist me.
Alex Paskulin, a then-technical author on the now-defunct 3D Robotics, is likely one of the smartest folks I do know and taught me the inside workings of drones. Natalie Cheng and Chloe Canta, then-public relations representatives for Autel and Yuneec, respectively, gave me sincere information and let me borrow drones for my preliminary evaluations. Siggi Hindrichs, then an investor at Samsung Subsequent, graciously sponsored 100% of my Drone Woman in-person meetups, equivalent to this superior occasion that includes the Intel Mild Present Workforce.
Jessika Farrar taught me about {hardware}. Zooey Stumbaugh inspired me to attempt FPV flying. Rhianna Lakin constructed a feminine drone group that launched me to numerous different consultants and mentors, together with Loretta Alkalay and Desi Ekstein. Dyan Gibbens taught me quite a lot of issues, however principally the significance of TSA PreCheck.
Dr. Catherine Ball opened up a talking alternative for me in Australia, Janine Diana modified my life with an invite to EAA AirVenture, and Jenny Mirkovic offered an intro for me into FPV video. Kara Murphy and Miriam McNabb have solid an analogous path of writing concerning the business, and have served as inspiration. Helen Greiner modeled the right instance of working mother.
Vivien Nguyen constructed this sturdy web site, and Carli Krueger got here up with the darling logos. My sister, Holly French, edited many of those weblog posts and served as a job mannequin by way of her personal profession in software program engineering.
I might go on and on; whereas there are such a lot of ladies who’re extremely vital to me, however I’ve listed ones who I believe don’t get sufficient recognition and have gone out of their strategy to help me personally. However I’ll end with Sharon Rossmark. Her management by way of Ladies and Drones has exploded in highlighting and connecting ladies. She’s an envoy, a giver, a cheerleader.
And that leads me to tonight, the place I’ll stroll onto a stage and be named one among only a dozen ladies being named by the Ladies and Drones’ Ladies in Rising Aviation Applied sciences Awards and inducted into their inaugural Corridor of Fame class.
This award has my title on it, nevertheless it’s for you — that’s you, who’s studying it. It’s definitely for the ladies I discussed above, nevertheless it’s for all of you. I wouldn’t have practically the drive and dedication if I didn’t see your feedback again on my posts and tweets, or if I didn’t get your handshakes and hugs at real-life drone occasions.
This award wasn’t given to me as a result of I’m the very best at anyone factor. There are sensible pilots, engineers, researchers, educators, and so on. on the market. However one factor I’m is dedicated. I haven’t stopped this web site for 10 years, and I received’t cease, for so long as you’re nonetheless studying.
Thanks for 10 years. Thanks for the Corridor of Fame recognition. You could have modified my life. I hope that I’ve not less than carried out one thing to assist enhance yours.
Joyful flying and a lot gratitude,
Sally
