How Drones Took Over the Olympics (and Nobody’s Mad About It)

Once upon a time, Olympic coverage meant shaky helicopter shots, cable cams, and a whole lot of “we’ll fix it in post.” Then drones showed up and flipped the whole broadcast game on its head. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, drones weren’t a gimmick — they were essential. They flew choreographed paths through…

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Drone Maintenance Checklist (Nobody Does This…Until It’s Too Late)

Let’s be honest—most drone pilots are great at flying and terrible at maintenance. We charge the batteries, toss the drone in a case, and assume it’ll be fine next time. And usually it is… until it isn’t. Motors start screaming, props wobble, batteries puff up, and suddenly your “quick flight” turns into a crash report…

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Anatomy of a Drone: Meet the Tiny Flying Circus

A drone is basically a group project that actually works. Every part has a job, nobody can slack off, and if one piece quits, the whole thing comes crashing down. Literally. So let’s crack open the flying robot and meet the cast of characters that make drones buzz, hover, and occasionally scare birds. First up,…

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How the 5 P’s Turn Ideas Into Real-World Creations

Innovation doesn’t just happen — it’s built, step by step. At the Franklin Center for Innovation, we teach students and creators to turn ideas into impact through a hands-on framework we call the 5 P’s: Proposal, Pattern Making, Prototyping, Production, and Presentation. Each stage builds essential skills in communication, design, fabrication, and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re…

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Looking for Your Stories

Want to See Your Story on the Drone Flight School Blog? Have you ever done something cool with drones? Learned a lesson the hard way? Built something unexpected, or used a drone in a unique way to solve a problem? We want to hear from you — because the best content comes from real experience.…

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Recreational Drone Use in New Jersey

Drones can be used for photography, personal enjoyment, and even some competitive activities like racing.  In New Jersey, recreational drone use is governed by federal and state regulations. Key requirements include passing the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), registering drones weighing over 0.55 pounds, and adhering to FAA guidelines such as flying below 400 feet and…

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Careers – New Jersey – Scientific Research

New Jersey’s scientific research landscape has warmly embraced drones as high-tech multipurpose tools across environmental, oceanographic, and engineering disciplines. At Rutgers, entomologists deploy hexacopter “skeetercopters” with waterproof floats to locate mosquito breeding sites in marshes, collect larvae, apply larvicide, and monitor larval populations—achieving precise, efficient control in habitats too dense or dangerous for crews. Meanwhile, the…

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