Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes

by: Patrick Sherman
ASA-MODEL-AIR
Write a review
Learn to buy and register your drone or model airplane, become certified as a drone pilot, use a two-stick controller, and follow the rules to fly safely in any environment.
Look inside
$29.95
Please choose a format.

Written for a beginning remote pilot, Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes will help you understand how these marvelous machines work and how to fly them safely. Explaining complex subjects in simple language with pictures and diagrams that make them easy to understand, the author will guide you through buying a drone or model airplane, registering your aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration, completing the testing and certification process, and learning how to safely operate your aircraft in and around the busiest and most complex airspace in the world. You will learn:

  • The rules that apply if you are flying for fun or flying to make money.
  • Fundamental principles of aerodynamics.
  • How to maneuver a drone or model airplane using a two-stick controller.
  • How to identify the different parts inside a drone or model airplane.
  • The importance of flying safely.
  • Simple techniques for evaluating a new flying site and taking great aerial photographs.

Whether you are learning how to fly remote aircraft, taking the first step on the road toward commercial drone operations, or getting your feet wet with aviation-related subjects, this book will get you headed in the right direction.

  • 5
    An excellent resource for anyone interested in aviation.

    Posted by Chad Budreau, Executive Director Academy of Model Aeronautics on Jun 18th 2024

    "Patrick is an industry leader and excellent communicator – he is informative, easy to understand, and fun. We at the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) frequently rely on Patrick as an author and subject matter expert. Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes is a wonderful example of his work and an excellent resource for anyone interested in aviation."

  • 5
    Valuable lessons on every page.

    Posted by Dr. Kenneth Witcher, Dean College of Aviation, Worldwide Campus Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Jun 18th 2024

    "In Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes, Patrick Sherman has stripped away everything that is unnecessary for the beginning pilot, leaving only those key concepts that are essential for a safe and fulfilling first taste of flight. With his engaging and direct style, the beginner will learn valuable lessons on every page."

  • 5
    Everything you need to know to get off the ground as a first-time pilot

    Posted by Debra Cleghorn, Executive Editor Model Airplane News on Jun 18th 2024

    "If you've ever wanted to fly drones or model airplanes, this is your chance to learn from the best: Patrick Sherman, the drone guru. His new book, ‘Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes’ includes everything you need to know to get off the ground as a first-time pilot. Best of all, his passion for drones and model airplanes is sure to inspire you to begin your adventure the right way. Happy flying!"

  • 5
    Put me down for a hundred copies!

    Posted by Dr. Will Austin, President Warren Community College Chief Pilot, WarrenUAS on Jun 18th 2024

    "It has been my privilege to work with Patrick Sherman throughout the development of this book – and now that the manuscript is complete, I cannot wait for it to be published. As the president of Warren Community College and the developer of our small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) curriculum, I have struggled with how to introduce new students to the fundamental concepts upon which a meaningful understanding of aeronautics is based. That struggle ends the day that this book is published. In these pages, Patrick has accomplished a task that I might overwise have said was impossible: describing these foundational ideas and concepts such that any person – even a complete novice to aviation – can readily grasp them. The availability of this book will meaningfully improve the effectiveness of our courses. Put me down for a hundred copies the first day it becomes available!"

  • 5
    Should be required reading

    Posted by Dr. David Thirtyacre, Chair Department of Flight, Worldwide Campus Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univers on Jun 18th 2024

    "To say that Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes should be required reading for every new remote pilot is an easy call, given Patrick Sherman’s approachable style and clear explanations throughout. However, even if you ultimately intend to fly crewed aircraft – the kind where the pilot sits on the inside – you could do much worse for an initial introduction to the science of aeronautics. Every key facet of aviation is covered, from the importance of safety to rules and regulations, from the different types of aircraft to the fundamentals of aerodynamics and so much more."

  • 5
    This book is the go-to for anyone who wants to enter the industry

    Posted by Miriam McNabb, Editor DRONELIFE.com on Jun 18th 2024

    "Patrick's depth of knowledge and endless curiosity about new technology has made him an icon in the drone and model aircraft industry. Patrick is a valued expert for so many of us: I'm thrilled that he's now sharing that expertise with a new audience. Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes will help future pilots get started the right way, and enjoy doing it. This book is the go-to for anyone who wants to enter the industry, as a hobby or a future profession."

  • 5
    Patrick Sherman continues a tradition

    Posted by Dr. John Watret, Chancellor Worldwide Campus, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Jun 18th 2024

    "By authoring Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes, Professor Patrick Sherman continues a tradition inaugurated nearly a century ago by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: teaching people how to fly safely and with confidence. As when Embry-Riddle first got its start, there is once again a pressing need for properly trained and qualified pilots to meet the future needs of our nation, whether they take the controls of a five-pound drone or a 500-ton jetliner. By his efforts, Professor Sherman has made a substantial contribution to that worthy cause."

  • 5
    Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes

    Posted by Rich Hanson, President Academy of Model Aeronautics on Jun 18th 2024

    "I’ve known Patrick Sherman for more than a decade and have worked with him directly in training new entrants into both the uncrewed and crewed aviation. He’s a true professional, an ardent educator and a consummate creator of innovative and effective educational materials. I think you’ll find this book to be a treasure trove of concepts and ideas aimed at assisting the novice in getting involved in remote piloting, aeromodeling and full-scale aviation."