Zonk Drone at Chumash Park and Chumash Trail - Feburary 2026

Summary

I took my drone out for a test flight at Chumash Park. I’ve had it a couple of years but haven’t flown it in a year or more, so I’d forgotten how it works. The controls are smooth but sensitive, so the early footage is jerky, and it gets better as I get reacquainted. I also remember how to use the gimbal, so I can fly high and point the camera down.

The drone is an excuse for me to get outside and do something video related. From way up high, almost anything looks beautiful, even the suburbs. In this flight, I lost connection when I went out of range, and the built-in DJI safety feature kicked in. It marked the launch point, climbed to clear any trees and flew back on its own, landing within a foot of where it took off. The hills near the Chumash Trail were green from the recent rain, which is a nice change from the usual dry brush and fire concerns in Southern California. Flying it is peaceful and a little like meditating.

Key Points

• It had been a year or more since I’d flown my drone, so the first footage is rough while I relearn the controls.
• I started at Chumash Park and flew over the hills along the Chumash Trail, which are green after the rain.
• I flew out of range and the drone automatically returned to its launch point, landing within about a foot.
• From high up, even ordinary neighborhoods look beautiful.
• Flying the drone is therapeutic for me, almost like meditating.

This post was automatically generated from my YouTube video. Watch above or view directly on YouTube.