Fly, crash, fix, repeat - the name of the game

Not even the threat of a summer storm could detract from the excitement of drone-flying enthusiasts of the Palouse and beyond as Pullman's Aerial Adventure Day commenced Saturday morning at Kruegel Park.

Rockets, radio-controlled cars and drones of all sizes sat crowded on folding tables beneath a temporary shelter from the rain, along with the tools and technology required to bring them to life.

In some cases, the shower created a reprieve for pilots who made last minute adjustments to their machines.

Josh Barker and Boone Freeman traveled from Spokane and Rathdrum, respectively, to take part in the event.

Members of Spokane FPV, a drone racing club, they are among those who hope to turn their hobby into a career someday, but for now are happy with the thrill of the flight.

"It's the adrenaline rush," Barker said. "It's going 80 miles-per-hour through two-foot gaps. Once you're done, your hands are shaking."

The duo said they build their own drones from the ground up, so to speak, and even moist summer weather won't affect them much.

"Not as long as you waterproof," Freeman said, laughing at the rain.

Members of Washington State University's Aerospace Club shared drone-crash stories while waiting for a break in the weather.

"Fly, crash, fix, repeat: it's the name of the game," said club member Greg Kelly.

Kelly said sometimes cost can be an obstacle to starting out with the hobby.

"But you can get into it cheap for about $600," he said.

And once a hobbyist has all of the tools required, expanding to a second drone is not nearly so expensive.

Some members of the Pullman Police Department are already living Freeman and Barker's dream.

"It's kind of nice when your hobby and your job coincide," said officer and drone pilot Alex Gordon.

Gordon said the department has already identified several uses for its four new drones, including search and rescue, crime scene photography and keeping an eye on perilous situations without having to place officers in danger.

Police Chief Gary Jenkins said the event served two purposes for the department: introducing the public to its new craft and providing information about recreational drone flying.

"We get a lot of people who don't fly recreational, because they are afraid of getting in trouble," he said.

Recreational drone laws are fairly simple, however, and focus mostly on safety and privacy. Drones must weigh less than 55 pounds, must remain five miles away from airports and must give right-of-way to manned aircraft.

Drone pilots must also obtain permission before flying drones over private property.

The Federal Aviation Administration has created a helpful app called B4UFLY, according to the police department's flier on the rules, and can be found at numerous app stores online.

At least one portion of the crowd that gathered at the event had no interest in the rules surrounding them, but waited with anticipation for the first take off.

Six-year-old Jack Blasco count hardly contain his excitement as the police's black and white Inspire 1 took flight.

"Look, it's flying. It looks like a weird spaceship," he said excitedly. "Is there a little man in there?"

Blasco said he hopes to create his own drone with PVC pipe and other household items.

There was little time to discuss the flying machines, however, as children gathered to follow the craft as it whizzed above their heads.

Two year old Axl Burkett didn't quite have the leg power of the older children, but that didn't dampen his thrill of the machine his father, Matt, operated.

"Look, drone, fly," he called, pointing a pudgy finger to the sky. "Zoom."

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208)-301-2386 or by email to squinn@dnews.com