High-end aerial and ground capturing solution pairs perfectly with the all-new CGO4 professional gimbal camera

LAS VEGAS (September 10, 2015) – Yuneec International, the world leader in electric aviation, today announced the launch of the Tornado H920 hexacopter and the CGO4 professional gimbal camera. The Tornado H920, the first release from the highly-anticipated Tornado series, is an aerial photography and videography platform designed with the professional user in mind.

The Tornado H920 aircraft features an ultra-lightweight carbon fiber frame, retractable landing gear, folding arms & 5-Motor failsafe mode, making it the solution of choice for professional users. The built-in capability to hold three rechargeable batteries provides consumers with a flight time of up to 42 minutes depending on payload.

Additionally, the Tornado H920 has several smart features that ensure safety and ease of use, which consumers have come to expect from Yuneec International products. Features such as Return-to-Home, auto landing and five-rotor flight safety are built into the Tornado system.

“The Tornado H920 has been specially designed for the high level photographer and is the perfect aerial photography solution for use in multiple verticals,” said Tian Yu, CEO of Yuneec USA. “Professional photographers will get a valuable tool that will help them with work opportunities such as inspections and project surveying and hobbyists alike will enjoy a remote hexacopter that can film everything from weddings to birthday parties to sporting events.”

The ST24 personal ground station, a 24-channel all-in-one transmitter, is powered by an Android operating system and features a 7-inch touchscreen that displays telemetry data and a built-in flight simulator. Consumers will also benefit from the GPS receiver that is the top of the line in its class.

The Tornado H920 is compatible with a variety of independent high-end professional aerial and ground capturing cameras including the all-new CGO4 gimbal camera. Specifically developed for the Tornado H920 copter, the CGO4 incorporates a true Panasonic GH4 micro four thirds camera sensor with a 3x optical zoom lens, an integrated 5.8 GHz video link module designed to capture the highest quality aerial photographic and video imagery, conveniently housed within a precise and ultra-stable 3-axis gimbal system.

Additionally, the Tornado H920 also pairs with Yuneec’s V18 professional gimbal stabilized camera with 18X optical zoom and for further convenience, the Tornado H920 is also compatible with the Panasonic GH4 and Sony A7Rii using the 360-degree panorama capable GB603 gimbal.

The ready-to-fly (RTF) Tornado H920 package includes a travel case, the ST24 personal ground station, Proaction grip for stable ground footage, two batteries and a premium two-port charger for the suggested retail price of $4999.99USD. Camera accessories are sold separately for additional costs. For more information visit www.yuneec.com.

About Yuneec International
Founded in 1999, Yuneec is the world leader in electric aviation. With hundreds of patents held, Yuneec’s core technologies power manned aircraft, Typhoon and Tornado drones and its market-leading line of radio controlled aircraft for the hobby market. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, Yuneec manufactures over one million units a year that are sold under OEM/ODM brands as well as the Typhoon brand of multicopters. The company’s achievements include the introduction of the industry’s first “Ready to Fly” radio controlled electric powered airplane, and the design and manufacture of market-leading radio controlled helicopters and microcopters.

Hats off to California Governor Jerry Brown for vetoing a bill that was not necessary. The act of bing a peeping Tom is illegal already. There’s no need to include drones in the conversation, unless you add cameras, telescopes, remote control cars, smart phones.  Using a drone for such an activity is just plain dumb.

This is yet another situation where people’s paranoia and lack of education on an emerging technology makes much more of an issue than it really is. If someone wanted to spy or be a peeping Tom, a flying noisy weed-whacker with flashing lights and a GoPro which produces super-wide landscape images would not be the optimal choice for the job.  This article describes many far better ways one can spy without using a drone.

The problem is the public thinks drones are “all seeing.” If a drone is flying above 350 feet above someone’s roof they think the thing somehow has the technology to see through walls to the inside of their bedroom. If that technology existed wouldn’t peeping Toms already be using it on some other device?

There’s a naked lady in her bedroom in this photo below.  Can you see her?

This has been eating at me for two years now, so it is time for me to issue an official public apology for using one of my drones to invade someone’s privacy.  A couple years back I was in Las Vegas and excited to test out my new “quadcopter” drone, which was equipped with a GoPro camera on it.  I was at a golf course and launched my drone from the parking lot.  I flew up to about 100 feet and captured this picture below.  I had no idea what was in the picture when it was shot.  The GoPro was shooting photos automatically, every 10 seconds.  In the picture you can see the red arrow which points to a golfer in the fairway on one of the holes.

Invasion of Privacy via Drone

The media is full of invasion of privacy articles involving drones lately. People are shooting at drones with shotguns.  They’re calling police.  There are altercations.  It’s crazy.  There’s quite a stir going on. All of this attention has been really getting to me and I’ve been losing sleep knowing this this poor golfer in the photo had no idea I shot his (or her) picture. I can’t tell if the golfer is male or female since it’s just basically a tiny distorted dot in the photo.  Actually, I’m not 100% sure that is a golfer, but I think it is.  It might be a 150 yard marker.

To the golfer in the photo above (if you’re really a golfer and not a 150 marker), I sincerely apologize for taking your photo without your permission.  I deeply hope this photo has not caused you any emotional damage, and that it has not had any adverse effect on you or your family.   I understand if you feel legal action is necessary, but I hope that you consider this apology before doing so.  I have not sold or licensed this photo and have not made any financial gain from it.

Once again, you have my sincere apology.

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