According to many estimates there will be TWO MILLION drones sold this holiday season. Personally I’m excited to drive around Christmas day and see all the crashed drones everywhere and pick up a few for spare parts.

Below are a few suggestions for those of you shopping for a drone. Prices range from under $15 to about $1200.00.   I’ve broken the suggestions down by prices, low to high. Click on the drone image and it will you straight to Amazon to buy it and be done with your holiday drone shopping!

$14.19 – Cheerson CX-10 Mini 29mm Diameter 4CH 2.4GHz 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter UFO RTF (Ready to Fly)

At $14.19 this is the cheapest drone I’ve ever seen.

Features

• Suitable for: Ages 14+
• Model on Hubsan H111
• 6-axis design makes the gyroscope adjustable, promoting flying stability
• 4-8 minutes flight time
• 3-level adjustable speed flip function

$26.99 – ARRIS V676 2.4G Super Mini UFO RC Quadcopter RTF (Ready to Fly)

Features

• Stable flight
• Adopts 2.4G anti-interference technology, allows multi aerocrafts to fly in the same area.
• LVC LEDs alarm (around 4mm of flight)

$79.99 – Husban X4 H107C

This is a quadcopter with built in camera.  Husban is a well known brand in the tiny drone market.
Features

• 2 MP HD Camera: Recording module
• Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity; Beginner and Expert flight modes
• 2.4 Ghz Transmitter with LCD screen, Lightweight airframe with nice durability
• Directional Control (Left, Right, Forward, Backward, Sideways Left, Sideways Right)
• Equipped with 4 LED Lights and Blade Protection Guard. Blade Protection Guard (Taped at the bottom of the white molded shell portion of the box)

$115.00 – JJRC H8D FPV Headless Mode 6-Axis 2.4Ghz Gyro RTF RC Quadcopter Helicopter Drone with 5.8G 2MP HD Camera Red EU Plug with US Adapter

• This product is equipped with a professional level of aerial 5.8GHz high-definition camera, maximum up to 2 million pixels, it can be realized in the air to take pictures, video and other aerial capabilities, and real-time transmission to the image on the LCD screen.
• Exclusive first dual control mode, with the player operation for novice entry-level model and the professional player’s technical level model. Truly a multi-purpose machine, indoor and outdoor operation of the model, suitable for a very wide range of players!
• Remote control can freely switch for about throttle control, more suitable for multi-regional multi-range of people to use. New CVT function, can achieve 10% -100% to seamlessly shift, gradual acceleration and deceleration can be 1%, according to the player’s own proficiency and space operations to fully fit players to choose gear.
• This product uses the 2.4GHz band signal, the operation more precise, more responsive, more distant remote control, can simultaneously in the same place each control more than one aircraft without mutual interference ; The product has a 360-degree roll function, in front, left in different directions roll, roll speed sensitive, precise positioning!
• Unique product design, replaceable aircraft batteries, so you can enjoy a long uninterrupted remote control aircraft excitement pleasure!

DJI Phantom for GoPro

This is the most popular higher level drone ever sold.  I even have one!  A good stage for a GoPro owner who wants to graduate up to a higher quality craft.

• Complete quadcopter and remote transmitter, pre-tuned by the factory and ready in minutes! Just charge the included battery, attach the propellers and landing gear, and add 4 AA batteries to the remote and you’re flying.
• Fun flying by itself or even better with a GoPro to record the action. Tested with Hero2, Hero3 and Hero3+ models, sold separately. Produce dramatic cinema-quickly results from the air! Note: Wi-Fi streaming from a camera is not possible because it may interfere with the Phantom’s remote control.
• Outdoor flight is made possible by advanced GPS positioning that compensates for light wind. The Phantom has a fail-safe function and can be configured to automatically fly to and land at its take-off position if connection to the transmitter is lost. Note: indoor flight or operation by persons under 18 years of age is NOT recommended.
• With a maximum horizontal speed of 22 miles/hour (10 meters/second), the Phantom lets you capture the action of almost any sport, event or scene.
• The Phantom’s high tech Naza-M autopilot system lets you configure advanced parameters via software (USB port and separate download required).

$990 – 3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter

$1239 – Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon Quadcopter Drone RTF in Aluminum Case with CGO3 Camera, ST10+ & Steady Grip

I’ve reviewed this amazing quadcopter. Check out the Ambient Flight Yuneec International Q500 4K Typhoon Review.

Personal Ground Station with built-in touchscreen
Integrated 3-axis precision gimbal camera
4K/30fps ultra high definition video, 1080p/120fps slow motion video
User controlled video resolution, white balance and light exposure
12 megapixel photos with No-Distortion Lens

Associated press articles today are announcing that the FAA wants even small drones to be registered. Well, I’m ready!

My Small Drone Ready for FAA Registration!

What could possibly go wrong?

Yuneec Announces Collaboration with Ocean Alliance to Aid Groundbreaking Whale Research
Typhoon and Tornado Multicopters Will Collect Data By Flying Into “Cloud of Snot”

ONTARIO, Calif. (November 16, 2015) – Yuneec International, the world leader in electric aviation, today announced an exciting collaboration with Ocean Alliance, an organization dedicated to promoting ocean and human health. Ocean Alliance will use Yuneec’s Typhoon and Tornado drones to collect data from whales in a non-invasive way, making the collaboration an important breakthrough in whale research.

“As a company we are passionate about seeing our drones provide positive technological solutions to modern day issues,” said Shan Phillips, CEO of Yuneec USA. “We couldn’t be more proud to collaborate with Ocean Alliance and look forward to a future where our drones can be used in positive, real life situations that have an impact on the world we live in.”

To conduct the research, a petri dish will be attached to Yuneec multicopters flown into the cloud of spray exhaled by whales when they surface. Essentially, the Typhoon and Tornado multicopters will fly into a cloud of snot, which is why Ocean Alliance refers to their Yuneec drones as “snot bots.”

“Yuneec is giving us state-of-the-art drones to conduct marine mammal research that exceed our mission parameters,” said Iain Kerr, the CEO of Ocean Alliance. “This is a lottery win for us as a company, the animals we study, and ultimately, humanity.”

The samples collected can tell scientists about the health and fitness of the whale. Yuneec’s near silent multicopters allow scientists to retrieve this data without the whale taking notice, preventing the infliction of stress upon the whale. “Snot bots” hover several yards above the surface of the water while human operators are close to a mile away (must disable the geo-fence so the operator can be more than 300 feet away?).

In contrast, most current methods of physical sample collection involve pursuit in a motorized boat and firing a biopsy dart from a crossbow. In addition to causing stress to the whales, it is believed this approach can skew results, especially with regard to understanding stress levels for whales outside of captivity.

“Snot bots are designed to remove the potential harm caused to whales during the research process. After an extensive search, we determined the Yuneec product line of quiet and sophisticated drones gives us the best possibility of success,” Kerr added.

A special discussion about Yuneec’s partnership with Ocean Alliance will take place at the Drone World Expo on November 17 at 10:15 a.m. in the Exhibit Hall of the San Jose Convention Center.

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.

About Ocean Allicance
Ocean Alliance, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, was founded in 1971 by biologist Roger Payne. Led by Dr. Payne and CEO, Iain Kerr, Ocean Alliance collects a broad spectrum of data on whales and ocean life relating particularly to toxicology, behavior, bioacoustics, and genetics. Ocean Alliance works with scientific partners to advise educators and policy makers on wise stewardship of the oceans to: reduce pollution, prevent the collapse of marine mammal populations, maintain human access to fish and other sea life, and promote ocean and human health.