Archer Tesla

Neighbors notice. People get curious. And sometimes, their reactions are the best part of the whole flight. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from laughter to concern to wide-eyed wonder. Here are a few of the craziest (and friendliest) encounters we’ve had while piloting drones around Washington.

Drone policies can feel distant, legalese and regulation happening in Washington, D.C., while you’re just trying to fly over the neighborhood or a job site. But shifts in export rules ripple outward, influencing what parts and capabilities are available for drone pilots at every level.

We pass by them every day, trails we’ve hiked, docks we’ve driven past, lighthouses we’ve photographed on the ground. But what happens when you tilt the perspective, swap your shoes for propellers, and see these places from the sky?