ok so i bought a DJI Mini 3 like two weeks ago and ive been too scared to actually fly it. i watched a bunch of youtube videos but honestly they all contradict each other and now im more confused than when i started. some guy says always do a compass calibration before every flight, another guy says dont bother unless you get a warning. one video says fly in atti mode first to learn, another says never do that as a beginner. i dont even know where to start.

i live in a suburb and there's a park nearby but i dont know if thats ok legally or whatever. do i need to register it or something? i feel like i should know this stuff before i even take it out of the case. anyone remember what it was like starting out and what they wish someone had just told them

the compass calibration thing ? yeah that debate never ends lol. short answer is do it if the app tells you to or if you've driven a long distance since the last flight. you dont need to spin around like an idiot every single time.

for the registration question, if you're in the US the Mini 3 is under 250g so you actually don't need to register it with the FAA for recreational flying, which is one of the reasons that drone is so popular for beginners. but you should still check the DJI Fly app before you go to that park because it'll show you if you're in any restricted airspace. parks near airports can be a problem. also download the B4UFLY app, it's free and gives you a quick read on whether a spot is ok to fly.

honestly just go fly it. take it up to like 10 feet, hover it for a bit, get used to the sticks. you're going to drift and overcorrect and feel like an idiot but that's just the first hour. after that it starts clicking.

im pretty new too, got mine a few months back. the one thing i wish i had done sooner is just turn off all the obstacle avoidance stuff for a little while once i was comfortable hovering, just so i could actually feel what the drone was doing without it constantly correcting me. felt like i learned way faster after that. but maybe dont do that right away obviously