ok so my brother got me a DJI mini 3 for my birthday and i've been staring at it in the box for like 3 days because im scared to mess it up. i flew it once in my backyard but it just kind of hovered and i didn't really do anything with it because i got nervous. is there like a standard way people learn this stuff or do you just... figure it out as you go? also do i need to register it somewhere i've seen some stuff about the FAA but i'm not sure if that applies to me since i'm just flying for fun in my yard

yeah you definitely need to register with the FAA if the drone weighs over 250g, the mini 3 is right at that limit so double check which version you have ? the regular mini 3 is actually just under 249g without accessories but once you slap the ND filters or whatever on it it can tip over. anyway the registration is like 5 bucks and takes 10 minutes on the FAA DroneZone website so just do it to be safe, not worth the headache if someone reports you.

as for learning, honestly just start by doing slow gentle stick inputs in a big open space. dont try to be smooth right away, just get used to how it responds. the mini 3 is pretty forgiving so youre in good shape with that choice.

i was in the exact same spot about a year ago lol. what helped me was just flying in a big empty park early in the morning when nobody was around so i wasnt stressed about people watching or hitting anything. i basically just practiced hovering for like the first week, sounds boring but it really helps you understand how the wind affects it even when it looks calm. also turn off all the obstacle avoidance stuff at some point and fly manually, youll learn way faster that way even if its a little scary at first