Shauny D
Follow him on: YouTube and Instagram
Background: Shauny D has been flying for commercial video production since 2014, but has always tinkered with toy drones. His first non-cinema drone was a Syma X5, which he spent many weekends modifying to include acro mode and an FPV cam. He saw a Jonny FPV video and decided he wanted that for his video production company. Over 2020, his traditional DJI drones turned into cinewhoops. Shauny D started whooping because it was fun and lighthearted. He could be creative and take risks or just chill in the hammock and fly. Whoops are still his favorite way to take to the sky.
Achievements: Shauny D has placed 5th and 4th in IGOW 3 and 4. However, he takes even greater pride in popularizing unique tricks like the Jump Rope, Cinnamon Roll, Half Mavvy, and Jackie Chan. He is also known for his creative challenges such as doorbits, balloon tricks, and powerlooping a toilet seat.
Favorite Tricks: Shauny D enjoys tricks that maintain a point of interest, such as his Jump Rope series, and also has a fondness for wall taps.
Training Regime: Shauny D focuses on picking a trick, obstacle, or combo to master, challenging himself to repeatedly attempt it until perfected. For new tricks, he practices in a simulator, working on maps with ceilings to learn what to spot during the trick and understand the parameters affecting it.
Overcoming Challenges: Shauny D emphasizes persistence, noting that most tricks require hundreds of attempts to master. He encourages staying organized to avoid small obstacles that could prevent additional practice runs. Over time, what initially feels like luck in landing a trick becomes skill through repeated attempts.
Equipment: Shauny D uses Tx16s or Jumper T20 radios and DJI goggles with an analog module (Wildfire or Achilles).
Favorite Builds: Shauny D’s favorite builds include a 75mm with RunCam Split Lite, which is durable, cheap, and provides HD video for editing. He also enjoys a 65mm pro build that is all analog.
Camera Angles and Rates (Roll, Pitch, Yaw):
- Cinematic:
- Cam Angle: 15°
- Center Sensitivity: 0.75, 0.75, 0.6
- Rates: 650, 650, 800
- Expo: 0.25
- Freestyle:
- Cam Angle: 25-30°
- Center: 0.75, 0.75, 0.6
- Rates: 880, 880, 1000
- Expo: 0.25
- Race:
- Cam Angle: 45°
- Center: 0.6, 0.6, 0.6
- Rates: 649, 649, 649
- Expo: 0.1, 0.1, 0.1
Tips for Beginners: Shauny D advises figuring out what to look at before, during, and after a trick, as your eye line significantly impacts various aspects of the maneuver. Practicing over carpet or grass can minimize breakage and maximize stick time.
Watch Shauny D in action!
Shauny D is eager to share his expertise and passion for FPV flying, helping new pilots master tricks and enjoy the creative possibilities of drone flying.
