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🌍 Welcome to Nix Drones — Where Sky Meets Legend! 🚁✨

At Nix Drones, we don’t just fly — we soar, we capture, and we create magic from above.
With a passion for perfection, cinematic obsession, and a slightly cheeky love of adventure, Nix Drones brings you breathtaking aerial footage, all fully legal and insured (yep, £5M public liability, baby!). 💥🛡️

🎬 What we do:
✅ 4K cinematic flyovers of landscapes, coastlines, and iconic locations
✅ Honest gear reviews, flight tests, and tech nerd-outs
✅ Custom YouTube edits packed with jaw-dropping views and the occasional hilarious blooper

👨‍✈️ Why fly with us:
⚡ CAA Registered Operator — GBR-OP-SK4Z9KH27KCN
⚡ £5M FPV UK insured — because accidents happen, but we’ve got it covered
⚡ Passion, precision, and a sprinkle of wild spirit in every flight

🌲 From misty forests and soaring cliffs to festival skies and village rooftops — Nix Drones is about sharing the world’s beauty from above. Whether you’re here to watch, collaborate, or just geek out over drone gear, you’re in the right place.

🚀 Nix Drones — £5M INSURED. 4K-OBSESSED. 100% LEGEND.
🦅🌳🐝🌤️🌊🍺

Follow the buzz. Join the flight. ✈️✨

360 aerial photography gives you an immersive view of a scene. With this technology, you can explore a scene from all angles with just the click of a mouse or the swipe of a finger. From above, below, and all around, you can capture the entire environment. Plus, you can share your 360 images on Facebook, giving your friends a unique view of your favorite places. With 360 aerial photography, the possibilities are endless

Capture the World From the Sky

Title: Meet the Fleet: My Personal Drone Squadron in Full Detail

Welcome to a sky-high tour of my elite drone fleet, each one with its own distinct personality, mission profile, and spec sheet. Whether I’m capturing misty mornings over Cannock Chase or planning complex cinematic shots for JohnsDrones.net, this squadron delivers precision, beauty, and serious tech. Here’s a full breakdown of the stars of the show.

 

🚁 Nemesis – DJI Mavic 2 Pro

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Full Description: Nemesis is the Clarkson of the crew — big, loud, and doesn’t care much for subtlety. This flying beast rocks a Hasselblad camera that’s sharper than a sarcastic tweet, and with adjustable aperture and 10-bit colour, it could film a documentary about gravel and make it look like Oscar bait. It doesn’t just avoid obstacles — it sniffs them out like a bloodhound with a diploma in cinematography. If drones had egos, Nemesis would be parked in a mirror polishing its gimbal.

Role: The Cinematic Commander

Nemesis is the professional heavyweight of my fleet. With a Hasselblad L1D-20c camera mounted on a 3-axis gimbal, this drone is made for elite aerial content creation. It’s perfect for landscapes, real estate, cinematic projects, and anywhere lighting conditions get tricky.

Detailed Specs:

  • Camera: Hasselblad L1D-20c with 1" CMOS sensor

  • Lens: 28mm equivalent, f/2.8–f/11 adjustable aperture, 77° FOV

  • Photo Resolution: 20MP (5472 × 3648)

  • Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, FHD at 120fps

  • ISO Range: Photo 100–3200 (auto), 100–12800 (manual); Video 100–3200

  • Bitrate: 100Mbps

  • Color Profiles: Dlog-M (10-bit), HLG (10-bit HDR)

  • Image Formats: JPEG, DNG (RAW)

  • Video Formats: MP4/MOV (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, H.265/HEVC)

  • Shutter Speed: 8–1/8000s

  • Gimbal: 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw)

  • Max Flight Time: 31 minutes (no wind at constant 25 kph)

  • Max Hover Time: 29 minutes

  • Max Flight Distance: 18 km (in optimal conditions)

  • Max Speed: 72 kph (Sport Mode)

  • Max Altitude: 500m (software limit)

  • Max Wind Resistance: 10.5 m/s (Level 5)

  • Obstacle Avoidance: Omnidirectional (Front, Rear, Top, Bottom, Left, Right)

  • GPS Systems: GPS + GLONASS

  • Transmission System: OcuSync 2.0, 1080p live view up to 8km

  • Storage: MicroSD up to 128GB

  • QuickShot Modes: Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, Asteroid

  • Usability: Ideal for pro filmmakers, real estate, slow cinematic passes, and HDR stills

 

🎯 Zoom – DJI Mini 4 Pro

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Full Description: If Nemesis is Clarkson, then Zoom is James May on a double espresso. Light as a digestive biscuit and cleverer than a trivia night at Cambridge, Zoom fits in your pocket yet thinks it's Spielberg. Vertical shooting? Check. Cruise Control? Absolutely. It'll dodge obstacles like a squirrel in a laser maze. With Zoom, you can shoot cinema-grade footage in your slippers, which is exactly the vibe we’re going for.

Role: The Agile Social Media Star

Zoom is light, fast, and brilliant for spontaneous adventure flying. Its vertical shooting mode is tailor-made for Instagram reels and TikTok shorts. Despite its ultra-light weight, it punches far above its class.

Detailed Specs:

  • Weight: 249g

  • Camera: 1/1.3" CMOS sensor with Dual Native ISO Fusion

  • Lens: 24mm equivalent, f/1.7 aperture, 82.1° FOV

  • Photo Resolution: 48MP (8064×6048) and 12MP

  • Video: 4K at 60fps HDR, 4K at 100fps (slow-mo), 2.7K, FHD at 200fps

  • ISO Range: Photo 100–3200, Video 100–6400

  • Color Profiles: D-Log M (10-bit), HLG

  • Image Format: JPEG, RAW (DNG)

  • Video Format: MP4 (H.264/H.265)

  • Shutter Speed: 2–1/8000s

  • Gimbal: 3-axis mechanical (tilt, roll, pan)

  • Max Flight Time: 34 minutes (battery), 45 minutes (Plus battery)

  • Max Hover Time: 30 minutes

  • Max Flight Distance: 20km (Plus battery, in optimal conditions)

  • Max Speed: 57.6 kph

  • Max Wind Resistance: 10.7 m/s (Level 5)

  • Obstacle Avoidance: Omnidirectional (360° avoidance)

  • GPS Systems: GPS + Galileo + BeiDou

  • Transmission: OcuSync 4.0, 1080p live view up to 20km

  • Storage: microSD up to 512GB

  • Advanced Features: ActiveTrack 360°, MasterShots, Cruise Control, SmartPhoto, Waypoints, Return to Home (RTH)

  • QuickShot Modes: Dronie, Rocket, Circle, Helix, Boomerang, Asteroid

  • Usability: Perfect for vloggers, content creators, spontaneous travel shots, and stealthy social storytelling

 

⚡️ Twitch – DJI Spark

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Full Description: Twitch is the Stig's underfed cousin — twitchy, twitching, and always up for a quick sprint. It’s the drone that introduced me to the sky, and while it’s not packing a film crew's worth of specs, it’s got bags of charm. Perfect for a cheeky flight over the garden hedge or an impromptu selfie, Twitch is the drone equivalent of a Ford Fiesta: humble, faithful, and surprisingly fun when no one's looking.

Role: The OG Workhorse

This little chap was my first taste of real drone agility in a compact package. Though semi-retired, Twitch still takes to the skies for light jobs and nostalgia flights.

Detailed Specs:

  • Camera: 1/2.3" CMOS sensor

  • Lens: 25mm equivalent, f/2.6, 81.9° FOV

  • Photo Resolution: 12MP (3968 × 2976)

  • Video Resolution: 1080p at 30fps

  • ISO Range: 100–3200

  • Shutter Speed: 2–1/8000s

  • Gimbal: 2-axis (pitch, roll)

  • Max Flight Time: 16 minutes

  • Max Speed: 50 kph (Sport Mode)

  • Max Wind Resistance: Level 4

  • Obstacle Avoidance: Forward only

  • GPS Systems: GPS + GLONASS

  • Transmission Range: 2km (with remote controller)

  • Live View: 720p at 30fps

  • Gesture Controls: PalmLaunch, PalmControl, Selfie, Beckon

  • Flight Modes: QuickShot (Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket), TapFly, ActiveTrack

  • QuickShot Modes: Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket

  • Usability: Great for short scenic flights, fast setups, close-up selfie shots, and showing off with gestures

 

🥿 Sneaker – DJI Neo

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Full Description: Sneaker is the drone equivalent of Richard Hammond on a scooter — small, plucky, and likely to surprise you. It weighs less than your average sandwich but still manages to fire off 4K footage like it's been to drone university. Sure, it's not built for hurricanes or Oscar-winning documentaries, but when you're halfway up a fell with nothing but a flask of tea and a sunset, Sneaker is your trusty sidekick with rotors.

Role: The AI Smart Scout

Sneaker is compact, reliable, and a great travel buddy for simple scenic flights and casual footage. While not as feature-packed as its big siblings, it more than earns its spot in the fleet with its ease of use and portability.

Detailed Specs:

  • Weight: 135g

  • Camera: 1/2.3" CMOS sensor

  • Lens: Fixed focus, f/2.8

  • Photo Resolution: 12MP

  • Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps, 1080p at 120fps

  • Image Format: JPEG

  • Video Format: MP4 (H.264)

  • Gimbal: 3-axis mechanical (pitch, roll, yaw)

  • Flight Time: ~24 minutes

  • Obstacle Avoidance: Downward sensors only

  • Max Speed: ~46.8 kph

  • Wind Resistance: Level 4

  • Transmission Range: Up to 10km

  • Live View Quality: 720p at 30fps

  • Storage Support: MicroSD up to 128GB

  • QuickShot Modes: Dronie, Rocket

  • Usability: Ideal for casual users, relaxed flying, and basic video content. Lightweight, quick to deploy, and perfect for grab-and-go moments.

 

✨ Bonus Gear

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All of my drones — from Nemesis down to Sneaker — are upgraded with Master Airscrew propellers, ensuring quieter flights, improved efficiency, and slightly longer airtime. Whether it's for stealthy countryside swoops or controlled urban passes, these props make every takeoff smoother and every landing quieter.

  • Litchi App: Waypoint missions, orbit flights, panoramas

  • Master Airscrew Stealth Props: Quieter flying, improved performance

  • ND Filters: For controlling exposure in bright skies

  • 64GB U3 SD Cards: Class 10, UHS-I U3 V30 for flawless 4K recording

  • Landing Pads: Protects gimbal & sensors from debris

  • Spare Batteries: Extended sessions, double the flight time

This ever-evolving fleet brings together old legends and new tech, precision and playfulness. Whether it’s for breathtaking landscapes, close-up action, or smart tracking, there’s a bird in the hangar ready for launch.

Watch the skies—you might just see Nemesis circling Cannock Chase or Zoom diving over Cornish cliffs. Follow my flights at johnsdrones.net or catch the latest footage on YouTube at @johnnickolls.

Ready for takeoff? Always.

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🚐 VANILLA — THE ESSENCE OF FREEDOM

​People often ask where my drone footage comes from — how I find those remote beaches, quiet lochs, or golden ridgelines at sunrise.
The answer isn’t just in the air. It’s on four wheels.

Meet Vanilla — my VW Transporter T6.1 campervan, my rolling HQ, my drone command centre, and quite honestly, my partner-in-flight.

She’s not just transport. She’s the bridge between earth and sky — a machine that lets me live the story I capture through my lens.

Where It All Began

Vanilla came to life at Leighton Vans, where form meets finesse. She was sculpted with their LV-R bodykit, an upgrade that gives her those beautifully aggressive lines and that unmistakable road stance.
Her 20-inch black LV alloys anchor her to the tarmac with quiet confidence — purposeful, poised, and just a little bit smug.

The interior conversion came from Rock N Roll Campers, who turned an empty shell into something that felt alive — soft finishes, clever storage, a rock-solid bed, and that rare thing in a van: soul.

Later, the wizards at Supreme Conversions joined the journey, fitting the awning rail, upgrading her with Transporter HQ headlights and rear lights, and, most recently, installing the stunning Fiamma F43 Van awning.
It’s the kind of awning that unfurls with elegance, like a curtain revealing a stage — the stage where I plan flights, sip coffee, and wait for the light to get just right.

Inside the Machine

Vanilla’s interior is less “campervan” and more “creative sanctuary.”
Every inch is refined: Crib 5 insulation, full sound-deadening, soft carpet lining, and commercial LVT flooring over solid birch ply.
Her Egger HPL furniture gleams softly under warm LED lighting, and her Rusty Lee ¾ bed folds out like a promise of rest after a long day’s flying.

The Skyline pop-top opens to the sky — the same sky my drones inhabit — a seamless link between my ground base and my flying machines.

Outside, the Fiamma F43 Van awning rolls out to create an outdoor workspace: laptop on the table, controller in hand, the hum of the inverter behind me, and the quiet ticking of a cooling drone on the table beside a steaming mug of ginger tea.

It’s not camping. It’s creative engineering in motion.

Powering Creativity

Drone photography isn’t a 9-to-5 hobby. It’s early starts, late edits, and always chasing the right light.
That means Vanilla has to be completely self-sufficient — and she is.

Her power system is rock solid: an Exide EZ850 100 Ah AGM battery managed by a Victron Orion Smart DC-DC charger and Eco-Worthy solar controller, topped up by her XINGCO 120 W solar panel bonded to the pop-top.
It means while I’m flying over coastal cliffs, Vanilla’s quietly charging batteries, cameras, laptops, and the occasional air fryer.

Add in a Victron SmartShunt (so I can track every watt in real time), a Jackery Explorer 1000, a Jackery 240, an Anker 165 W power bank, and a YABER jump starter pack, and you’ve got enough power for a week’s expedition.

Every drone, every camera, every edit — charged, logged, and uploaded before the next take-off.

Fuel for the Pilot

You can’t create on an empty stomach, and Vanilla’s kitchen is a masterpiece of compact design.
A CAN twin hob and marine sink, powered by Campingaz 907, forms the core of her galley.
A 50 L compressor fridge keeps everything crisp, while a toaster, kettle, and Cadac BBQ handle the rest.

But here’s where the magic happens — the Cosori air fryer and Vango Sizzle Double induction hob.
The air fryer is perfect for hot chips at midnight or golden toasties on misty mornings. The induction hob? It’s quiet, precise, and efficient, perfect for cooking while editing the day’s footage in cinematic silence.

When the Fiamma awning is out and the Vango Faro Air III awning is set up alongside, Vanilla transforms into mission control.
Power. Food. Shelter. Wi-Fi. Everything I need to capture the world from above — all in one parked masterpiece.

Warm Nights, Cool Days

Vanilla handles Britain like a pro.
A Webasto diesel heater keeps her toasty on winter shoots, and the factory air-con cools her down when summer edits stretch into the evening.

Her Transporter HQ 69 mm dimmable LEDs light up the interior like a studio set, while BioLite and Vango lanterns add soft ambience — perfect for working late or simply reflecting on the day’s adventures.

Outside, those Transporter HQ Audi-style headlights — installed by Supreme Conversions — slice cleanly through darkness. Her rear lights gleam like runway markers. Her LV-R bodykit and alloys catch the glow of twilight like a film reel catching fire.

She’s not a van. She’s a silhouette of intent.

Connected Everywhere

Vanilla runs her own internet.
Her ZTE Link mobile Wi-Fi router keeps me online for live drone tracking, software updates, uploads, and the occasional cheeky YouTube binge.
She’s a digital basecamp — blending travel, work, and creativity into one smooth system.

After the flights, I unwind with the Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector (Beamy) and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (“Blazey”), projecting straight onto the pop-top.
A Bose Bluetooth speaker fills the cabin with music — sometimes Depeche Mode, sometimes silence, depending on the edit.

Vanilla doesn’t just take me to my subjects — she lets me stay there long enough to fall in love with them.

Safety and Smarts

She’s fitted with a Scorpion Tracker, adaptive cruise control, crosswind assist, and parking sensors — because adventures are better when you can relax behind the wheel.
Her systems talk to my phone via Victron Smart apps, and her power integrates perfectly with Apple HomeKit, giving me complete control even from the driver’s seat.

Out There, in the Light

Vanilla has been everywhere my drones have flown — the NC500, Cornwall’s cliffs, the Welsh mountains, the Lake District, and countless nameless lanes that all lead somewhere unforgettable.

She averages a reliable 35 mpg, purrs happily on long drives, and provides the calm between flights.
When I’m parked under her awning, the kettle bubbling, batteries on charge, and the drone footage downloading, there’s this moment — stillness, satisfaction, and gratitude.

Vanilla isn’t just part of the Nix Drones setup.
She is the setup.
Without her, half my story wouldn’t exist.

Her Signature

Her logo says it all — a clean white silhouette with her pop-top raised, VAN in orange, ILLA in white, and below it, her creed:
“THE ESSENCE OF FREEDOM.”

That’s what it’s all about — the freedom to chase light, to capture beauty, and to live unhurried in a world that’s always rushing.

VANILLA — The Essence of Freedom.
The road half of Nix Drones.
A creative base on wheels.
A companion built for the horizon.

Would you like me to finish this with a short homepage hero caption (like “My mobile flight deck — the campervan that powers every Nix Drones journey”) and a perfect SEO snippet to link Vanilla’s story directly to your site’s drone photography focus?

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