From zero to flying for money.
No experience needed. We train you on FPV + stabilized drones + flight ops, prep you for the FAA Part 107 exam, and put you in front of paying clients. By the end you own a drone, a license, and a way to make money with it.
- ✓ Zero experience required — we start from scratch
- ✓ FPV + stabilized + flight ops — every type of flying that pays
- ✓ FAA Part 107 prep — test fee $175 at a nearby center
- ✓ Make money by graduation — freelance or work with clients
Wanting to fly FPV in 2026 means going it alone.
Every local "drone school" teaches DJI camera drones for real-estate Part 107. Real FPV — freestyle, cinematic, racing — has no home in the Bay.
SF Drone School, UAV Coach, DARTdrones — all DJI camera drones and Part 107 prep. FPV is not on their syllabus.
RaceDayQuads (Sarasota, FL) and a Florida warehouse run by GetFPV. DJI's Bay Area retail stores closed. Walk-in FPV gear in 2026 barely exists.
Goggles, radio, frame, motors, VTX, batteries, charger. Without a guide, most of it gets re-ordered after the first mistake.
"Learning FPV is mildly infuriating."— the title of the community video that captures the new-pilot experience
YouTube path
Weeks of conflicting tutorials. 20 videos, 20 opinions. You buy the wrong VTX, the wrong battery, fry a motor. Money in the trash.
Academy path
Structured progression. Simulator → tinywhoop → 3-inch → 5-inch. Loaner radio + goggles so you fly day 1. A detailed parts list so nothing you buy is wrong.
A 4-week path from zero to your first FPV flight.
Theory + simulator + components
The "what is FPV" cleanup. Radio basics, acro mode, simulator drills on our loaner radio + goggles. You get a full parts list — every wire, motor, ESC, VTX — so when you order, nothing's wrong. Weeks 1-2.
Build your drone with me
Hands-on soldering, frame assembly, motor + ESC wiring, Betaflight + ELRS config. You leave the session with a drone you built and configured — not bought. Week 3.
First flights + Part 107 prep
Classes at our home base in Pacifica + a private flight spot Juan knows (legal, open airspace). Real FPV goggles, real acro, real recovery from mistakes. Plus FAA Part 107 + FCC license prep. Week 4.
How this is different from everything else.
| YouTube | DJI schools UAV Coach $295–575 |
Online FPV Pilot Institute $99 |
This Academy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drone type | Mix | Camera (DJI) | FPV | FPV (real) |
| Format | Video | In-person | Video | In-person, Pacifica |
| Hardware help | No | No | No | Yes — I buy it for you |
| First flight | ? | DJI camera | Solo at home | Pacifica + flight spot |
| Community | No | No | No | Bay Area meetups |
An engineer, not a YouTuber.
6 years of FPV engineering. Fusion 360 design, YOLO object detection, aerospace background. I can explain not just how a frame flies, but why the motor / VTX / battery you're looking at is the right or wrong call.
- 6 years building and flying FPV (freestyle, cinematic, racing).
- CAD / Fusion 360 — full custom builds, 3D-printed parts.
- R&D on autonomy and computer vision for UAS.
- Local — Pacifica. Not Florida. Not a 1-800 number.
Real workshop. Real builds. Real flights.
Not stock photos. This is Juan's bench, Juan's quads, Juan's flights.
Three ways to start.
All numbers are placeholders pending Juan's approval. Final pricing will be confirmed before any payment.
Solo Intro
- Single session, hands-on
- Simulator + first hover
- Gear consultation
- No commitment
4-Week Mentorship
- Full 4-week path
- Build + solder + configure your drone with me
- Loaner radio + goggles during the course
- Full parts list — every wire, motor, ESC, VTX
- Pacifica + private flight spot sessions
- FAA Part 107 + FCC license prep included
Build-for-You
- Custom build, no course
- Hardware sourced & assembled
- Tuning + first hover lesson
- For people who already fly
Your drone build (we source + assemble)
Build cost depends on the drone you want to fly. Mentorship fee above is separate.
| Drone | Analog video | Digital (DJI/Walksnail/HDZero) |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Whoop | $250–400 | $600–900 |
| CineWhoop | $600–1,000 | $1,000–1,500 |
| 5" Freestyle | $500–800 | $900–1,400 |
| 7" Long-range | $700–1,100 | $1,100–1,700 |
Includes the full parts list, sourcing, soldering, frame assembly and Betaflight + ELRS config.
FAQ
Do I need to own a drone?
No. I help you pick and buy the right kit. Most students leave week 1 with a working sourcing list and a simulator.
Is Part 107 included?
Yes — both FAA Part 107 (commercial) and FCC (radio operator) license prep are included in the 4-week mentorship. We don't issue the certificates; you take the exams at the approved testing centers.
Where do we fly?
Classes are held at our home base in Pacifica. For real flight sessions we head out to a private spot Juan knows — legal, open, and ideal for FPV. We also use other legal Bay Area locations as you progress.
How long does it take?
4 weeks is typical for solo → first FPV flight. Some students go faster, some pace themselves over 6–8 weeks. We adapt.
Age and experience?
18+. No experience needed — most students arrive having flown only a DJI or nothing at all.
Ready to actually fly?
The waitlist is small on purpose — this is 1-on-1 mentorship, not a webinar. Apply and I'll get back within 48 hours.