DJI Mini 3 in Wind (Explained for Beginners)

The DJI Mini 3 is a remarkable new drone and is currently available for a reasonable price.

But one of the factors in picking a drone for our needs, and in this case the DJI Mini 3, is to consider wind resistance.

How does the DJI Mini 3 handle windy conditions?

**The maximum wind resistance stated by DJI for the Mini 3 is about 10.7 meters/second, equivalent to 24mph or 38 kph. The drone is level 5 wind resistant, which is a fantastic choice for many pilots to fly in windy areas, but not the best in its class. **

What else do you need to know about flying DJI Mini 3 in windy conditions, and what are our recommendations for safe flights?

More information will follow in this article.

DJI Mini 3 in wind – an upgrade from the Mini 2 #

Each year and with each release, DJI puts lots of effort and research into coming out with new top niche drones, with upgrades compared to the older models.

Not only are camera and battery life priorities to upgrade when releasing a new drone, but the actual wind resistance is a major factor, a core element.

We all know that wind is one of the biggest challenges for a drone, and nature is never forgiving. 

The previous mini drone, the DJI Mini 2, had a wind resistance of 8.5 to 10.5m/s, still classified in the level 5 class, but not as good by far as the current DJI Mini 3. 

And as drones of the same series, the DJI Mini 3 Pro has the same wind resistance as the DJI Mini 3.

But what aspects can influence the wind resistance of a drone, and in this case, your DJI Mini 3?

The weight of the drone #

DJI Mini 3 drone is under 249 grams, which is a very lightweight drone. 

In general, the heavier a drone is, the more resistant it is to wind and the less it is affected by wind gusts.

For instance, a drone weighing around 900 grams, such as Mavic 3, is more wind resistant than the DJI Mini 3.

Therefore, if you intend to buy a drone to fly around the seaside, at high altitudes, or in windier locations, please consider wind resistance as a factor in choosing your drone. 

The DJI Mini 3 sensing stabilization system #

We can be pleased that the DJI Mini 3 has one of the most advanced sensing systems, allowing it to hover, accurately fly and resist higher winds.

But this doesn’t mean that you should fly in extreme wind circumstances. Always beware of the wind conditions when you launch your DJI Mini 3.

But how does this work?

The same sensing system found in DJI Mini 3 that helps you hover the drone in place will help you stabilize it in higher winds and windy conditions.

Moreover, the camera image stabilization will enable your footage to look smooth, even if the drone may appear to struggle when flying in high winds.

The aerodynamics of the drone #

The DJI Mini 3 is a slim drone, and it has a specific aerodynamic model that was tested and advanced by DJI through generations of previous drones to reach perfection for longer and more stable flights.

Like with any drone, the aerodynamics of the DJI Mini 3 plays an important role in stabilization against higher winds.

Hence the reason why the Mini 3 is pretty wind resistant as compared to many other drones.

Can the DJI Mini 3 fly in higher winds than 10.7m/s?  #

10.7m/s is a safe number put in place by DJI to promote safer flights with little to no risk of crashes because of the wind. 

But in reality, drones, and this includes the DJI Mini 3, may have stronger wind resistance. However, this comes with higher risks.

There are videos around the internet showing good stability of the drone in winds at over 15m/s.

Note: Please keep in mind that you will not be covered by the warranty if you fly your Mini 3 in high winds and you crash it.

We strongly recommend you follow the safe number of a maximum wind of 10.7m/s (or much less) if you intend to fly your drone in areas with possible higher winds. 

Be aware of areas you are flying your DJI Mini 3 if it’s windy #

To better understand this, three elements of windy conditions can affect your drone flight: The wind itself, wind gusts, and air currents.

We talked about how your DJI Mini 3 can be affected if there high winds. But what about air currents?

One of the worst parts, in this case, is to fly your drone near a cliff where air currents can be formed and destabilize your drone, most likely smashing it on the cliffs.

These currents also happen near the seaside cliffs, and we strongly recommend you not fly your drone too close to any cliffs. 

Other tips for safer flights with DJI Mini 3 in wind #

• If you get a message on the screen, “STRONG WIND WARNING,” please return your DJI Mini 3 and land it safely.

• Wind gusts are the most dangerous aspect when flying in higher winds. Even if it appears not to be very windy outdoors, but there are strong wind gusts, please don’t fly your drone.

• If you fly in windy environments, please ensure you have no accessories attached to your DJI Mini 3, such as landing gear, as this will heavily affect the wind stability of the drone.

Please keep in mind that the flight time of your DJI Mini 3 drone will decrease if flying in the wind. The higher the wind, the less total flight time the drone can perform.

In the end, we can say that the DJI Mini 3 is a drone quite resistant to the wind when flying, despite the drone’s light weight.