Gordon Relyea graduated from Northrop University in 1983 as an engineer and airframe and powerplant technician. He worked on the Space Shuttle main engines as an engineer for Rockwell International, and has also worked as a contractor for the U.S. Air Force, as well as private industry. Gordon has flown RC aircraft since the 1980s and holds FAA remote pilot and A&P mechanic certificates. He currently manages the unmanned aircraft program for Third Ivan Video Productions in Las Vegas, and designs and builds the custom multirotors used by the company for filming.
It seemed simple enough, flying through the lower tree canopy on a test flight with an unmanned multirotor. I was completely focused on maneuvering through gaps in the trees that were small enough that the rotors trimmed a few leaves. It was all going well–until I lost track of how far I had gone from the launch point.