GT8 Mini Drone with Built-In Screen Remote

A First Drone with its Own Screen.

The usual first drone is a toy that drifts into the nearest gum tree, and you need your phone clipped to the remote just to see what the camera sees. The dearer ones are a lot of money to learn on, and everybody crashes while they learn.

The GT8 is a small folding drone with a screen built into the remote, so the picture is in your hands without a phone. The maker lists brushless motors, optical-flow hovering (a downward camera that helps it hold still low over the ground) and obstacle-avoidance sensors. It folds to about 130 × 89 × 72 mm.

One battery comes in the box, rated by the maker at about 20 minutes and about 90 minutes to recharge. We don't stock spare parts for the GT8, so think of it as the learner: cheap enough that a run-in with a tree isn't a disaster. When you want GPS, return to home and spares you can buy, step up to the XT606 GPS Drone.

What it Does

• Learns you to Fly: small, light and cheap to crash; the place to make your mistakes.
• Flies at Camp: folds up small for the glovebox or the pack.
• Shows you the Picture: on the remote's own screen, no phone or app needed to see it.
• Holds Low and Steady: optical-flow hovering helps it hold position over the ground, by the maker's description.

Key Features

• Screen in the Remote: the camera picture shows on the remote; the maker compares it with a phone-clip remote in the pictures.
• Optical-Flow Hovering: a downward camera reads the ground to help it hold position, per the maker's parameter sheet.
• Front Camera That Tilts by Remote: plus the downward optical-flow lens, per the maker's parameter sheet.
• Obstacle Avoidance: listed on the maker's parameter sheet; what it detects is not specified.
• Brushless Motors: per the maker's parameter sheet.
• Battery: 3.7 V 1300 mAh, about 20 minutes, about 90 minutes to charge (maker).
• Folds Down: about 130 × 89 × 72 mm folded, 285 × 260 × 72 mm unfolded (maker).
• In the Box: drone, screen remote, eight spare propellers, charging lead, memory card, card reader, screwdriver, storage bag and two instruction sheets (maker's parts list).

Before you Fly

In Australia, flying a drone for fun needs no licence and no registration, but CASA's rules still apply: no higher than 120 m, at least 30 m from other people and never over anyone, one drone at a time, daylight only, in your own line of sight (not just on the screen), clear of beaches, parks and events while people are using them, and well away from any emergency. The weight is not published, so treat it as over 250 g and stay at least 5.5 km from any controlled airport unless you weigh it and it is 250 g or less.

On the Farm it Counts as Work. If the drone is used for your business, checking stock, water, fences or crops included, CASA treats it as commercial flying even under 250 g: the drone must be registered and you need an operator accreditation or a remote pilot licence. National parks and some councils have their own rules too.

CASA's Know Your Drone site has the full rules. Our Before you Fly guide has the look-ups for your area and links for New Zealand, the UK, Europe and Canada. Travelling with it? Check the drone rules wherever you fly; they change at every border.

Spare Parts and Repairs: BushLine does not stock spare parts for this drone and does not offer a repair service for it. Spare propellers and batteries for this model may be sold elsewhere, but we can't promise they will be available. Extra batteries can only be bought with the drone, as a battery option above.

Limits

No GPS Claimed. The seller's listing title says GPS, but the maker's own parameter sheet does not list it, so we don't claim it, and there is no GPS return to home to rely on.

The Camera Label is Not a Camera Spec. The seller sells this same drone under three different camera-resolution labels. The maker's parameter sheet gives no video resolution, so neither do we.

Range Not Specified. The maker's pictures say "long range" with no figure. You must keep it in your own sight anyway.

One Battery Only. There is no two or three-battery option and we don't stock spare batteries for it.

Light Drones and Wind don't Mix. No wind figure is published. On a breezy day, leave it in the bag.

No Water Rating. None is published.

Q & A

Is it a Toy or a Proper Drone?

In between. It has brushless motors and optical-flow hovering, which most toy drones don't, but no GPS that we can confirm and no spare parts from us. It is a learner, priced like one.

Do I Need a Licence?

Not for fun in Australia, but CASA's rules apply (see Before you Fly). Flying it for your business, the farm included, needs registration and an operator accreditation.

Do I Need my Phone?

No. The screen is built into the remote.

How Big is the Screen?

Not confirmed: the maker's pictures give both 4.3 inches and 12.5 cm, which don't agree.

How Long does Delivery Take?

Free Standard Delivery. Allow 5 to 10 working days from the day you order. Allow 1–2 days for fulfilment. Regional and remote addresses can take longer. Ordering from outside Australia? Import duty and tax on arrival are yours to pay.

Specs