24-Year-Old Builds Full Drone Business in Alabama | The DroneOn Show Episode 42

Episode 42 of the DroneOn Show, Mike talks with Trayton from Taft Drone Services in central Alabama. At just 24 years old and only two years out of Mississippi State (where he studied agriculture science), Trayton shares how he funded his first thermal drone (Mavic 3T) with money originally saved for an engagement ring. He started with deer surveys and recoveries, then transitioned into spray drones, beginning with a T-10 before upgrading to a T-40 and now running T-50s. Trayton covers the realities of operating in Alabama: small fields (15-20 acres average), tall pines, swamps, kudzu control, site prep for forestry replanting, aquatic weed management, and prescribed burning. He discusses charging strategies (per acre vs. per job), word-of-mouth growth, the grind of long days and overnight surveys, and how thermal work helps land spray jobs. A relatable, real look at building a young dual-purpose drone business in the South. Chapters (00:00:00) - Drone on Air(00:02:36) - Teens fly drones with agriculture science degree(00:04:03) - What kind of drone did you start with?(00:05:02) - Flying a drone at altitude with a tank(00:05:35) - How do you get work with a T10?(00:06:25) - Do you charge by the acre for your spraying?(00:09:29) - Burning trees: How to do it safely(00:12:28) - How to weed aquatic plants in Alabama(00:15:03) - How to Hydrophobic Spray Alabama(00:18:10) - Talking to clients about his office(00:18:45) - Spray Drones Business(00:20:43) - How to See a Deer(00:24:24) - Are You Ready for Your Wedding Dress?(00:24:36) - How to Pay Off Your Drone Equipment(00:26:32) - Flying a drone with a 30W light(00:27:03) - DJI Thermal Drone: 30T vs. 4TD(00:29:48) - Deer Found Alive in a High Fence(00:32:31) - Spraying and Burning Land(00:35:24) - How to Start a Fire in the Grass(00:37:15) - Deer Found Using a Drone(00:40:10) - Reveal: Drone Hunting(00:43:15) - Mississippi wildlife biologists talk(00:43:46) - Crop Drone Business(00:47:00) - Crash Your Drone:(00:47:28) - Drone Hits a Power Line, Explodes(00:49:28) - Power Line Hitting Drone(00:51:06) - DJI Mavic 3T: A Baby Drone(00:54:47) - Flying a drone through the swamp