If like most of us, you don’t have the $27,475 it costs to stay on Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson’s famous Necker Island for a week, don’t fret: you can now see the beauty of one of the world’s most opulent private islands from a bird’s-eye view. Actually, it’s a drone’s-eye view. On Friday, Branson posted a two-plus minute video, shot with a series of 3D Robotics drones, that practically taunts you with imagery of the place where the founder of the Virgin empire can often be found frolicking with models and celebrities.
Necker Island, located in the British Virgin Islands, is a 74-acre retreat that offers luxury accommodations for the rich and famous and serves as Branson’s private hideaway when he’s not planning commercial flight in space, the conquering of the deepest ocean depths, or running his many other businesses.
In the video, we see several drones — one sporting what appears to be Branson’s sunglasses — soaring around and above many of Necker’s fancy homes, and often, filming the white-haired Virgin impresario playing tennis, windsurfing, or otherwise luxuriating in his wealth. There are no drone shots of him in meetings, however.
While the main point of the video seems to be making the average Joe drool over Branson’s lifestyle, the Virgin founder also tried to make a larger point about the increasing utility of the flying devices for people around the world.
“We welcomed six drones to Necker and they’ve captured stunning footage of this beautiful island we call home.
Every morning before breakfast I go for a walk around Necker. I’m incredibly lucky to have had Necker in my life for nearly 40 years, and I feel I know it like the back of my hand. So it’s amazing to get views of this island that I’ve never seen before thanks to a few drones and the great team at 3D Robotics, a company I recently invested in. They even shot me playing tennis and kitesurfing to Moskito Island!
It’s amazing to see what a little flying object with a GoPro attached can do; before they came along the alternative was an expensive helicopter and crew. I’m really excited about the potential for drones, and I hope this affordable technology will give many more people the chance to see our beautiful planet from such a powerful perspective.
But it’s not just about beauty shots. When you say the word ‘drone’, most people will think about military drones, which are used for surveillance and warfare. But this increasingly affordable, easy to use technology is starting to be used around the world in many positive ways. Like to monitor endangered species, deliver healthcare to remote areas, and help manage natural disasters.
We’ll be sharing lots of stories about people and organisations involved in drones over on Virgin Unite from next week in our ‘Drones for good’ series.
Meanwhile, where did my sunglasses go? ”
“It’s not just about beauty shots,” Branson wrote on his Virgin blog. “When you say the word ‘drone,’ most people will think about military drones, which are used for surveillance and warfare. But this increasingly affordable, easy to use technology is starting to be used around the world in many positive ways. Like to monitor endangered species, deliver healthcare to remote areas, and help manage natural disasters.”
Branson added that he’s excited about the “potential for drones, and I hope this affordable technology will give many more people the chance to see our beautiful planet from such a powerful perspective.”
Source: cnet