Distribute the Mission Logs to students before beginning, and ensure they all understand the task (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf). 

This mini-challenge brings together the key controls students have learned so far. Because it requires sequencing multiple movements smoothly, students may need several attempts to complete the diamond-shaped path efficiently.

Consider the following prompts as you circulate and talk with students about their progress:

• What part of the path is slowing you down the most?
• Which joystick movements are you adjusting between rings?
• What changed between your first attempt and your fastest attempt?

Encourage students to take turns flying, and to use each other’s observations to refine their approach. Remind them that improvement comes with practice, and that skilled drone pilots often complete the same path many times to build precision and confidence.

Many professional pilots and training programs record simulator sessions in a flight log as “training time” because it documents practice, skills worked on, and readiness for real missions. While logging hours in a simulator is not necessarily required to become a professional drone pilot, many employers and insurance companies require simulator hours. What students are doing by flying in the simulator and keeping Mission Log documentation mimics these real-world scenarios. Making these connections for students can help them see their Mission Logs and simulator practice as a more authentic experience.