02 April 2026
My name is Cary Hacker and I am a member of The Droning Company. I also belong to a few other sites that basically do the same thing. So far this one has been more responsive in terms of answering questions and taking care of their pilots and I appreciate that. I have had an interest in flying drones for more than 10 years but didn't really pursue it because I live near an airport and in doing some research I discovered that flying near my home was probably not something I would be able to do.
After a few years I did some more research and realized I can fly here and other locations with permission and how easy it is to get that permission. I also recently discovered it can be more than a hobby and decided to obtain my FAA Part 107 certificate so I could do short videos to help friends with advertising their respective businesses. After doing some of this I realized I could maybe make this a small business to help myself also. So here is pretty much how I got to where I am today and hopefully this will help me move forward in this business.
I have always had a keen interest in all things involving technology. I remember being a child and I would take my mom's record player apart trying to figure out it worked. If you gave me anything that was electronic you could bet it would be in pieces shortly after I got my hands on it. I was always trying to figure out a way to make it work more efficiently, even at 8 years old. That curiosity continued into my early 20s and 30s when I got into computers. I would read anything I could to learn how they operated. I actually think the best book I read and learned the most from was called “ DOS for Dummies". They have a whole line of books out there from this company now and to be truthful, they're pretty good! This was before Windows came out so I was working mainly in dos. I also was interested in flying and would buy any software that was related to aircraft. I also had an interest in anything remote control, which probably led me to where I am today.
When I was around 14 I developed an interest in how cars worked and true to form I dove headfirst into that! I took and automotive course in high school and started doing work in my garage at home for neighbors and friends and friends of friends or anyone else who wanted automotive work done. I did everything from oil changes to complete engine rebuilds. This taught me a lot about how anything with a motor worked and to this day I still apply what I have learned over the years.
Little did I know but in school I was pretty good with math and mastered algebra pretty quick! I had know idea how important learning this would be until much later in my firefighting career when I used it on a daily basis. I also used it daily in the construction field as well as in my drone work! Never let anyone tell you that advanced math is useless. I would have had a terrible time doing my job without knowledge of it.
I grew up in the Lake County, Illinois area, which is about 40 miles north of Chicago. I graduated high school from Zion Benton Township High School in 1978. From there I volunteered at our local fire department and fell in love with that work. I worked full time as a mechanic in a local garage until 1983 when I was hired as a firefighter at a nearby Naval Air Station. Being a federal position I was able to do lateral transfers and soon found myself working at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago Illinois as a federal firefighter. I remained there until 2006 retiring as a Captain.
While working there I discovered that one of my coworkers owned a hobby shop and was into rc airplanes. My curiosity got the better of me and I ended up buying a plane from him. After several “uncontrolled” landings and about $1000 just in repairs and replacement parts I decided that wasn’t the hobby for me at that time since I had a child on the way. I still had an interest in it and figured I would give it a try again one day but never did get another plane. Then I discovered drones. They were much easier to fly and land! Once I tried one I was hooked. And to see how far they have come today is nothing short of remarkable.
In 2005, I was on a carbon monoxide call at a home that also did daycare for children. While there and while helping get the children out of the house I was overcome by CO and had a stroke. I was off work for about 9 months. When I returned (I had no lasting side effects) I just didn't feel right. After talking with my neurologist it was decided I should take a medical retirement.
While as a firefighter I also took on a part-time job working in construction, mainly roofing. After my retirement I started my own construction business and continued that until 2010 when the housing market crashed and the work became scarce. I then used my experience driving fire trucks to become a truck driver. I drove trucks for another 12 years until it became unbearable trying to climb up and into the truck. In 2022, I had a complete knee replacement. To this day it still gives me problems and forced me to retire from truck driving. I have been retired since then and have become more involved in the drone world along with working a part time job at a gun range as a Range Safety Officer. I have been there for almost 3 years and have met some really good people. I decided to turn that love into a fulltime hobby and business while also trying to help people who may or may not understand how this technology can really help their business.
Right now I own 2 drones, a DJI Mini 4 and a Skyrover X1. DJI is basically the Cadillac of drones because of their reliability and technology. The Skyrover x1is pretty much a knock off of a DJI drone with many people in the drone world claiming it's a DJI company, but I don't think anyone has proof of this yet.
I also have an interest in motorcycles and am on my 4th Harley Davidson. I really enjoy taking trips on my bike and actually have a trip planned later this year to Sturgis, South Dakota for the big bike rally there in August. You can bet I'll have at least one drone with me for that trip!
I hope I can help anyone reading this realize the potential these flying machines possess!
Thank you for allowing me the time to tell my story here and hopefully I can show you what the capabilities of aerial drone work can do for you.
Watch!
