Review on Buoyant Landing Gear For DJI Air 2S/Mavic Air 2 Drone Accessories - Water-Resistant Float Extender Holder For Mavic Air 2S With Increased Height And Waterproofing Capabilities by Alicia Taylor

First, it took 10 days to arrive in spite of the prediction of 30+ days.Pros:It is lightweight but sturdy.The plastic frame molding is very precise for fitting the Air 2.It allows landing in rough terrain and/or 3 or 4 inches of grass.It protects the camera.The drone can do all of its usual maneuvers with it.I wouldn't go over water without it.Adds an overall layer of protection for the bottom of the drone. If the drone were to fall for some reason, I'd certainly rather have this rig attached than not.Cons:Have to remove it to change the batterySee description of attachment and removalReduces battery life fully 30 percent (see explanation)Does affect flight dynamicsAerodynamic effect:The propeller downwash applies a downward force on the pontoons ("buoyancy sticks"), which requires the propellers to work harder to keep the drone aloft. This shortens battery life by 30 percent (according to my test) and reduces the achievable upward acceleration. My test was done with slow movement and maneuvers. In more dynamic situations, I noticed that roll control was not as well damped with the pontoons attached. This may be caused by the downwash aerodynamic effect on roll-control forces and/or by the change in rotational inertia due the the pontoon mass. While the pontoon mass is very low, it is at a relatively large displacement from the center of mass. With pontoons attached, the drone will be much more affected by wind, as the manual wisely warns. The pontoons double the overall aircraft cross section into the wind, and their displacement from the center of mass causes a significant imposition of spurious torques in windy conditions. I have not seen the drone go unstable or lose control with the pontoons attached, although agility and stability are affected in a minor way.Assembly, attachment, and detachment:The frame that attaches to the drone is beautifully molded to fit the Air 2. Initial assembly is intuitive, and it went smoothly for me. As mentioned in my "Cons," you can't exchange batteries without removing the frame that holds the pontoons. The main body of the frame fits under the drone. There is a plastic strap that goes over the top and bolts to the bottom frame on either side with two thumb screws. Before attaching to the aircraft, I recommend running the thumb screws in and out of the strap five or six times each to loosen them up. They were so stiff on first use that I had to use needle-nose pliers to screw them in with the frame in place. Without the frame, it's easy to work them in and out. It's not a big deal, but the first time you do it, you might be worrying about a future need to carry a pair of pliers.Summary:The rig works as advertised. The stated negatives are not the result of poor design; I think they were pretty much inevitable. If I were to change anything, it would be to shorten the thumb screws to speed up attachment and removal. I will use this product any time I fly near water or over difficult terrain as long as there is no significant wind problem. I'm very glad I made the purchase and highly recommend it with the above caveats. Note that all of my testing so far has been with propeller guards attached. (Propeller guards do not noticeably affect flight, although the drone detects them and the controller does tone down the performance a little when they're attached.) At the cost, it's a no-brainer.