I just want the fun of flying it and am not really interested in taking photos or videos
will i be able to fly it just using the sticks without the phone, will be flying at a local park.
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
I fly the DJI Mini 2 and it works just fine without the "Device" (be it a smart phone or tablet).
As for your Holy Stone: Can you fly a Holy Stone drone without a phone? Yes, you can. The primary function of a smartphone or tablet is for FPV viewing watching the flight of the drone as if you are a "tiny Pilot" in your drone, though they also have other functions such as configuration and GPS. But you can comfortably use your drone with just the controller.
As I wrote, I fly a DJI Drone and without the device, the drone is still controllable, but you must be able to see it and be close enough to be able to tell which way it is facing so when you give it Forward, you know if it is going to fly towards you or away from you…
And that is just beginning, the App in the device also controls so much more and without a device, you are just stuck with the defaults (camera settings, the return to home height. Etc…
So, if you just want to buzz around a bit, you should be fine…
Since you live in the UK, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check to ensure these are current.
drone-laws.com
Even if you may have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.
Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).
Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.
Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."
Fly On and Fly Safe…
