For some time I've been attempting to hoist a camera in the sky to get some photos with model aircraft and kites, the efforts of which have met with limited success. A friend of mine last year suggested I have a go at building a drone as he was about to do the same. Various designs were knocked up and fell out of the sky with devastating results (they do not glide when things go wrong). The only one I got to fly with reasonable success ended up being lost at sea. Finally after nearly 12 months using a combination of hobby parts and accumulated stuff I've got one to fly reliably and learned to control it pretty well. I bought an HD sports bullet camera which I've mounted below which has a 170° fisheye lens. The effect is a little wierd, but photoshop tidies the pics up pretty well and one certainly gets some panoramic shots. I'll post a couple of aerial shots to give you an idea of what it can do.

cheers
Tony C.

.... and this is of the south end of Gore Bay looking towards Port Robinson.

Good photos TonyC and congratulations on putting the effort in and completing the task.
My OH flies model helicopters and planes and have had excellent results with a spy camera.  Also one of his mates is a professional photogrpher done by helicopters for projects - for eg new highways etc or inside buildings.
My OH  made him a part that is fitted below the heli and can be rotated by a portable computer to whatever angle you wish to take.  Works very well too.  I also do the end results for him - print the photos and one was 2.5 M long of a panaroma one of Chritchurch stitched together. Looks fantastic.
Unfortunately with going blind a year ago have been unable to use the printer but with getting a little sight back will be into it again fairly soon hopefully.
All the best for your project too and you have beautiful scenery where you live.