Itumac
New Member
Hello all,
I'm new to the forum and new to flying quads. I thought I'd share my experiences and impressions learning to fly as they happen. Rather than just ask for advice here. I hope you find it valuable particularly when experienced pilots chime in to correct or support my statements.
How I got started
In July my brother in law came back from China with a gift for me. a JXD 385 copter. Something I learned was a clone of the Husban 107c. He paid about $15.
The thing was like a hornet buzzing around with amazing range and handling for what I thought would be no better than the toy copters that were popular a few years back. I was hooked.
I recommend this style of toy copter to start with because it's good indoors, has a lot of features and powerful for the price.It's low cost makes disaster a bit more affordable. the drawback... its cheap and flimsy and it broke quickly... here's how. One of the motors burned out. I was advised it was probably due to keeping the throttle on when it was crashed and the rotor spin was blocked.
First lesson learned: Go off throttle as soon as you hit ground on an inadvertent landing.
I replaced the JXD with a different model at the same level of "toy copter" (a term I learned on this forum) I got the UDI U818a. It has the same features programmed but it's bigger and it has a camera.
Comparing the two, I'd say they are equal for the price. BUT. The mini copter is less susceptible to wind but is harder to figure out which direction it's pointing at a distance.
Second lesson learned: Having a camera is a 7th axis. Let me put it this way. My ability to concentrate on flying is cut in half the second I put the camera on, even if I don't care about the footage. Learning to fly and learning to shoot at the same time is hard.
In the drink.
I am on my second U818a. I guess that's an endorsement. Here's how the first met it's demise.
I was flying in the park near my home. My skills just turning a corner where I could let it fly far and keep control. There was a steady wind blowing from the field towards the small lake in the center of the park. I was adjusting for the wind but several minutes in at 100 feet the breeze picked up and took the copter right over the lake. It was far and facing me. I took a deep breath relaxed, told myself I could do it. My first instinct adjusting the yaw was wrong and I pushed the copter further over the water. I recovered and moved towards the shore. But as if the sky gods were displeased, straight over the lake at 60 feet... the rotors stopped and it fell like a rock... into the drink. They don't float.
I don't know for sure what happened. But my best guess is it ran out of battery. It was long into the flight.
Final lesson. Manage your flight time with battery life in mind.
Happy flying.
I'm new to the forum and new to flying quads. I thought I'd share my experiences and impressions learning to fly as they happen. Rather than just ask for advice here. I hope you find it valuable particularly when experienced pilots chime in to correct or support my statements.
How I got started
In July my brother in law came back from China with a gift for me. a JXD 385 copter. Something I learned was a clone of the Husban 107c. He paid about $15.
The thing was like a hornet buzzing around with amazing range and handling for what I thought would be no better than the toy copters that were popular a few years back. I was hooked.
I recommend this style of toy copter to start with because it's good indoors, has a lot of features and powerful for the price.It's low cost makes disaster a bit more affordable. the drawback... its cheap and flimsy and it broke quickly... here's how. One of the motors burned out. I was advised it was probably due to keeping the throttle on when it was crashed and the rotor spin was blocked.
First lesson learned: Go off throttle as soon as you hit ground on an inadvertent landing.
I replaced the JXD with a different model at the same level of "toy copter" (a term I learned on this forum) I got the UDI U818a. It has the same features programmed but it's bigger and it has a camera.
Comparing the two, I'd say they are equal for the price. BUT. The mini copter is less susceptible to wind but is harder to figure out which direction it's pointing at a distance.
Second lesson learned: Having a camera is a 7th axis. Let me put it this way. My ability to concentrate on flying is cut in half the second I put the camera on, even if I don't care about the footage. Learning to fly and learning to shoot at the same time is hard.
In the drink.
I am on my second U818a. I guess that's an endorsement. Here's how the first met it's demise.
I was flying in the park near my home. My skills just turning a corner where I could let it fly far and keep control. There was a steady wind blowing from the field towards the small lake in the center of the park. I was adjusting for the wind but several minutes in at 100 feet the breeze picked up and took the copter right over the lake. It was far and facing me. I took a deep breath relaxed, told myself I could do it. My first instinct adjusting the yaw was wrong and I pushed the copter further over the water. I recovered and moved towards the shore. But as if the sky gods were displeased, straight over the lake at 60 feet... the rotors stopped and it fell like a rock... into the drink. They don't float.
I don't know for sure what happened. But my best guess is it ran out of battery. It was long into the flight.
Final lesson. Manage your flight time with battery life in mind.
Happy flying.