Radio control planes/copters/quadcopters

[CK_BK]

Hi all,

Just wondering how many Rv'ers out there fly radio control planes, heli's or quads? I'm heavy into quads flying with my Gopro camera.


Would like to hear about some of the places ppl have flown, some of their experiences, and see some of the pics taken, if any.


Just wondering....

Enjoy the Journey....

[quicksilverado]

I prefer to fly one of these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMi9boJHiwg

[SCVJeff]

And I have the DJI on a Hex, and it too flys as described. Even us idiots can fly

[jolooote]

Thanks much.

[CK_BK]

SCVJeff wrote:

jolooote wrote:
I have a nervious condition called Primary Tremmors(shaky hands & fingers). I tried flying gas planes years ago & found it impossible. I than tried electrics, again, impossible for me. The Parrot Drone is the only thing I can actually do.

You would likely be able to fly any of the more sophisticated flight control quads. Once an episode starts or you start having trouble in general, just let go of the sticks and it will just sit there on station waiting for you. If you really get in trouble you can hit one switch and it will fly home, auto-land within 1.5' of where it left, and shut the motors off. There are people that fly theirs in acrobatic mode that can do things thought impossible a few years ago. If you're good enough to get that crazy and get in trouble where you can't control it, again, flip a switch.

You need something with GPS in it, but once you fly something with that kind of control assist, you'll never go back. And they ain't that expensive anymore.

You need to check out www.horizonhobby.com and look at the 350QX. This is one of those quads that has the smart mode. You can let go of the sticks and the quad will hover in place. (I have the 350QX and it flys as advertised.) Check this link out.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/350-qx-rtf-combo-with-safe-technology-and-ac-charger-BLH7800AC1

Another quad is the DJI Phantom line at

http://www.dji.com

There are a number of quads there that have the smart mode.

Check out the videos at both sites, you will be pretty amazed how easy it is to learn to fly these units.

I would recommend that you go to

http://www.modelaircraft.org/

and check out them out and become a member of this modeling group. They are the worlds largest model association and they offer a lot of information and help to the modeling world.

Hope this helps...

[SCVJeff]

jolooote wrote:
I have a nervious condition called Primary Tremmors(shaky hands & fingers). I tried flying gas planes years ago & found it impossible. I than tried electrics, again, impossible for me. The Parrot Drone is the only thing I can actually do.

You would likely be able to fly any of the more sophisticated flight control quads. Once an episode starts or you start having trouble in general, just let go of the sticks and it will just sit there on station waiting for you. If you really get in trouble you can hit one switch and it will fly home, auto-land within 1.5' of where it left, and shut the motors off. There are people that fly theirs in acrobatic mode that can do things thought impossible a few years ago. If you're good enough to get that crazy and get in trouble where you can't control it, again, flip a switch.

You need something with GPS in it, but once you fly something with that kind of control assist, you'll never go back. And they ain't that expensive anymore.

[jolooote]

I have a nervious condition called Primary Tremmors(shaky hands & fingers). I tried flying gas planes years ago & found it impossible. I than tried electrics, again, impossible for me. The Parrot Drone is the only thing I can actually do.

[hershey]

jolooote wrote:
OK, found my own answers...The original Parrot Drone, $145 at Bed Bath Beyond does have two cameras. It doesn't have the 'Absolute Control' feature thats designed for noobs. The Parrot Drone 2.0,
$325 + Has Absolute Control.:R

That term "Absolute Control" has to be taken with a huge grain (spoon) of salt.
It does take some time to learn to fly a quad.
The Parrot Drone sounds like the best thing since sliced bread but it has sever shortcomings. The range of control is very limited. And using an IPhone to guide and operate a RC type vehicle is a huge trade-off from an actual RC radio.
For way less than a hundred dollars, you can get a small quad, with camera and controller and charger that will actually give you a lot of enjoyment and can easily be learned to operate.
And, spare parts are available.
8 years of experience here, many with many more years will back me up.

[jolooote]

OK, found my own answers...The original Parrot Drone, $145 at Bed Bath Beyond does have two cameras. It doesn't have the 'Absolute Control' feature thats designed for noobs. The Parrot Drone 2.0,
$325 + Has Absolute Control.:R

[jolooote]

Whats the difference between the original Parrot AR Drone & the newer
AR Drone 2.0 ?

[CK_BK]

NinerBikes wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

jolooote wrote:
Is it true that the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 has TWO cameras ?

I thought it was one camera, two functions, video and still shot.

i think it actually is, but the second camera is facing down and tied to the flight control computer for station keeping. It's not for photography. Cool idea, but the quad has very limited range

For me, it's to learn how to fly a quad, not much more or less. Want something not too expensive to fix when I crash and break things.

There are a number of relative inexpensive quads. There is the Hubsan x4 107L for about $55 on amazon or ebay. complete with a transmitter. It can be flown in your rig and also outside, but not when its windy.

If you want to have one with a camers, you can get the Hubsan X4 H107C
for about $70. Fly in rig and outside....again not very windy.
There are some that offer FPV....frist person viewing, your transmitter has a screen and a video is transmitter from the copter back and you see where ya goin. Hubsan X4 H107D FPV for about $175.
Spare parts, especially props can be obtained from ebay pretty "cheep".

Check out HorizonHobby.com and look at the Nano QX ad the 180 QX. They are fun to fly and really dont cost a lot....Hope this helps.

[SCVJeff]

NinerBikes wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

jolooote wrote:
Is it true that the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 has TWO cameras ?

I thought it was one camera, two functions, video and still shot.

i think it actually is, but the second camera is facing down and tied to the flight control computer for station keeping. It's not for photography. Cool idea, but the quad has very limited range

For me, it's to learn how to fly a quad, not much more or less. Want something not too expensive to fix when I crash and break things.

Can't answer your question on parts with this one, but thats exactly why I advocate going with one of the well knowns from a hobby shop and not a kiosk at the mall or BBB places. If you buy anything Horizon Hobby (and a few others), you will never have a parts problem. There are dozens of websites in addition to the local LHS that stock every single component on their models.

[NinerBikes]

SCVJeff wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:

jolooote wrote:
Is it true that the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 has TWO cameras ?

I thought it was one camera, two functions, video and still shot.

i think it actually is, but the second camera is facing down and tied to the flight control computer for station keeping. It's not for photography. Cool idea, but the quad has very limited range

For me, it's to learn how to fly a quad, not much more or less. Want something not too expensive to fix when I crash and break things.

[SCVJeff]

NinerBikes wrote:

jolooote wrote:
Is it true that the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 has TWO cameras ?

I thought it was one camera, two functions, video and still shot.

i think it actually is, but the second camera is facing down and tied to the flight control computer for station keeping. It's not for photography. Cool idea, but the quad has very limited range

[NinerBikes]

jolooote wrote:
Is it true that the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 has TWO cameras ?

I thought it was one camera, two functions, video and still shot.