...But got it on the second attempt taking off in full manual and no damage done. Windy day so even more difficult controlling the drone but managed to get down to lower altitudes and it's all clicking even more now.

Near crash content added at the end of the vid with my drone being blown towards a tree! Scary moment but thank God for that pause button!

Don't be afraid to punch the throttle a bit when taking off, helps you get out of ground turbulence and go straight up instead of drifting to the side. And is fun if you overdo it

fichek Posted at 5-15 06:02
Don't be afraid to punch the throttle a bit when taking off, helps you get out of ground turbulence and go straight up instead of drifting to the side. And is fun if you overdo it

I fully intend to - it reached 300' in seconds!

Looking good .. Great video

MAF178 Posted at 5-15 06:42
Looking good .. Great video

Thanks MAF - getting there but only flight 5 in full manual with five hours on the rubbish sim so I'm pleased with the progress!

A little hiccup to start but a great flight once airborne.    Towards the end I saw that tree getting closer and closer and I kept saying to myself he'll hit the pause button, he'll hit the pause button.  You've got to love the pause button.  

Looking much better every flight AJ.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-15 13:14
A little hiccup to start but a great flight once airborne.    Towards the end I saw that tree getting closer and closer and I kept saying to myself he'll hit the pause button, he'll hit the pause button.  You've got to love the pause button.  

Looking much better every flight AJ.

Looking back on all the footage from yesterday I missed posting some better bits flying at 40+mph above the tree tops. I also tried a 180 degree flip and roll combo to turn around in a split second but I gained too much altitude and the drone went back to N mode as a safety feature. I'll have to try that again.

The trick is definite lots of fast throttle to get off the ground,    slow and gentle is HARD.

DAFlys Posted at 5-15 22:11
The trick is definite lots of fast throttle to get off the ground,    slow and gentle is HARD.

I now know lol - the second and third take offs in manual were fine I'm pleased to say. Just need lots of thrust!

A J Posted at 5-15 22:18
I now know lol - the second and third take offs in manual were fine I'm pleased to say. Just need lots of thrust!

I went through the same here too,   first time and its heading backwards,  after that I put that on pause and now Ive regularly taking off in Manual,   just punch that throttle,  downside is it eats battery.

DAFlys Posted at 5-15 22:19
I went through the same here too,   first time and its heading backwards,  after that I put that on pause and now Ive regularly taking off in Manual,   just punch that throttle,  downside is it eats battery.

I have noticed my flight time dipping from 17 to 12 minutes since flying at max speeds in manual, especially in  the wind. To be expected given how much extra power the motors are using to reach 60mph

A J Posted at 5-15 22:21
I have noticed my flight time dipping from 17 to 12 minutes since flying at max speeds in manual, especially in  the wind. To be expected given how much extra power the motors are using to reach 60mph

Ive never got better than 12 minutes with mine,   but I always and with at least 25% free.  

DAFlys Posted at 5-15 22:47
Ive never got better than 12 minutes with mine,   but I always and with at least 25% free.

I'm on the ground between 15-20% - yet to hit critical battery levels and hopefully never will!

A J Posted at 5-15 22:48
I'm on the ground between 15-20% - yet to hit critical battery levels and hopefully never will!

My RTH kicks in at 25%

Nice video. Happy and safe flying A J

DAFlys Posted at 5-15 23:09
My RTH kicks in at 25%

cancel that - only use RTH if I lose connection which is very rare

Dronep Posted at 5-15 23:52
Nice video. Happy and safe flying A J

Thanks very much

A J Posted at 5-15 21:56
Looking back on all the footage from yesterday I missed posting some better bits flying at 40+mph above the tree tops. I also tried a 180 degree flip and roll combo to turn around in a split second but I gained too much altitude and the drone went back to N mode as a safety feature. I'll have to try that again.

Sounds great.  Can't wait to see the 180 degree flip and roll combo.  

A J Posted at 5-15 21:56
Looking back on all the footage from yesterday I missed posting some better bits flying at 40+mph above the tree tops. I also tried a 180 degree flip and roll combo to turn around in a split second but I gained too much altitude and the drone went back to N mode as a safety feature. I'll have to try that again.

The juicy flick? Can be very cool when executed nicely through a gap

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-16 12:21
Sounds great.  Can't wait to see the 180 degree flip and roll combo.

That will take sone practice mate! lol

fichek Posted at 5-16 13:37
The juicy flick? Can be very cool when executed nicely through a gap

It will be very cool if I can master it. Out of all of the acro stuff that is the one I am most keen to do. Doing it through a gap without crashing is when I will consider my FPV training complete!

A J Posted at 5-16 21:57
That will take sone practice mate! lol

No doubt it will but I'm sure you'll succeed at it when you are ready.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-17 03:21
No doubt it will but I'm sure you'll succeed at it when you are ready.

I love your confidence in me Sir - just returned from another three flights this morning! Definite improvements being made! Video coming in a minute to the Avata section.

A J Posted at 5-17 04:12
I love your confidence in me Sir - just returned from another three flights this morning! Definite improvements being made! Video coming in a minute to the Avata section.

My confidence is based on how well you prepare and how quickly you grasp the needed skills.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-17 14:07
My confidence is based on how well you prepare and how quickly you grasp the needed skills.

I appreciate that Rich - thank you

A J Posted at 5-17 21:44
I appreciate that Rich - thank you

Well deserved AJ.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  

I'm heading out here in a bit on another dive on a sunken ship.  Goal is to find gold but it seems the odds are always stacked against me on that endeavor.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-18 03:29
Well deserved AJ.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  

I'm heading out here in a bit on another dive on a sunken ship.  Goal is to find gold but it seems the odds are always stacked against me on that endeavor.

Best wishes on the dive Rich - I hope you strike it lucky in the deep

It looks like you are doing well AJ.  Thanks for sharing.

BobWinNV Posted at 5-18 11:57
It looks like you are doing well AJ.  Thanks for sharing.

Cheers Bob - it isn't easy that's for sure but is great fun!

A J Posted at 5-18 09:00
Best wishes on the dive Rich - I hope you strike it lucky in the deep

Thanks AJ.  

Turned out to be a nice dive.  I got to watch a group of 5 manta rays putting on a choreographed "dance" which was quite impressive.  They are so cool to watch as they majestically swim around you.  

Only find yesterday was an encrusted cannonball about 52 mm in size.  Can't tell for sure as it had so much ocean crust on it.  However, if that size is correct it would have been fired out of what was called a four pounder cannon.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-19 06:32
Thanks AJ.  

Turned out to be a nice dive.  I got to watch a group of 5 manta rays putting on a choreographed "dance" which was quite impressive.  They are so cool to watch as they majestically swim around you.  

That sounds like a stunning sight to behold!

A J Posted at 5-19 13:06
That sounds like a stunning sight to behold!

They do put on an amazing show.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-20 01:59
They do put on an amazing show.

I've seen them in large aquariums and they are very striking creatures - I can only imagine what they would be like in their natural habitat. Stunning fish

A J Posted at 5-20 07:38
I've seen them in large aquariums and they are very striking creatures - I can only imagine what they would be like in their natural habitat. Stunning fish

I've seen several places that offer a package to swim with the dolphins and now a couple are starting to offer swimming with manta rays.  Will be interesting to see how that venture plays out.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-20 13:39
I've seen several places that offer a package to swim with the dolphins and now a couple are starting to offer swimming with manta rays.  Will be interesting to see how that venture plays out.

I can see that being a real hit

A J Posted at 5-20 14:27
I can see that being a real hit

I hope so.  They really are majestic swimmers and it would be nice for non-divers to get up close action of them.

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-21 03:00
I hope so.  They really are majestic swimmers and it would be nice for non-divers to get up close action of them.

A J Posted at 5-21 03:03
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUzdmbYe7yo

Nice share AJ.  This shows just how majestic manta rays can be.  I've yet to see one with 25 foot wing span but certainly some with 12 foot wing spans.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 5-21 03:27
Nice share AJ.  This shows just how majestic manta rays can be.  I've yet to see one with 25 foot wing span but certainly some with 12 foot wing spans.

As majestic as they clearly are one with a 25' wingspan swimming towards me would make me drown in pure fear lol

A J Posted at 5-21 03:31
As majestic as they clearly are one with a 25' wingspan swimming towards me would make me drown in pure fear lol

They do have a menacing look about them when swimming right at you.  Sometimes when around them it is almost as if they want to play.  They seem to love flapping you with their wing on the way by as it they are playing tag.