Augustus Brian
lvl.4
Flight distance : 397592 ft
United States
Offline
|
Desertrose:
When the Vision System began malfunctioning, I noticed that the P4 would bounce lightly, several times before coming to rest. These bounces weren't from a height sufficient to cause any damage, but they were annoying nonetheless. When the Vision System is operating correctly, the P4 lands smoothly.
So, having said that, although I always take off from a portable platform, I catch most of my flights. I land on the platform if the Vision System is working AND the winds are light (less that 5MPH). I seldom land on the ground, cement, gravel, sand(never), grass or otherwise, because I don't like the idea of windblown debris/dust particles fouling my engines, however remote the possibility.
However, according to the FAA regulations, hand catching is illegal. (After a user posted night flight in the western US a few days ago, another user responded with a reproduction of FAA rules. Buried within the document was this stipulation: Not even the pilot is allowed to hand-catch a UAV.) I firmly believe it was meant to cover winged UAVs and helicopters, not vehicles that hover. I hope that the FAA will revise this edict, because there are times when the optimum and safest procedure is to hand-catch, at least for some drones.
I wouldn't want to try catching an Inspire or a Yuneec Typhoon or anything with 6 or 8 blades. I'd feel anxious about trying to catch a Mavic. The Phantom series lends itself to a safer hand-catch---it's landing gear is white, easy to see, and firm.
The technique for safely hand-catching Phantoms described on this thread is spot-on. I guess I'll have to be an outlaw evildoer, at least in this regard.
Keep Smiling,
Augustus |
|