Phantom 4, first flight, pics, first video

[blmeanie]

Had some fun today with my first flight, went out to high school football field, did the compass calibration etc. , did all the pre-flight stuff. Got the nerves going, took off, flew both batteries down to 34-40%, had a good time.

My daughter was my muse, had her run while I kept after her a bit. Here is a small edit she did for her own FB.

 

[blmeanie]

couple of questions, where do I look at the flight log file? What software?

Is there a minimum distance to be away from bird when doing the compass calibration? I think I was too close when I first did it.

 

[iSilentP]

That's funny as I also went to the high school football stadium as well with my P4. Took it high to capture just overhead shots. Here's the online gallery. Still new to flying but I thought these would make good shots. Avon Eagles Football Stadium - Buckeye Photography, Inc.


Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots

 

[iSilentP]

Flight logs should be on the device (iOS or Droid). I typically do compass calibrations while holding bird hand extension length away from me.


Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots

 

[blmeanie]

Flight logs should be on the device (iOS or Droid). I typically do compass calibrations while holding bird hand extension length away from me.


Sent from my iPad using PhantomPilots

how about distance from controller?

 

[John Locke]

The distance from controller isn't an issue, but there is no need to hold the RC.
Here's what I find easy.

1. Turn on the drone, set it down 10' from my lawn chair (which I take when I fly).
2. Go back to the chair, pickup the RC and initiate GPS calibration. Set RC in the chair.
3. Walk over to the drone sitting on the ground, pick it up, hold the back two legs at shoulder level, arms extended out, drone level pointed away from me, then spin around slow until the amber LED lights on the drone turn green.
4. Then hold the bottom of the landing gear, front of drone pointed at the ground, then spin around until the solid green lights start to blink with green.

Calibrate once. If it flies well with no compass warnings, then don't calibrate again until you fly more than 50mi away from the last calibration.

 

[blmeanie]

Another question from yesterday, somewhere I read a recommendation to put phone on airplane mode and shut down auto updates etc. I did that and while flying yesterday I did not have an active map on the screen , was that because I put on airplane mode or did something else?

I'm using my iPhone 6 (small but what I have right now) on a P4.