Welcome to the club
My initial suggestions are:
- Do a compass calibration before every first flight (dance 360° horizontal and 360° nose down)
- Do not fly if you get RED lights on phantom (not enough satellites lock or any other error showed)
- Use GPS mode as longer as you feel ready to ATTi mode. Not try MANUAL mode until you get confidence.
- Always check and secure your propellers (tightened nuts)
- Fly low and slow until you get confidence
- Keep an eye on the flashing red light alert (low voltage in battery)
- Not fly over people, cars, etc... until you become expert
- After landing... let battery get cool before recharge it. (longer flights, and longer battery life)
- Fly in open areas preferable with grass on them.
- Keep far from wires, telephone lines, trees, etc.
Hope my pre- flight check list help you, Welcome and great flights:
I wrote in february a long pre-flight checklist (i was a quad newbie so it was very helpful then).
Now I want to share my own reduced pre-flight check list for those who want to follow it (reduced to 10 points for hurry newbies) As a result, I've not lost nothing, neither have had a "fly away" or similar loose control :
1) Check the battery is charged. (
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...&_nkw=buzzer+voltage+alarm&_sacat=0&_from=R40)
2) Check around for obstacles, water or inteference sources around your flight site (Cell, Microwave or power towers)
3) Check props (specially if had bumped or crashed) may be broken.
4) Check tightened nuts, screws and holders for VTX, Camera, Gimbal, etc.
5) Check no wires around or loosening conections
6) Check your TX sticks are in correct position (GPS up, Trhottle down, etc) and if beeping with sticks down, replace batteries
7) Check the battery door is right closed and secured. Also the Phantom orientation at take off, so you stay behind it.
8) Wait for Just GREEN blink leds (GPS mode)
9) Take off and check for strange noises from motors, check Yaw, Up, Left, Right and Gimbal pitch controls are working before go far.
10) Keep an eye on your bird even when curious people come to distract you with compliments and "esoteric" questions.