Paul K said:
Werz said:
MapMaker53 said:
It may be easy for many here to learn on a Phantom, but one bad screw-up moment or miscalculation or panic reaction and the expensive Phantom (or even just it's $750 camera) can easily become useless junk for a newbie. I understand why one might want to train a bit on a smaller, cheaper UAV.
Therein lies my point. The Phantom is very easy to fly. And the most evil thing DJI has ever done is known as the "Quick Start Guide." What takes plenty of reading (and some practice) is knowing what can go wrong, recognizing when it's happening, and knowing what do to remedy or prevent the problem. How many n00bs think that they know everything they need to know after reading the Quick Start Guide, and then proceed to take the Phantom outside and treat it like a stunt aircraft? They are stunned and confused when they crash, but when they start explaining what happened, most of the folks here can guess what they did wrong, and it's nearly always pilot error.
Get the Hubsan. Learn the controls. Learn what it's like trying to stabilize a quad
without GPS and an altimeter. Get the stupidity out of your system with something cheap and be prepared to use the proper care in preserving the more expensive Phantom.
Perfectly explained
cant believe how long lived this thread has become. looks like pivot point break has arrived in the experience preferences. ive been in IT my whole life but my grandfather learned iphone in 4 weeks.
dont tell me its not the same thing. technology changes things. DJI changed it too.
"Get the Hubsan. Learn the controls. Learn what it's like trying to stabilize a quad
without GPS and an altimeter..."
got that. guess what? you can do that with that phantom! idea! know the difference? with the phantom (out of GPS and at correct practice altitude of course and oh! by the way! you could never practice at such altitudes with the husband), at the correct practice altitude you CAN flip into GPS -if- you get into to trouble. with the pahntom. husband? you know dude. its done.
so what do you do. you buy another one! because youre not trained yet! maybe another.
the phantom out of the box can fly by a noob in a large meadow in moderate winds. out of the box.
later after lots of practice and flying circles and flying in gps thru obstacle course youve setup, you can go to ATTI. then, practice there for a bit.
later, you can go to FULL MANUAL. at a safe altitude. and GUESS WHAT? when you get in a fix you flip a swich. ans start over. not crash.
what the big deal here? losing $1300? no body would be posting here on this site if they could'nt afford to lose $1300. its an aircraft. they crash. why'd you buy it if not prepared to lose it? did you plan to crash your car when you bought it? did you still buy the car?
the OP was simply asking do i NEED to buy a cheapie or alot of cheapies and go thru a training program before i buy the (gasp!) $1300 phantom?
technology has changed. it doesnt take the air forces these days 2-3 years to train their pilots. not anymore. technology has changed that.
DJI thought similar. and no i dont troll sale for them and have only flown 4 hrs flights.
2 posters previously have already said that have phantoms uncrashed, later they bought husbands, and crashed them.
look OP: if you buy a phantom and train in an a REALLY BIG FIELD WITH GRASS and you take our time with basic maneuvers for a couple hours; then, you upload IOC naza-m and know what it does and how it helps you (saves your ***), then you can use these options to bail your *** out when practicing in ATTI and manual modes.
its all in one package guys/gals. its all there. full auto GPS control. ATTI control. manual control. in a platform that can take 20 mph winds and recover.
bottom line is no one should spend money on something they cant afford to lose. if so, train very carefully. or, put it on your insurance. with your car. which you also didnt/dont intend to lose.