AeroScout 1.1m RTF

[Newbie Pilt]

SanExup,
You give good advice. Unfortunately, there’s no RC Club near where I live and no Instructor. There is a flying strip in the next county from my location. The last two paragraphs of your response is very helpful. 99%of your comments are very helpful. And, Paragraph 3 is excellent. It makes a lot of sense. I’ll just have to do this on my own and take the consequences.

Jim

[boomer108]

Welcome to Hobby Squawk Newbie Pilot. Being you don't have an instructor available I would highly suggest you invest in a RC simulator. The simulator will teach you the basics of flying and when you crash and you will it doesn't empty your wallet you can reset the program and learn from your mistakes. When you feel comfortable taking off and landing go out to the flying field and try the real thing. Good luck and good flying!

[Newbie Pilt]

boomer108. Good advice. However, the RC Simulator program I’ve seen on Horizon Hobby’s website is not cheap. It’s also true that this simulator requires a separate transmitter, probably a 6-Channel Spectrum. That’s an expense I’m not able to absorb. I totally agree that using one would save me some aggravation, but this simulator is price heavy. All I know to do is spend several hours learning to take off, fly low to the ground and practice landings. After all, taking off is optional. Landing, however, is not.

[SanExup]

Even a cheap or free phone app RC simulator can help to train your mind hand coordination. They aren't as good as the pricey simulators but they help. Because they are free and somewhat crappy they are boring, but think of it like going to the gym, it helps to get a base hand eye fitness.

Have you looked at any information on landing patterns for real planes? I assume you know to takeoff and land directly into the wind if possible? You might find good information, or obtain good visualization by watching videos of real single engine plane instruction videos on takeoffs, landings, and slow speed stalls (power off), and takeoff stalls (power on) These are planes, the same things that bite RC pilots are the same things real pilots battle with.

Wind direction is key. Gusty crosswind even leaves experienced rc pilots wondering what happened.

And also fly.the pattern. Touch and go's are a big hit with all pilots for a reason. If you can fly the plane down, watch your speed, not too fast not too slow, and touch the wheels or even close to touching the wheels and then power up and takeoff. If you can do that proficiently, or just repeatedly, closer and closer to exactly where you want to, that will be the thing that opens the door for you. For me, I practice touch and goes with every model I have. If I haven't flown.in a while, touch and goes. I think having the mindset that you're going to touch the wheels and power up helps avoid the oh crap moments. You can analyze everything wrong and right while flying away from it, and come around and try it again. When you see one you like, take it and cut throttle. It's so much better to be in the mindset of, I'm throttling up doing touch and goes but I like this one, so I'll cut the throttle and land. Versus, I'm landing but its looking crappy, I've cut throttle too much too early, what do I do, what do I do. From my experience, the only thing that fixes that is usually glue. I hope this helps a little and isn't a confusing explanation.

The other 'exercise' that helped me. Once comfortable with touch and goes and landings, is to turn the oval into a halfpipe like pattern. Planes are momentum machines. Sure some have power and you can just point it into orbit, or in other words it has power to go wherever you point it. Most planes run out of momentum at some angle of climb. But what I am suggesting is to fly the oval with half throttle so your speed is dropping slowly as you climb but you aren't adjusting throttle, try to leave it in one place but not full throttle. Fly the pattern sonit looks like a skater in a half pipe, at the top of the climb use rudder to come around and descend back down, come into level flight and climb the other side and same thing use rudder to come around. Don't be tempted to do true stall turns straight away. And definitely do this with plenty of altitude. But this is something I'll do to help see the parameters and characteristics of a plane. Maybe it's a silly exercise, I don't know, but it helps me to get comfortable with a plane and it's easy to turn that into a loop once you see how the plane carries momentum. And if you're doing this with less than full throttle, you have that extra throttle to help if you're running out of steam.

Obviously if you lived close I'd help you. But again, good luck, you'll get it!

[Newbie Pilt]

Great advice. Watching real plane to’s and landings is a good idea. I’ll definitely look at them. I don’t understand the “halfpipe” pattern you mentioned. I’ve seen this on Winter Olympics but how does this apply to RC planes? I sound ignorant because my flying experience has been UAV’s. There’s a big difference. And your humor is appreciated.

[SanExup]

Newbie Pilt Yeah that analogy might have been a stretch, I was more referring to a skateboard halfpipe. So if the oval pattern we've been talking about is flat, what i am referring to is making the oval U shaped like the ramp. A skater has to use momentum and not let it die out by trying to go higher than his momentum allows. So you are flying level (flat part of the ramp) in the straight part of the oval and climbing at the ends (where you'll make the turns). Sorry if it isn't making much sense.

[Newbie Pilt]

Now this makes complete sense. I expect to fly the Aeroscout S for at least a year. I’ve no desire to crash or have a “flyaway.” I’ve had both with quadcopters and it is not fun. I’ll stay on beginner mode for as long as I’m comfortable. I have what is called “the snakebit” mood, caused by two very expensive drone losses: a total of $ 1400.00 crashes.

Your suggestion of practicing low flying and landings is good advice. Unfortunately, there’s no RC Club where I live and no RC instructors. It’s going to be interesting to practice by myself, learning the techniques by myself, and flying by myself.

I’ll keep you informed of my progress and probably ask for your advice. If I wear out my welcome, I want to know.

[SanExup]

Newbie Pilt I'm no expert by any means, there are many here that probably have flown many more hours than me. That being said, I have flown on and off for the last 20 years. And I vividly remember learning and crashing while teaching myself and feeling ready to quit for the sake.of my sanity and wallet. And then I also remember having breakthrough flights that made me want to fly more and more. It is highly rewarding and enjoyable. And I can't imagine not wanting to fly now. Unfortunately with flying rc planes, everyone crashes or has mishaps at some point, or multiple points. But like being a real pilot if you have your mental checklists and stay teachable enough to continually learn from others, whether it's from their mistakes or their brilliance, you can avoid a large percentage of crashes. Of course entropy exists and equipment failure happens, that can't be eliminated but it can be curtailed. I think you have the right plane. And it sounds like you are eager to learn. And it doesn't seem like you lead with your pride, so I bet you'll learn fast. Really, feel free to PM me with questions, I'll let you know if you 'wear out your welcome ' whatever that means. Or start a new thread topic with your questions. If you do, maybe tag me once, so I see it. This thread is specific to the Aeroscout and, understandably, others will get annoyed if we're not jabbering about the Aeroscout more and only talking flying tips. But I'll be glad to help if i can and i know there are potentially others that might as well. It's often better to have multiple sources of insight and explanation. If people don't want to bother they won't. But I think most people use this forum because they have at least a little passion for this hobby. And probably didn't get where they are without some kind of help from others, directly or indirectly. Also remember there is a ton of info here that you can search. And the other forum rcgroups. I use it but I don't comment. I forgot my password for it years ago and haven't bothered. It can be a pissing match sometimes, so I spectate. Here I'm more inclined to participate. Salut buddy!

[Newbie Pilt]

You could have been a very good high school English teacher because you have two excellent skills: empathy and understanding of people who want to do well but have a bit of reluctance to step close to the cliff edge.

[Newbie Pilt]

SanExup, have you been following the recent news from the FAA on requiring drone pilots who own older UAV’s to equip their crafts with remote ID broadcast devices? Google this new government requirement. It’s almost a case of knee jerk government Big Brother.

What’s next? RC aircraft? And, if a RC pilot equips her or his plane with a camera, esp. one with FPV technology, does doing so throw us into the new drone rules? I’d like your thinking on this “Down the Rabbit Hole” possibility.

Thanks,
Jim
NewbiePilt.

[SanExup]

Newbie Pilt I can't say that I've paid close enough attention to it yet. I wrote, more like cut and pasted, a letter to the FAA a while back. And read a little on the regulations. I've heard rants on youtube but I got bored of the venting without a clear explanation. I will Googleit and read up on it.

Personally, I think of all the nitwits with laser pointers who can't control themselves. Or the blatant dumb asses who fly drones in Yellowstone and other national parks. Or even the person in my neighborhood who occasionally flies one around my house at window level. I've been tempted to take it out but just haven't devised a method yet, plus the flights aren't regular enough to be ready for it on the few times it's happened. I like rc, whatever it is, I just happen to be into planes. I think drones are cool, heli's too. Trucks and boats. I think fpv is amazing and really hope to get into it. I think there are quite a few interesting people of all ages and archetypes that get into it. It's been around for a long time, that in itself is interesting. What innovative activities bring people of diverse backgrounds and skillsets to the same table like RC.

But...
Unfortunately because artificial intelligence doesn't come in pill form, we need regulation.

It's the few that usually ruin things for the many. Hopefully transponders are small, light, and don't use a lot of power. It wouldn't change anything about how and where I fly. But I do see how it would change things for quite a few people. However, I really don't think it's Stalin coming in the middle of the night infringing on our civil liberties. People should participate in process not just resist change without consideration. At the same time, sometimes resistance is participation in the process. So I don't really know. I probably play red and black on this subject.

Funny thing is that I fly because it's relaxing to forget about the trials.and tribulations of modern society. Again, transponders wouldn't bother me or change anything for me. But maybe there's more to it than I'm aware of.

I do think we are in the dawn of commercial drone use and that airspace is valuable. And anyone can buy and fly a drone nowadays. And there has to be a high level of commercial interest in that airspace. Who is big brother anyway?

This topic poses a great question. I do wonder how other people, who probably know a lot more about it than I do, I wonder what they think? It seems like a great topic for a community thread. It would be good to get more insight on it. I know the regulations don't take effect for.a couple of years, so I wonder what manufacturers reactions to it are?

[Newbie Pilt]

You make very good points in your response. Where I live, southeast Georgia, between Savannah on the east coast and Augusta, home of the PGA Masters Golf Tournament, drones are becoming more in use, esp. in agriculture, for detecting soil moisture, surveying crops, checking on fences. I don’t see why RC planes couldn’t do likewise. Equip one with a camera, or even FPV, and the plane might be competitive.

I was under the the impression that drones were verboten in any park, state or federal. I know in Georgia, a drone pilot flying in a state park who gets caught can get jail time and a hefty fine. And you’re exactly right about the knuckleheads who fly in neighborhoods. They are making the sport unpleasant for the rule followers.

I recently equipped my Aeroscout with wireless nav’ lights, from a company called Easy Lights. Rechargeable, Easy to install, and very bright. I bought them from Amazon, around $31.00 for three. They can be charged from a android phone cable attached to wall charger.

You Tube has at least one video on the Aeroscout flying with them.

Happy Flying,


Jim

[SanExup]

Nice, I have an.uncle that lives near Savannah, near a wildlife refuge, if that brings a bell

Yes, drones are illegal in the Parks but people still do it. Someone crashed a drone into the Grand Prismatic Spring some years back. And another person had to be rescued after getting cliffed out while trying to retrieve a crashed drone near Yellowstone Falls. What happened to just showing up and taking it in? I went to a concert with my wife two summers ago and couldn't believe the sea of phones. Monkey see monkey do. Is it not a good time if you don't record it? It's absurd. But yes, people are breaking the law and using drones in the National Parks.

The light kit sounds cool. Have you looked at Motionrc's website? They do sell light kits on there as well that run off of the flight battery. It sounds like your lighting doesn't weigh much and your plane has a large wing area, so no concern there. But other planes suffer performance with added weight. I just thought I'd mention it, so if you end up with another plane you'd like to add lights to it's a good way to go as well.

I'm going to take a look at those though!

Yes, the commercial uses of drones , aside from package delivery, is quite interesting. Fire spotting for one example, cheaper and safer. It really is the dawn of drone use.

[Newbie Pilt]

SanExup, I think these EasyLight rascals are about 8 grams each, have sticky pads, although I use double-sided tape if I wanted eventually to swap them to another plane. Also winged shaped. There’s a really neat You Tube video of someone recently flying his drone over an belching volcano on Iceland. Great video being live-streamed. Only one “slight” hiccup: as he flew over the cone, hot lava belched out, kind of like a burp, and unfortunately, caught his drone in the heat of the moment. Ergo, melted drone. Got great video on the national news feeds. 30 seconds of fame.

[SanExup]

I just watched it. Amazing footage. And drones are amazing, I'm definitely not anti drone. I don't want to come across as if I am. I am definitely anti imbecile, and, sorry ,after a dumb deed doesn't cut it. So I am pro responsibility as well.

[Newbie Pilt]

It’s ironic but after examining the transmitter that syncs to the Aeroscout, it turns out that my drone, a Yuneec Q500 +, can be flown with the transmitter that was packaged with the Aeroscout. Unfortunately, that’s the same drone that I lost three years ago to what’s called a “flyaway,” an uncontrolled and inexplicable loss of control between the drone and the transmitter. No one can explain this phenomenon. Total and complete no signal to the drone.

Have you ever heard of this phenomenon between a plane and its transmitter, even after performing a range check as well as a control surfaces check?

In the back back of my mind lurks this little green gremlin. I had a similar experience with a two-channel RC plane about ten years ago. Wind, inexperience, and only two controls, throttle and rudder. Too strong a wind came up, took the plane into higher and higher circles and off it went.

[SanExup]

Yes and yes. For certain you can exceed the range and get a fly away, but usually, with decent receivers it's likely the plane would visually be a speck by the time that's happening.

This being said, there are receivers with issues of signal loss. People have lost planes, flying directly in front of them, from signal loss. This can be from a variety of things. RF noise as an example.

There are receivers that accept a satellite antenna that boosts coverage. I would bet most people using fpv equipment also.use sat antennas.

[Newbie Pilt]

So, would your recommendation for flying the first time and all the time would be within LOS? And as for altitude your recommendation would be what? I ask because I can find absolutely no You Tube videos of experts who even address the issue of altitude. All of them create these videos, it seems, for “show-offs” or, “Look at my great flying skills or my ‘spectacular’ aerobatics.”

I am so amazed that not one of them, especially those who are employed by Horizon Hobby or the RC Saylors, takes time to talk to beginners about the practical elements of the basics of flying. They seem so set on bragging about their skills or showing off their planes that they ignore the nuts and bolts of actually learning how to pilot a plane.

[SanExup]

To get to the point. Once you get over the initial humps and bumps of basic flying things might start to come more intuitively to you. (Not to say crashes won't happen. Even guys and girls that have been flying rc forever crash. Like full scale aviation, there are a lot of variables that can bite anyone.) But once over the initial humps, it actually isn't that difficult to fly. So, yes, you aren't likely to find someone to take the time to make those basic beginner tutorials. You're right though, I'm surprised Horizon or another stable funded company doesn't produce one. However, there is enough videos and information to piece it all together through some level of trial and error. Which is rc aviation, a fair bit of trial and error. And then for surely some piecing together.

As for youtube stars, it's the home shopping network. There are some skilled pilots and some decent videographers. But for the most part, I believe that a good number of them haven't been flying for long and are just trying to make a buck as a youtube star, whatever that is. Either way, the further innyour journey that you get you'll see that some of the info they give is worthy, some of it is just fill or pertinent to them. I'd say most likely you'll see things to avoid versus what to do. Let me present it this way, would you learn to drive from a car salesman? Not likely. Or learn to jump motorcycles by watching Evil Knievel videos? He did stick a few landings! Anyway, I'm sure you get my point.

As for LOS, I don't completely understand the question. Starting out, yes I would only recommend LOS flying until you become more second nature with the flight controls (transmitter sticks) Then attempt fpv. I haven't flown fpv but knowing how quick a plane can crash with slow flight, takeoffs and landings, or orientation issues, or object proximity ie the ground, being a proficient LOS pilot seems mandatory before fpv.

As for range, if that's your question, LOS vs FPV, some range limitations can be overcome with appropriate equipment.

[Newbie Pilt]

Good common sense answers. I’ll follow them. LOS is more a concept for drone flying, which I’m sort of stuck in. After all, it’s what I did for three years. It’s actually how far one can fly a drone before it is out of sight. But, with a transmitter with the LCD screen synced to the 4K camera on board, and the signal to the transmitter carried by a 5.8 GIG signal,. I actually had the the Yuneec out at 3500 feet from the transmitter. That distance was well beyond LOS.

The most recent drone package can send the quad 10 kilometers ( about 6.27 miles ). Flight time is 30 minutes. Another new model can fly from a hover to 60 mph in 2.2 seconds and top speed is 87 mph.

I have even seen video of one fool drone pilot racing a freight train side by side and shooting video turned to the engineer. Not actually legal.

I guess one one reason for moving to an RC trainer airplane is the slower approach to flying, the calmness of the flight experience. Drone flying seems to bring out the frenetic and daring side of a pilot. Four engines, a persistent whine, like a mosquito hopped up on a steroid injection or on a “meth” hit.

There is only so much a drone pilot can do with a quad copter. He or she doesn’t have the ability to fly aerobatics down the road or learn the technique of a good landing.

It seems learning to fly requires building skills you mentioned in earlier posts. That’s my objective. And eventually graduating to planes requiring intermediate skills. I look forward to that day.