Multirotor Flying Meet

[Robert Longbottom]

Hi all,

Despite the wind and rain this morning, I thought I'd be optimistic and believe the weather forecast when it says it will be nice(r) again by the weekend and try to arrange this flying meet.

I'd suggest we try Lydiard Park, in the field beyond the football pitches, here: Google Maps Link.  Just in case that link doesn't work, rough directions for people entering from Hook Street, football pitches are on your left.  Walk roughly north west until you have crossed them all and meet there.  It's usually fairly quiet in this area of the park (so long as there is no football on) and the only people around tend to be a few dog walkers, who usually stick to the paths (but do have a rather bad habit of walking right underneath the flight path - on their heads be it!)

Not sure about day or time, but Sunday afternoon looks to be best on the Metcheck Aviation Forecast, least wind, most sun!  I know we said football is most likely to be on Sunday, but I think they usually play in the morning???

So how about Sunday 12th at 2:30pm?  Shout if you can / can't make it or would rather a different day / time.

Non-flyers welcome if you just fancy a walk out or to see how these things fly.  I'll bring my quadcopters and maybe the gyrocopter if the wind isn't too bad and I'm feeling brave!

See you there.

Rob.

(PS, if the weather looks terrible come the weekend, we might have to cancel or rearrange at the last minute - keep an eye on this post)

(PPS, disclaimer, fly at your risk, don't do anything dangerous, don't fly at people, don't fly over people, if you crash I'm not responsible, etc, blah, blah, you know this anyway.)

[Malcolm Pett]

Hi Rob
Count me in...
After a bit of a nasty crash at the weekend (in the garden again) I really do need to get out where there is some more space.

Thanks
Mal

[Robert Longbottom]

Reminder - forecast still looking okay for Sunday afternoon, though maybe a bit windy but that just adds to the challenge!

Get those batteries charged / quadcopters out of the loft / dodgy motors fixed! - you know which applies to who :-)

Rob.

[Damian Axford]

:)  increasing chance of attendance....     and if I'm going to get flying again, this is what I aspire to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwL0t5kPf6E

[Robert Longbottom]

That looks wicked.  I've seen a video of that course before from the guys at flitetest.

Anyone happen to own some woodland we could convert into a course?

[Malcolm Pett]

Yeah the flite test guys went there...don't think I could handle that yet but wouldn't it be fun!

Looking forward to Sunday...need some new props going to see Yan tomorrow hopefully

he has some 5 x 3's atSswindon models.

Mal

[Jamie Osborne]

Interesting that he said the council gives then that woodland to race in. I'm not sure if that's permanently or only partially (flying one or two days a week, then ramblers for the rest?). Either way, shows a level of cooperation we can only hope for over here.

Jamie

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[Robert Longbottom]

Yes, not sure my flying skills are up to that either, but it would be fun to try some proper fpv like that.  I'd be interested to see setup they have for video reception, I would have thought all the trees play havoc with it.

I have a spare set of props for the hovership which I'll bring along on Sunday anyway so you can always borrow some of those if you don't manage to get any.

[Jamie Osborne]

Should be dry tomorrow, with wind increasing steadily from 12kph at 12pm to 20kph at 6pm.

At what speed does the wind become a nuisance?

Jamie

[Robert Longbottom]

Constant wind isnt really a problem, it just means you get blown away continuously so you have to compensate.  It does make takeoff and landing more interesting as well.  Gusty wind is more of a problem because there is the risk of getting flipped over in a gust which happened to me once, but it was very windy that day.  Flying in the wind just isn't as much fun because you're battling the wind all the time.

My crazymans rule of thumb is that if the wind is strong enough to spin the props and power up the esc's (make them do their power up beep) then its probably too windy to fly :-)

[Jamie Osborne]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking - 15kph doesn't seem like much though (but it doesn't give any idea of gusts vs. constant speed..).

Otherwise, should be a nice day (and hopefully dry if the weather keeps to schedule!).

Jamie

[Malcolm Pett]

Looks fine so far...Yeah!

[Robert Longbottom]

Yep, looking good at the minute, really still here.  See you all later.

--

[Tony Walmsley]

It was carnage (and a bit cold)! A few photos here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/twalmsley/

Tony

[Robert Longbottom]

Some good photos there - I think there are a few that should be entered into some kind of caption competition though :-)

Carnage, I don't know what you mean? More than 66% of my models came back in one piece :-)  Shame the other came back in about a hundred :-(  Still I count it as a flying success as it's longer than I've ever had it in the air before and it basically reacted to my control inputs, unfortunately I think the wind and perceived lack of space rather outweighed my piloting skills!

Ah well, go home, fix it, ready to crash again another day :-)

Rob.

Some good pictures there :-)

[Damian Axford]

I'd call it a success for our first flying meet :)  and good work on capturing some decent photos.... next time - video

...  also for next time, I'm tempted to make one of these pool noodle gates as a piloting challenge: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt2gYr2Ujng

[Malcolm Pett]

Great pics and so much fun...my crash was down to poor wiring...So a complete rebuild and better connections...must learn that you can not fly (for long) without good connections... Looking forward to next time.

[Jamie Osborne]

Looks like you all had a great afternoon - weather seemed as though it's as good as you could hope for (from over here anyway - not sure about Lydiard though!).

Jamie

> On 12 Oct 2014, at 18:42, Malcolm Pett <mal...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Great pics and so much fun...my crash was down to poor wiring...So a complete rebuild and better connections...must learn that you can not fly (for long) without good connections... Looking forward to next time.
>

[Robert Longbottom]

If you make one big enough to get your hex through, I guarantee I'll get my 3d printed hovership through ;-). Also, depends how close to the hoop you are allowed to stand when flying.  Though I take it those guys are fpv-ing it.

--

[Damian Axford]

lol - and yes - they're def fpv.  I'm still tempted by FPV, but best learn to fly a bit better first :)

[Jamie Osborne]

The thing with FPV is (unless used for some vocational purpose), is you could almost just play an accurate simulator instead?

I get that *everything else* is fun (building, tuning, as well as the fact "it's cool", the audience, socialising, and achievement - most of which applies to non FPV too I'd imagine) - but the actual flying seems too indirect when it's the exclusive view of what you're doing.

Jamie

[Robert Longbottom]

Yes, I'd like to have a go with a fully immersive headset, but you're supposed to have a "spotter" for that, which I think is a reasonable precaution to be fair.  I suspect the flying experience would be totally different to line of sight and it would be a bit like learning to fly again.

Like I said I have your video transmitter I bought sitting unused in a drawer so if you want it back then I'm sure we can come to some arrangement :-). It worked perfectly well with the receiver you have, just not with the receiver built into my screen for some annoying reason!

[Damian Axford]

depressing as it may be... I feel a deal coming...  ;)

[Damian Axford]

just ordered two of these for my kids:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cheerson-CX-10-Mini-2-4G-4CH-6-Axis-LED-RC-Quadcopter-Airplane-Hoc-/201173860029?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&var=&hash=item2ed6e57ebd

:)

so tiny, they'd be good for indoor racing!

[Robert Longbottom]

So the problem used to be crayon on the walls, now it will be propeller scratches on the walls!  :-)

That's pretty cheap if they fly as well as the hubsans.

[Malcolm Pett]

Great fun Damian I have one the kids will love it.

[Damian Axford]

excellent :)

[Malcolm Pett]

Just to let you know Rob found a new Quadcopter group who are having another meeting these weekend.

http://www.meetup.com/nwdroneclub/

I am planning on going.

Mal