FPV - A long way up

All of this equipment works very well together, if you look at Stone Blue Airlines review of the product online, you can get a flavour of what the image is like through the goggles. However there are a few key things about this product that make it the best starter set:

 

Pilot HD Camera: There are mixed opinions about this online. People say, and it is true, that the camera does not provide true HD video. However from my experience you can see detailed objects just fine through the goggles when flying and the recorded video footage is not that bad quality either (see video further down). What is really great about this camera though is that it provides the ability to record whilst you fly FPV live as well. This function is found in much higher end systems as well, it adds so much more to the package and it is so much fun to re-watch your flight when you get home and see all of the things you missed whilst you were up there. Ultimately this camera makes the package very value for money.

 

Teleporter V3 Goggles and Video Transmitter: Paired together these two make a winning combo. You see a lot of people online recommending that you upgrade the stock whip antennas to clover leaf ones. This will upgrade your performance a lot, but for people starting out the stock antennas are fine. I have had perfectly clear video when my aircraft was almost out of sight. The image through the goggles is not the best you can find, but for what you pay it does the job, you can't ask for much more than that at £140.

 

Ultimately this kit works, and it works well. For the price you pay you cannot grumble at all, because it gives you a good experience. Plus, if you buy this and you want to get further range, then you can just swap out the video transmitter, get a better pair of goggles. The set can grow with you.

 

 

I wont rant on about this, as there are great tutorials online about how to get a good first flight in (IBCrazy's are great!). But there are a few key tips I would recommend.

 

• If you can get someone to buddy lead you then great, take that opportunity. On the first flight it releaves the stress of loosing your plane, so you can get to grips with and enjoy the experience of flying FPV.
• If you have a buddy lead, then I recommend you don't take off or land the plane, let the other person do it. This helps to make sure you dont loose your gear to a crash after only flying once. If you are alone, do not take the goggles off to land, this can only end in disaster, land with the goggles on. I recommend if you have to do this, then fly in a large open space so you can land anywhere and still find the plane.
• When you are in the air, try and fly towards large landmarks that you have predefined before the flight. That way you will always know where you are in the air. I would recommend you do not try and think about where the plane is in relation to you on the ground, think about it as a seperate entity that you are sat on yourself.
• Make sure you enjoy it! :D

If you follow these simple tips, there is not much that can go wrong in terms of your flying, only an electronics failure can occur.

So what can be achieved after a few flights?

As I said previously, this video was only taken a few days ago. This is probably around my seventh or eighth FPV flight and I have already managed to get to grips with navigation in the air and landing. I would almost say that flying FPV is easier than Line of Sight, as there are no problems with orientation.

So without futher waffleing, here is my recorded video, please bare in mind that this has been edited down from about 10 minutes worth of FPV flight. Enjoy!

Ultimately I would say FPV is a fantastic piece of technology that everyone in RC needs to try at least once, as if you enjoy it can open up a whole new world for you.

Thanks for reading this incredibly long article!

Happy Landings,

TehMaxwell