Flying with others...tips and peeves

[Bartman]

A lot of us have met up with other fliers either at clubs, events, or just the local park. What works and doesn't work when you start flying in groups?

The biggest problem I've seen so far has to do with wireless frequencies for FPV equipment. Even though Iv'e been happily flying around on what Iftron calls channel 4, my Fatshark goggles and other video transmitters don't call that specific frequency channel 4 so I've been scrambling to find a frequency that won't interfere with the freqs being used by the guys I fly with.

That's just the beginning, what peeves are you guys coming across when you're meeting up with people the first time out?

 

[Motopreserve]

This may not be exactly what you're looking for - but most of my flying with others has been done at my old local AMA field, of which I was the only MR pilot.

Flying in a group of all (or mostly) fixed wing planes can be challenging, since their standard flight path typically involves flying in a large oval above/around the landing strip. I found myself getting in the way when I wanted to lift straight up and then meander around the location for some filming. I had no desire to fly in an oval rotation, so I often waited for a gap in their flying (refueling/recharging breaks) and launched from the end of the strip. This way I could get a flight in while not disturbing their set path.

 

[Old Man]

This may not be exactly what you're looking for - but most of my flying with others has been done at my old local AMA field, of which I was the only MR pilot.

Flying in a group of all (or mostly) fixed wing planes can be challenging, since their standard flight path typically involves flying in a large oval above/around the landing strip. I found myself getting in the way when I wanted to lift straight up and then meander around the location for some filming. I had no desire to fly in an oval rotation, so I often waited for a gap in their flying (refueling/recharging breaks) and launched from the end of the strip. This way I could get a flight in while not disturbing their set path.

You're flying with the wrong group of RC people. Sounds like a group of FOGs. You need to find the folks that fly 3d that make more effective use of smaller spaces and kept more to field center. I've experienced the same issues you have at RC fields populated by what are more or less senior citizens.

 

[Bartman]

well, this isn't going the direction I had in mind!

 

[Motopreserve]

I flew with some 3D guys, but considering I never had any idea where they were headed - didn't really help.

@Bartman youre probably looking for frequency issues etc? Some of these guys I flew with were on 72, so I guess that counts a little....except I never owned transmitter that old

 

[Bartman]

not just frequencies.....good habits, bad habits, etc......a lot of people here might not have ever belonged to an RC club so if they're considering meeting up with a new group for the first time it would be a good idea for them to have an idea as to how things go when fliers get together.

another example...when starting a flight, don't take off from the area where others are working or hanging out, move your aircraft away from the pits or parking spots before applying power and lifting off.

this kind of stuff seems obvious but you'd be surprised what people will do when they're really just used to flying by themselves.

What else can we come up with without insulting senior citizens any further? lol

 

[Motopreserve]

Firing up a safe distance is another good one.

I also feel it's good form to make sure you have everything you need for charging batteries - so you don't need to burden others. Have everything you need for charging at the field (or enough batteries for as many flights as you want to complete).

A few times people asked to use my charger "real quick," and I ended up waiting on their batteries to finish before I could charge my own.

For the record, this request was not made by a senior

 

[Bartman]

regarding charging, if you bring a generator don't run it right where everyone is hanging out. put it far enough away so that noise and fumes won't be annoying to everyone else! especially seniors!

 

[Motopreserve]

regarding charging, if you bring a generator don't run it right where everyone is hanging out. put it far enough away so that noise and fumes won't be annoying to everyone else! especially seniors!

+1. Always made sure I parked at the end of the parking lot. The Ryobi I have was never loud enough to get back to the crowd.

 

[dazzab]

The three clubs I fly at around Canberra all have dedicated areas for both helis and multi rotors. You can only fly in the circuit that the planes are flying in if you can keep up and are willing to fly the pattern that everyone else is. That's the only way to manage the traffic. But it's quite rare for a multirotor to fly in the circuit when we have dedicated areas.

I've found flying at the clubs a very good experience and I'm a bit surprised how many multirotor flyers never have. The clubs have excellent safety records because they have earned it. Membership also provides insurance both on the field and when flying elsewhere. I'm now learning fixed wing as well so I can do larger mapping jobs than the multis will do and the other members have been incredibly helpful with that.

All in all it's been a good experience. However, there is an 'old farts' mentality for sure and they certainly turn their noses up at anything that needs a 'computer' to fly. But they come around when you point out things like the Outback Challenge, search and rescue efforts etc.

 

[fengshuidrone]

I live in the middle of nowhere in western Michigan. I fly at a nice big township park that is free of any airspace restrictions with no airports anywhere near here. I have seen 1 other person flying a DJI Phantom one day down at the beach on Lake Michigan, but he had out of state plates and was obviously a tourist getting beautiful beach shots. After reading this stuff you guys wrote I am glad that I fly alone and probably always will based on the complete absence of multirotor flyers around here. I can program in a waypoint mission or go clockwise any time I feel like it. I can FPV to my hearts content on any channel I choose to use. This thread actually makes me feel lucky to be alone here in the sticks; the only multirotor for miles. My "flight field" is 1/4 mile away so I can run home to recharge and be back after charging and getting a snack. When I fly there, cars going by slow down and pull over to take pictures and watch.
I have yet to meet another local area pilot. Seems like most people around here have only seen these on TV.
Here's my flying field: https://www.google.com/maps/place/F...2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0x06eb9d47670f504d
I also go down to the beach on Lake Michigan and fly sometimes when no one is there.

 

[Old Man]

Being candid, the way most people fly multirotors they don't mix with fixed wing all that well. There's too much hovering going on and flights speeds are kept pretty low buy the operators. The best MR mix for multirotors and fixed wing probably falls with the 250 racers or the "trick" multirotors. making changes are tough but forcing it by injecting slower aircraft with much faster is a recipe for bad things to happen. either in the air or on the ground. Because of that our ability to fly almost anywhere is both a bane and a boon.