For a long time I sat back and watched on and off Gentlemen flying RC airplanes here and there. I was always amazed at skill and patience it took. I was always amazed that people actually took the time to master a hobby that cost a small fortune. Over the years, I too also picked up hobbies that were fun and interesting. I purchased a BMW K1200LT Motorcycle to relieve the everyday stresses of work. I found myself taking trips that increased in miles, my first trip was a few hundred miles, my next trip was 500, another trip I left Atlanta at 6:00 am just to go ride for a few hours and ended up in Houston, TX some 13 hours later. I retired that bike and purchased a new one, this year alone I have put 70,000 plus miles on it and am still going. Some of places I have traveled on bike are some of the most breath taking places that a regular camera just can't capture. I had been searching for a way to capture these unforgettable views.
I was watching something on YouTube and saw a Quad copter. That was my answer. On May 29th 2012 I took the plunge and purchased a XAircraft 450 Pro. I didn't know jack about them and never flew anything that was RC. I waited for days and it finally arrived. I unwrapped the packed quickly skimmed the information as was outside. I fired the baby up and it would lift off the ground for nothing. I went back and re-read everything and learned I had the blades on wrong. Over the next few days I became a expert at Quad Basketball. I learned how to bounce the quad off the ground and into trees, into fences, into streets and cars. I rebuilded, and rebuilded and rebuilded. I learned the insides and outsides of the quad structure. I can put together a quad in approx three un interrupted hours. I would take the time and go attempt to get her airborne 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I finally got the hang of getting airborne.
One of my best sources of information was the forums and YouTube. I read everything I could, I watched videos. I took notes and applied what I learned to my builds and configurations. Yes, I posted a few dumb questions got some answers and did get some. What I learned is that sometimes the questions not answered by others force you to increase your investment in this hobby by finding the answers yourself. The answers are there, you just have to look.
These forums are a great source, but sometime the greatest source is you. Now I'm and far from being a expert, but the little I know you can put into a thimble. But somewhere, someone's going to ask a question and I might be able to help. I look forward to my first answer, that will help someone else get airborne, and I hope that they return the favor and help someone else along the line.
Shawn
I was watching something on YouTube and saw a Quad copter. That was my answer. On May 29th 2012 I took the plunge and purchased a XAircraft 450 Pro. I didn't know jack about them and never flew anything that was RC. I waited for days and it finally arrived. I unwrapped the packed quickly skimmed the information as was outside. I fired the baby up and it would lift off the ground for nothing. I went back and re-read everything and learned I had the blades on wrong. Over the next few days I became a expert at Quad Basketball. I learned how to bounce the quad off the ground and into trees, into fences, into streets and cars. I rebuilded, and rebuilded and rebuilded. I learned the insides and outsides of the quad structure. I can put together a quad in approx three un interrupted hours. I would take the time and go attempt to get her airborne 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I finally got the hang of getting airborne.
One of my best sources of information was the forums and YouTube. I read everything I could, I watched videos. I took notes and applied what I learned to my builds and configurations. Yes, I posted a few dumb questions got some answers and did get some. What I learned is that sometimes the questions not answered by others force you to increase your investment in this hobby by finding the answers yourself. The answers are there, you just have to look.
These forums are a great source, but sometime the greatest source is you. Now I'm and far from being a expert, but the little I know you can put into a thimble. But somewhere, someone's going to ask a question and I might be able to help. I look forward to my first answer, that will help someone else get airborne, and I hope that they return the favor and help someone else along the line.
Shawn