- Joined
- Feb 24, 2017
- Messages
- 3,001
- Reaction score
- 3,196
- Location
- Central Florida
- Website
- copperdawg.com
Flight Two, July 5th, 8:05 PM eastern
It was going to be getting dark this evening and I couldn't leave a fully charged battery overnight so; this time, a little more exploration was in order for the second flight. The first thing I noticed was; how fast the aircraft acquires satellites, in this same location my 480 takes, at times; a minute or two get most of its satellite count. On this flight I turned on the controller, waited maybe 10 seconds and turned on the aircraft and, as I walked over to a spot to fly from I looked down (maybe 10 seconds later) the aircraft had 14 satellites already! Total count for the controller and aircraft are about the same as the 480 and the controller takes about the same amount of time as the standard ST16 but; the aircraft just soaks the satellites up very fast. I'll let those that understand this better than me explain why but, I am guessing it is a better GPS?
Also, at close quarters to the aircraft, its sense of direction in terms of the controller location is better than the 480 and it's compass and heading indicator in the upper left are very accurate as well.
During this second flight, I also explored Sport Mode as well as Angle Mode. Not to put to fine a point on it but if I were asked to give one word to describe the Plus's flight characteristics, it would simply be "Refined" - it is; (so far/knocks on wood) a refined version of the 480. In car terms, the 480 is a muscle car from the 60's - brute power, marginal handling with not too many creature comforts on the inside. The Plus on the other hand is the 2018 version of that 60's muscle car - it just does everything a little better than the predecessor.
To me, Sport mode is the equivalent of the modern muscle car with all driving aids off! But still the Plus has a manner about it that I like. In sport mode, with the rate slider at "Slow" it is about as close to flying like the 480 (in its current state) as you can get - but still, with smooth control around center and, its very manageable. Sport mode with rate slider at "Fast" well, that just feels like you have a very well mannered - top fuel dragster.
Overall I am becoming very impressed with the flying of the H Plus so far - it seems to be a pilots machine, it does what you tell it, much better than the 480 in my opinion. And from a camera operator's perspective, this should translate very positively, and we haven't even started talking about the camera.
It was going to be getting dark this evening and I couldn't leave a fully charged battery overnight so; this time, a little more exploration was in order for the second flight. The first thing I noticed was; how fast the aircraft acquires satellites, in this same location my 480 takes, at times; a minute or two get most of its satellite count. On this flight I turned on the controller, waited maybe 10 seconds and turned on the aircraft and, as I walked over to a spot to fly from I looked down (maybe 10 seconds later) the aircraft had 14 satellites already! Total count for the controller and aircraft are about the same as the 480 and the controller takes about the same amount of time as the standard ST16 but; the aircraft just soaks the satellites up very fast. I'll let those that understand this better than me explain why but, I am guessing it is a better GPS?
Also, at close quarters to the aircraft, its sense of direction in terms of the controller location is better than the 480 and it's compass and heading indicator in the upper left are very accurate as well.
During this second flight, I also explored Sport Mode as well as Angle Mode. Not to put to fine a point on it but if I were asked to give one word to describe the Plus's flight characteristics, it would simply be "Refined" - it is; (so far/knocks on wood) a refined version of the 480. In car terms, the 480 is a muscle car from the 60's - brute power, marginal handling with not too many creature comforts on the inside. The Plus on the other hand is the 2018 version of that 60's muscle car - it just does everything a little better than the predecessor.
To me, Sport mode is the equivalent of the modern muscle car with all driving aids off! But still the Plus has a manner about it that I like. In sport mode, with the rate slider at "Slow" it is about as close to flying like the 480 (in its current state) as you can get - but still, with smooth control around center and, its very manageable. Sport mode with rate slider at "Fast" well, that just feels like you have a very well mannered - top fuel dragster.
Overall I am becoming very impressed with the flying of the H Plus so far - it seems to be a pilots machine, it does what you tell it, much better than the 480 in my opinion. And from a camera operator's perspective, this should translate very positively, and we haven't even started talking about the camera.