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Pre flight check list and what to do before first flight

Joined
Jun 12, 2016
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Hey everyone. I just bought my H yesterday and wanted to get some advice for a first time user. So like the title says, I would like recommendations for a preflight checklist and before first flight checklist. This is my first camera rig. I have a lot of RC fixed wing hours, then I moved to RC rotor craft. From there I sold my RC gear to help fund my pilots license. I got my ticket with Instrument rating and I am working on my Commercial Multi rating. A few months ago a friend let me fly his FPV quad, I was hooked. The race quads are fun but the flight duration sucks, and I find myself wanting to look at things and take pics with more duration. So that led me to my H. Thanks for the suggestions

J
 
We made one up weeks back, kind of hard to look for it, but here ya go !


Here we go boys and girls ! Feel free to add to this list, and let's keep it to the point ! Hopefully It will save many questions and heartaches! To ALL !( I Harvey I hope you don't mind my editing some, i.e also take off on Obstacle Avoidance)
Please Read This and "ALL" Manuals and Quick Start Cards Before First Flight, and Frequently !

1. Be smart and don't use Smart mode when taking off or landing, only when using Follow Me mode, etc. If you choose to use Smart Mode at any time, remember to stay a minimum of 26' from you and the controller at all times !.
2. Check and make sure Obstacle Avoidance is turned off before take off and landing.
3. Calibrate your compass before first flight and after each firmware update to the aircraft. Also when traveling significant distance from home ( Your discretion)
4. Low battery warning will come on between 14.3V and 14.6v but you might want to land before then but, at least, be prepared to be in a decent landing area when you get below 15v.
5. Landing gear does not auto-deploy except in RTH, look at your drone when landing and think about what you're doing.
6. If your ST16 rattles, you have a loose fan, pull off rubber grips to remove screws and fix
7. If you decide to put a SD card into your ST16, turn the ST16 upside down before doing so since you're less likely to lose your card into the controller
8. Always remember to turn ST16 "ON" first, then Typhoon H after ST16 has booted up, And reverse these steps when turning off.
9. Remember when filming in "Video Mode" to turn off video filming before turning off the H and the ST16 or you "Can" lose your video, and may have to turn H on and off again to restore.
10. Make sure gimbal cover is removed before firing up the H, Will save damaging gimbal motors and gears.
11. Always check rear status lights for proper color combinations of flashing purple and white, or minimum of a solid purple, Always check number of satellites before take off, a safe number should be a minimum of 8.
12. If using Smart Mode and options as cable cam, POI, follow me , etc. Remember that you must have a blinking purple/white to succeed in connecting.
13. Remember that when using RTH(Return to Home) to make sure that you have a minimum of 30' clearance of unobstructed path to home, "IF" you are flying at or below 30' when switching to Home Mode. ( If you are above 30', it will return to Home at the altitude you are flying currently at.
14.If not using you H battery for more than 10 days, fly/hover them down for storage to 50-60%, DO NOT store fully charged for any extended period of time, Also if on the other hand, you have flown your batteries below 50%, charge them up to 50-60% for storage. Storage of more than 10 days at full charge or under 50% can lead to battery life loss and/or battery swelling and even fire.
15. Every 12 flights or so, check all screws, motors, gimbal/camera mounts and accessories for snugness. DO NOT over tighten, just snug them down if loosening.
16. DO NOT use RED button to land your aircraft from short distances from ground (6-12") To land successfully, Turn off Obstacle Avoidance, be in ANGLE MODE and make sure landing gear are deployed !. Lower H slowly to ground not stopping 1-2 feet above ground and hovering(Vortex will form). Just slowly lower gently to ground and hold LEFT STICK completely downward for 2-3 seconds to idle motors and then release. Now you can press red button to kill motors.
17. Allow batteries to cool to room temperature before charging.
18. Check your props for any nicks or cracks BEFORE and after each flight. DO NOT FLY WITH ANY DAMAGED PROPS.
19. .. Do a preflight check before takeoff. 1) Check that all propellers are secure and in good condition. 2) Check flight mode is the one you want (Angle, etc.), 3) Check whether you are in Turtle Mode or Rabbit Mode, 4) Check Obstruction Avoidance is set to OFF. 5) Check camera mode. (I like to have camera pointing to front and parallel to ground on take off.), 6) Check battery level is what you expect to ensure adequate flight time. 7) Check battery is inserted into H all of the way. 8) Check localweather to avoid excessive wind speed, rain,dust, etc.)

#1DroneClone, Jun 5, 2016
Last edited: Yesterday at 11:42 AM
 
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I read somewhere that it existed, but couldn't find it using search. Thank you! What about software updates, and compass calibration? Do these usually need to be done first ?
 
I read somewhere that it existed, but couldn't find it using search. Thank you! What about software updates, and compass calibration? Do these usually need to be done first ?
Yes, if it doesn't come with newest up date and for sure do a compass calibration facing due north and away from metal, concrete enforced roads, driveways and electrical lines. wifi, # 1 do not fly in Smart Mode, if you cannot take it out away from you greater than 26', and learn it in turtle mode or mid range on the slider. Fly safely !
 
I would always recommend using a SD memory card in your ST16, because a few weeks ago I was unfortunate to have a Q500 4k fly away after a signal loss, and the only way the Q was eventually found was removing the memory card from the ST10+ transmitter and checking the stored data on the card which lead me to the crashed Q500 4K site and within minutes found it, albeit it was a total loss including the camera this was sent back to Yuneec customer service along with the memory card from the transmitter to support my claim, after a few weeks I was sent a complete new replacement FOC, with the promise that the crashed Q along with the memory card would be sent back to their headquarters for analysis and would be advise me what actually caused this fly away, whilst I still have not heard back yet they did say it could take about 6 weeks to get a reply.

So you can see had it not been for the memory card inserted into the transmitter this happy outcome would not have happened and I would have suffered a big financial loss, so its not worth taking a risk flying without a memory card inserted into the ST16 transmitter.
 
I would always recommend using a SD memory card in your ST16, because a few weeks ago I was unfortunate to have a Q500 4k fly away after a signal loss, and the only way the Q was eventually found was removing the memory card from the ST10+ transmitter and checking the stored data on the card which lead me to the crashed Q500 4K site and within minutes found it, albeit it was a total loss including the camera this was sent back to Yuneec customer service along with the memory card from the transmitter to support my claim, after a few weeks I was sent a complete new replacement FOC, with the promise that the crashed Q along with the memory card would be sent back to their headquarters for analysis and would be advise me what actually caused this fly away, whilst I still have not heard back yet they did say it could take about 6 weeks to get a reply.

So you can see had it not been for the memory card inserted into the transmitter this happy outcome would not have happened and I would have suffered a big financial loss, so its not worth taking a risk flying without a memory card inserted into the ST16 transmitter.

How large an SD card will the ST16 hold?
 
It will hold a micro SD, preferably class 10. The largest I found after a quick search was 512GB.
 

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