Hello Yuneec Pilots,
I'm looking to drag out some information from experienced Typhoon owners. I am looking to purchase several used or rebuilt typhoon drones for my drone club.
it is our intent to do pilot training and certifying pilots to fly the 520e for our company but want an inexpensive training option.
The information I seek is
1. anyone have experience with the ebay sellers of the typhoon
2. is there certain models to avoid
3 is it worth looking for st16s control over st16
4 Is there any professional opinions on this and recommendations
Thanks
I have no experience with Ebay sellers but here are my thoughts to your questions.
Keep in mind that when it comes to 'Typhoons' there are some basics. First there is the 480 (mm) Typhoon, it comes in 2 models, the standard and the 'Pro'. They are basically identical except the Pro model came with an extra battery and the wizard wand which; for all intents and purposes, is useless. They both carry the CG03+ and both are controlled by an ST-16 ONLY and cannot be controlled by an ST-16S.
Then there are the 520 (mm) models - the H Plus, H3 and the 520 models - these look similar to the standard Typhoon but are completely different apart from looks. They have much better flight controllers and also, far better cameras. It goes without saying all of the 520 variants can only be controlled by an ST-16S. So you cannot change flight controllers for either model.
If I were picking (only) between the two Typhoon models as a training platform for the 520 and money was no option I would get the Plus - but then you essentially are flying a 520. If money was a consideration, the Typhoon 480 can be had fairly cheap and as far as operation go, look and sort of act like a 520 model.
However, if it were me wanting to train pilots to operate more advanced models like the 520 I probably would not start with a Typhoon at all. I would break the training onto two classes - Basic and advanced.
In basic training I would find an inexpensive drone that has good support and easy to find replacement parts. Almost all drones fly and respond to controls the same way, if a pilot can safely operate (for instance) a small quadcopter - then moving to a larger drone like a 520 hexacopter, would only require familiarization with specific components such as camera, control interface, preflight and so on.
I am of the opinion, that the 'flying' portion of drone operation is easy, in fact we could teach it to a monkey because drones are so automated - they in fact are flying themselves and the pilot just tells it where to fly to. It is all of the other parts of operations that requires a pilot have the necessary training and in my opinion, most of that training should be done on the ground, long before they are given the controls to fly.
Therefore in basic training (if it were me) I would break it into about a 75% classroom before even touching a controller and then 25% basic flying of a starter drone, and when students pass the basic class, I would move them to Advanced and let them fly the 520.
The mistakes most pilots make that cause crashes and loss of drones are not usually because of lack of familiarity with a particular drone (but this does happen). Most losses occur from poor or non-existent decision making and procedure following abilities of the pilot.
A pilot (for instance) that would find themselves two miles across a river with 10% battery, will make that same mistake with any drone. So I guess my point is: the trainer does not have to be, or resemble, the drone that the pilots will later be flying.