Yuneec's demise

[cabinfourus]

With the Yuneec brand slowly becoming extinct, I find these forums following suit. There was a time when these forums would have 10-15 new posts a week. Now, it is more like 1-2 a month. It saddens me to see this happening, since I am not a huge supporter of change.

The first Yuneec drone I purchased was the Q500 (GoPro), and I absolutely loved it. As I learned to master this drone, my failures turned to crashes. So, I purchased the newer Q500 4K with the CGO3, and loved it even more. The new camera made the GoPro obsolete, and had much better quality. After Yuneec released the H Plus, I started seeing signs of a struggling company. News stories talked about Yuneec layoffs, and repair facilities were closing their doors. I bought up all the parts I could find over the next couple of years, and also kept upgrading my fleet. Keeping my seven birds in the air was my priority.

These forums were a lifeline for me. From the great advice many of you have shared, to the repair manual some of the members put together, I have been able to not only repair my drones, but use many of the parts I purchased to build more. I always wondered why Yuneec didn't stay with one or two models of their drone and just upgrade the camera/gimbals to be used on them. This would eliminate the need for designing newer model drones, allow them to focus on just the camera, and in the end, save money. I am sure they have their reasons, and research, so who am I to question their tactics.

So, the main reason for this post is to say that I am grateful to each of you, for your knowledge, repair help, and even software development. Without all of you, I would have never been able to keep my fleet in the air. The conversations have also been fun. I don't come to the forums as much these days, but unless they are one day taken down, I will always stop in to see who broke what. Who knows, maybe Yuneec will rise from the ashes one day, with a team of owners who can design, build, and market a drone we all can't live without.

 

[h-elsner]

We love classic drones. It is like with cars - someone likes the latest and the best (I call it smart phones on wheels), others like the old cars with a soul...

 

[Steve Carr]

I always wondered why Yuneec didn't stay with one or two models of their drone and just upgrade the camera/gimbals to be used on them. This would eliminate the need for designing newer model drones, allow them to focus on just the camera, and in the end, save money.

Companies make money by releasing new models. In addition, the technology changes fast especially with drones. The Q500 was released at the end of 2014. The Typhoon H in 2016 and the H Plus/ H520 in 2018. Each model had big improvements and was more capable.

The fate of Yuneec was sealed in 2016 when the ownership changed hands. Mismanagement, foolish spending ventures and mistreatment of dealers and customers were apparent. Much of that seemed to be driven by cultural arrogance and mistrust of the US and EU. It has been sad to watch the demise of a once ambitious, visionary operation.

I still have my favorites and I still fly them. The earlier models have survived well past any competitors. It would be hard to find an operable Phantom 2 but there are still thousands of Q's being used and traded. Both were from the same era.

 

[cabinfourus]

Companies make money by releasing new models. In addition, the technology changes fast especially with drones. The Q500 was released at the end of 2014. The Typhoon H in 2016 and the H Plus/ H520 in 2018. Each model had big improvements and was more capable.

The fate of Yuneec was sealed in 2016 when the ownership changed hands. Mismanagement, foolish spending ventures and mistreatment of dealers and customers were apparent. Much of that seemed to be driven by cultural arrogance and mistrust of the US and EU. It has been sad to watch the demise of a once ambitious, visionary operation.

I still have my favorites and I still fly them. The earlier models have survived well past any competitors. It would be hard to find an operable Phantom 2 but there are still thousands of Q's being used and traded. Both were from the same era.

Yes, Yuneec was on course to give DJI a run for their money. Sadly, like you stated, ownership ruined it.

 

[cabinfourus]

We love classic drones. It is like with cars - someone likes the latest and the best (I call it smart phones on wheels), others like the old cars with a soul...

You are correct. Even a classic Yuneec outperforms some of the newer drones.

 

[PiperNY]

Unfortunately with Vertigo Drones going black, has made this issue many times worse. It seems that they have stiffed many customers, leaving them holding the bag for big $.
I have an H600 new model with some slight hard landing damage. It took me a few months to find a repair shop. They have had this since April 15.
The repair work has been slow, but if the end result is a success it will be worth it. The shop has been going direct to China for parts, but with trade issues, the repair is dragging.

 

[DoomMeister]

Would be nice to know where all the stock at Vertigo is sitting.

 

[Frosty]

I really love my Yuneec Drones, I am sad that the company is in a down fall. I know it’s an older drone but I just bought a typhoon H. It’s pretty much new, hopefully the drone is actually just an open box as described in the add. I can’t wait to fly it.
Hopefully I can find another brand that I love as much. I’ve bought a couple other drones over the years since I bought my first Typhoon Q500, and wasn’t really too impressed with them. Granted, they were kinda on the cheap side. Without doing a lot of research, I didn’t want to spend over a thousand dollars on a brand I know nothing about. So I ended up buying a couple “Throw away drones” and now regret doing it. Both are hard to even get to connect to the receiver. Anyway I will alway be a lover of Yuneec drones, because you always remember your first with fond memories, lol.

 

[DoomMeister]

I know it’s an older drone but I just bought a typhoon H. It’s pretty much new, hopefully the drone is actually just an open box as described in the add. I can’t wait to fly it.

The Typhoon H is a great machine and you’ll love flying it. Leave the GGO3+ camera off of the aircraft for the first few flights until you get a good feel of how it flies.

Always takeoff and land with the Rate slider (on the right side of the ST16 controller) in the full up (rabbit) position. This allows full scale output of the controls and will allow the motors to properly idle down upon landing.

The PDF file linked to here
Post in thread 'Firmware and OEM Manuals'
Firmware and OEM Manuals is the user augmented version that covers most everything you need to know to operate the H480.

 

[Frosty]

The Typhoon H is a great machine and you’ll love flying it. Leave the GGO3+ camera off of the aircraft for the first few flights until you get a good feel of how it flies.

Always takeoff and land with the Rate slider (on the right side of the ST16 controller) in the full up (rabbit) position. This allows full scale output of the controls and will allow the motors to properly idle down upon landing.

The PDF file linked to here
Post in thread 'Firmware and OEM Manuals'
Firmware and OEM Manuals is the user augmented version that covers most everything you need to know to operate the H480.

Thanks

 

[cabinfourus]

I really love my Yuneec Drones, I am sad that the company is in a down fall. I know it’s an older drone but I just bought a typhoon H. It’s pretty much new, hopefully the drone is actually just an open box as described in the add. I can’t wait to fly it.
Hopefully I can find another brand that I love as much. I’ve bought a couple other drones over the years since I bought my first Typhoon Q500, and wasn’t really too impressed with them. Granted, they were kinda on the cheap side. Without doing a lot of research, I didn’t want to spend over a thousand dollars on a brand I know nothing about. So I ended up buying a couple “Throw away drones” and now regret doing it. Both are hard to even get to connect to the receiver. Anyway I will alway be a lover of Yuneec drones, because you always remember your first with fond memories, lol.

I have several of the Typhoon H drones, and I have not had any problems out of them. Yuneec was heading in the right direction, but as in any business, they didn't keep their customers in the works.

 

[Frosty]

I think so far any “Problems” I have had, have been pilot error. Not knowing, and too excited to read enough before I fly. But I think I’ve learned my lesson.

 

[Sota701]

It makes me wonder how much the Yuneec company is worth. If a venture group in the U.S. bought what's left of the Yuneec brand, and moved it to be Blue Sky/NDAA compliant, and managed it properly, it would put Parrot, Skydio etc on the ropes, and into a market fight. If only I were a financially rich guy.

 

[Peter b]

With the Yuneec brand slowly becoming extinct, I find these forums following suit. There was a time when these forums would have 10-15 new posts a week. Now, it is more like 1-2 a month. It saddens me to see this happening, since I am not a huge supporter of change.

The first Yuneec drone I purchased was the Q500 (GoPro), and I absolutely loved it. As I learned to master this drone, my failures turned to crashes. So, I purchased the newer Q500 4K with the CGO3, and loved it even more. The new camera made the GoPro obsolete, and had much better quality. After Yuneec released the H Plus, I started seeing signs of a struggling company. News stories talked about Yuneec layoffs, and repair facilities were closing their doors. I bought up all the parts I could find over the next couple of years, and also kept upgrading my fleet. Keeping my seven birds in the air was my priority.

These forums were a lifeline for me. From the great advice many of you have shared, to the repair manual some of the members put together, I have been able to not only repair my drones, but use many of the parts I purchased to build more. I always wondered why Yuneec didn't stay with one or two models of their drone and just upgrade the camera/gimbals to be used on them. This would eliminate the need for designing newer model drones, allow them to focus on just the camera, and in the end, save money. I am sure they have their reasons, and research, so who am I to question their tactics.

So, the main reason for this post is to say that I am grateful to each of you, for your knowledge, repair help, and even software development. Without all of you, I would have never been able to keep my fleet in the air. The conversations have also been fun. I don't come to the forums as much these days, but unless they are one day taken down, I will always stop in to see who broke what. Who knows, maybe Yuneec will rise from the ashes one day, with a team of owners who can design, build, and market a drone we all can't live without.

I am also a learner of crashes so I started
Crashaholics anonymous for drone dummies. I have been lucky recently because it's been too hot to fly!!! I Recommend buying a toy drone first to get acquainted with the sticks because whether it's a 20 dollar a drone or a 1000 dollar drone the sticks do the same. Learn to fly backwards also and my screw up was just that when I started. Always at angle which I missed the 1st time and corrected.
Most Yuneec fliers know these rules by heart and I do now but crashes feel awful when a silly reason is why it happened and in my situation only 2 were not my fault. I also hope Yuneec survives!!

 

[Frosty]

It makes me wonder how much the Yuneec company is worth. If a venture group in the U.S. bought what's left of the Yuneec brand, and moved it to be Blue Sky/NDAA compliant, and managed it properly, it would put Parrot, Skydio etc on the ropes, and into a market fight. If only I were a financially rich guy.

I was actually thinking the other day with all the stuff going on, with “New regulations” and if it’s true that JDI is going to banned, or what? (If I understood everything I’m seeing in the videos I’m watching)
If Yuneec started up with some new drones, if they could start doing well again.

 

[DoomMeister]

Yuneec is also a Chinese company and the new proposed bills are attempting to block all Chinese drones and drone parts from being available in the US.

McCarthyism at its finest once again.

 

[Frosty]

Yuneec is also a Chinese company and the new proposed bills are attempting to block all Chinese drones and drone parts from being available in the US.

McCarthyism at its finest once again.

I know that. But hoping someone would take it over as a US based company. Or something like that