Howdy folks. My name is Kevin.
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
Those are some very interesting photos and I went to your YouTube Channel… I was a bit disappointed not to see those speed beasts racing down the track… You apper to be more of a colletctor than a racer… Am I wrong…
My first R/C car back in the early '70s, was a 1/12 scale, .049 powered car, and it was a winner… I also flew R/C planes and I knew how to turn lean the engine for max speed and rest just also ran… I then got into 1/8 scale .21 powered cars. But tires were not well made then and seldom lasted more than one race and the fuel (heavy on nitro was expensive…), when I was stationed in Italy, I raced 1/8 scale gas and in the late '70s were top of the line, with racing engines, tuned exhaust, differential, and disc brakes…. In the '80s I was racing 1/12 electric flat track cars and 1/10 electric dirt track cars and I had several Associated RC-10s and all were good runners, but by then the motors were getting more expensive and since they were tuned so hot, they too did not live long… A last, I now fly drones…
Since you are a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…
First, if you have not already done so and both you and yur son want to fly your drone recreationally, you both will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). This Link is to the Pilot Institute Web Site where you can get your TRUST Certificate. (FREE…)
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com
Next, since your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under the 44809 Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.
Since you live in Indiana, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.
44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...
pilotinstitute.com
Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…
You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your Drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.
Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.
There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.
If your Drone's Controller needs a Phone/Tablet to work, plug it into your Controller; turn on the Controller and start the App if it does not start on its own. On the Drone, open the front legs and the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.
The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…
Turn on the Drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…
Place the Drone down preferably on a Landing Pad while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites if it has GPS, etc…).
Check your Battery Status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point if GPS capable.
Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home Point Updated (if the drone has GPS).
If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the Drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the Drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…
Now go have fun, learn to fly the Drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.
I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."
Fly On and Fly Safe…
My 13 year old son Breydon will likely do most of the pilot work, because it's hard for me to be without my cane. So I'll let him have the job.
