Looking for a frame

It may be done quite soon.
I wasn't needed on the volunteer project I've been helping with today.

Let's see, that post with the photos was from 9:30 last night.  You must be done by now.  Maybe you're out flying already. 

I've got a few flights in this evening and am amazed at how well and easily it flew.
My old 20C 2200mah batteries are not up to the task though, the best they could do is about 3 minutes before they were shut down.



Finishing up with the NAZA assistant programing.



Back on the table after several sucessfull test flights.

Way to go Bill! How are you liking it?

Wish I'd done it long ago.
I'll get a few higher C batteries and my flight time should improve considerably.

I think some of the other F450 guys are flying 3300 mAh batteries. Tiger will be able to tell you what he's running in his. I think 30-40 C is enough though unless you are going to do acrobatics. The high C rating batteries drop off really fast whereas the lower C batteries run out softer and you'll feel it well before they just give out.

As soon as I get new batteries I'll test them time wise then set my TX timer to get me down before the quad starts shutting down.

I always set my timer also, but sometimes I just run 'em until they just can't anymore.

That's what I did this evening and the little bird just floated to the ground shortly after the red LED started blinking at me.

Did you do the battery calibration in the Naza assistant? Sounds like you did.

I think so, but I was getting tired and in a hurry so I could get some flights in this evening and don't even remember what I did. I'll go back and revisit that in the morning.
I fixed up a plug so I can run two of my 2200 3 cell packs together, that'll get me a little more time until I get some new packs. It'll be a good test for loading too.

Good idea. Do you know how much the batteries weigh each? My GAUI struggles and really cannot fly with one of my 6400 mAh batteries which weigh about 500 grams.

The quad weighs in at 782 grams and the pair of batteries are about 359 for a flying weight around 1140 give or take a gram. I have GemFan 10x4.5 props on it.
I ordered a pair of Turnigy nano-tech 3300mAh 35-70c batteries last evening that should be here in a couple days and they weigh in at 270g each.

Nice. Now you need to get a camera onboard. I forgot, do you have a GoPro already?

I lowered the cutoff setting in the assistant a little, but still well above the 80%, the default was pretty conservative. The two packs got about 9.45 before the red light flashed. Just over 5 minutes on a single pack now.
Here's a photo with both batteries strapped on. There's really very little noticeable difference in handling.
I just have a couple cheap cameras. One is a keychain cam and the other, a Sony Webbie. I'll not likely get a Gopro.
If I get serious about FPV I think I would get something like this.



Posing nicely for a photo in GPS mode.



And it looking back, a still off the keychain video.

I can see you smiling all the way down here Bill.

You've got that right!

I am just back from the school and am just amazed. I tried the RTH a couple times and it does just what it was supposed to do including landing and shutting it's self down within just a few feet of where it took off from.

Congratulations! Isn't that RTH cool? Now, when you get your new batteries, you can venture out there a ways.

Awesome' and yeah a 3300 battery is pretty good for that.

Yes, the 3300mah battery seems to be the sweet spot for these things. I don't understand why you're getting so little time with the 2200. That's what I fly in my 450 heli's so that's what I tried first as well. I don't remember exactly how long it flew, but it was a lot longer than you're getting. You might want to check your alarm level setting or something. Did you happen to notice how much power the battery took when you recharged it?

Got my landing gear today from A-Main so that's my next project here. Then I guess it's the camera mount.

...Tiger