https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-44536052

http://www.thedrive.com/tech/18852/eu-aviation-safety-agency-proposes-new-drone-regulations

If thats anything to go by, FPV will be banned because you cant see your model at all, so you cannot maintain line of sight at all..

A point is that many means of transmission have the CAPABILITY to transmit illegally in some places, and its normally regarded as a user function to ensure compliance.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-351279A1.pdf

The std Inductrix, even when user modded with upgrade motors and battery was always a little minimal with low duration. The first Inductrix FPV was not much better duration/power wise. The larger size allows better power and duration.

The battery is now the same type of flat 'n wide format with larger connector size as per the mCPX helicopter, and sits edge on in the frame to avoid blocking the ducts.

It's actually 500mAh against the mCPX 300mAh, but I have been test flying the smaller 300 size and it has advantages of lightness for even better small space agility, yet still gives decent duration. It has one disadvantage though, in that Meiow Mode when the battery charge is full with the lighter weight can over flip it.

So far I'm quite impressed (as perhaps anyone ought to be at its UK price point!!)  It's nicely stable and beginners will love it, esp FPV beginners.

Me?  Well I like my RC models nervous, so a quad with such obvious beginner ability might be "dull", but setting the Tx rates to max available makes it a really good "groove on rails" machine that flatters your piloting skills nicely and overall its a fun machine.

More later once its had a trip outside and to a sports hall through the Hula Hoops!

Quote

"The UK government has announced plans to introduce drone registration and safety awareness courses for owners of the small unmanned aircraft.
It will affect anyone who owns a drone which weighs more than 250 grams (8oz)."

Some text copied from a post on FB:

Quote

 

Hi Folks,
As it contains photos, I can't seem to post the whole press release which is now OK for me to share / publish - but there will be loads of it in the next day or two.
to the best of my knowledge, The testing is really about drone and aircraft collisions - aspects of privacy and drone / person property implications are not within the scope of the report.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has responded to the publication on Saturday morning of the independent test results of drone collisions with aircraft. The project was jointly funded by BALPA, the Department for Transport and the Military Aviation Authority.
BALPA believes the results of the tests are a robust verification of the Association’s warnings over several years that drone impacts on aircraft windscreens and helicopter rotors can be catastrophic, even at relatively modest speeds with small drones, and that the industry and regulator cannot rely on birdstrike data and certification for drones.

Brian Strutton, BALPA General Secretary, said:
“We wrote to the Secretary of State on 20th April 2017 calling for swift Government action to tackle this potentially life-threatening risk and the independent report fully justifies this.
“Pilots have been warning about the rise in the number of cases of drones being flown irresponsibly close to aircraft and airports for some time.
“This report clearly shows that readily-available drones which can be flown by anyone can shatter or go straight through an aircraft windshield or shatter a helicopter rotor. And those impacts would have catastrophic consequences.
“We are pleased the Department for Transport and Military Aviation Authority partnered with this BALPA on this testing and we are reassured that the matter is being taken seriously in the corridors of power.
“We will wait to see the details, but we are encouraged that the Government has taken onboard calls for a registration and licensing scheme for drones and drone users. This will help ensure users understand and follow safety rules, and help the police trace drones if needed.
“We hope that urgent Government action will now follow to control this proven threat before there is a disaster and lives are lost.”
BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association) is calling for:
Compulsory registration of drones and drone users, to improve traceability, and promote adherence to existing regulations.
Mandatory geo-fencing around airports to reduce conflict with aircraft.
Investment in technology to allow air traffic controllers to “see” drones when a conflict with a manned aircraft is possible.
Resourcing the police and the CAA to enforce the law and ensure safe skies.
High-profile prosecutions to highlight the problem and make people aware that flying drones dangerously could lead to five years in prison.
Immediate introduction of air traffic control procedures to reduce aircraft speeds to safe levels when a drone is reported as a possible threat.

The picture is from the testing and shows a larger hobbyist sized drone penetrating the windshield of an airliner during one of the tests.

Drones will have to be registered in the UK, Government says

http://news.sky.com/story/drones-will-have-to-be-registered-in-the-uk-government-says-10957190

How it flew with the "latest thing"...................

and this is what it SHOULD go like and did after the props were swapped back...........................

And the REEEEELLLLLY BAD props?  Flying Fish Tri 5041 blades from www.ideal-prop.com

And the good blades?  DAL Tri 5040 V2 from a variety of sellers including UK sources like hobbyrc

This is an odd (imho) review of different types of "drone" by the BBC.

It doesn't really do anything for the discussion on safe flying.

No mention of any of the safety aspects at all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38389864

Today Monday 24/10/16 Episode 1.

407 - 9pm - Sky Sports Mix, Miami Lights (Also 507 on Virgin Media)

Then 28th, 31st, 5th, 7th, 11th, 14th, 21st.

Interesting video from Alex Greve on how to get many FPV pilots flying together. Just as importantly for a nosey devil like me, is it includes some info on how it works too. N.B. I have not checked the UK legality of all the frequencies they claim to use. Let's call that an exercise for the reader?

There getting better and better

P.s Is it just me? Thinking this.........or are we getting closer and closer to Judgement day

https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/26/hover-camera-drone-zero-zero-robotics/

Skynet is even closer, then you think!

My friend talks about drone use in Africa etc etc.

Some of you may know him from his articles in the BMFA mag and RC mags!

https://www.facebook.com/shahid.banglawala/videos/10154747660464123/

The Inductrix is a great little tool, not the least because its ducted fan means it can bump into all sorts of things with impunity.

Its "problem" is that standard it cannot successfully carry FPV gear, even the tiny micro combos.

This is resolved by fitting upgraded motors (not from Blade). They are a plug in part.

This results in an increased current draw that the PCB ESCs can handle but the std battery cannot, so a larger battery is essential.

I ran the motors in very carefully, probably more carefully than most would. Time alone will tell how long they last, but you do have to accept that they are being driven quite hard.

Once done, its great fun and can fly indoors around the house or outdoors in near still conditions.

I am supplying power a little differently from others, who are max-ing out at 205mAh packs. I’m using wider format Hubsan 107 Quad packs made by Overlander. I have tested both the 280mAh cell from the std 107 and the upgraded 380mAh from the camera equipped 107. Both work and despite its greater weight the larger pack does not seem to overload the system and offers greater duration.

I have flown a 380 mAh cell pack while sat in the dining room via the hall, kitchen, hall, lounge, conservatory, lounge, hall, up stairs, main bedroom, hall, down stairs, two complete ccts and return to dining room for a few circuits. This was with the early lower power output Spektrum camera unit, yet I had no video break up at all. Quite impressive.

This morning I was flying a hoops and cones cct round my garden, great fun. (1 pool noodle per loop is used "planted" with duct taped on metal rod tent pegs)

Great FPV learning tool as the costs are low and the chance of damage incurring costs very low.

Approx costs................

Inductrix £36 (Spektrum bind n fly)

Camera £38

3D printed camera mount £3

4 "fast" upgrade Motors £21

I'm running it with a £60 GearBest headset, so you do not have to spend lots to successfully fly FPV.

Not sure why they call it "Killer Drone".........not very PC

It looks like the US rules for operating "drones" commercially have been significantly relaxed in order to promote more new businesses.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36584515

Still, don't expect your Amazon package to arrive this way in the near to medium future

Would you take a ride in this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36478614

My enduring airborne RC jinx is still strong. After last night's magic-smoke-escaping-from-the-current-sensor incident, I decided to take my other favorite techno-toy to the field and snap some pics instead of demonstrating my ineptitude at flying.

Tiny Flyer

Dead Centre

Limbo Fail

Embedded

Under Bent Hoop

The Better Part Of Valour...

Some Can Do It Fixed Wing

Others, Not So Much

BMFA Website link - FPV Rules

https://bmfa.org/info/model-flying-types/first-person-view-fpv

Nice new section, shame not to open it!

Some know Mark Fry and I gave a talk on MultiRotors (MR's) at a recent Club Night.

In this section, and over time, I will be putting some of the base data needed for CAMFC members to enter and survive (legally) the wonderful world of MR's, and especially First Person View Quadcopters (FPV Quads).

As is the way with most new and rapidly expanding areas, there is a lot of scope for getting it wrong. Frankly, you will NOT be helped by a fair proportion of the UK traders, who will happily sell you (because it is not illegal for them to do so) product that is either not fit for purpose or is illegal in the UK.

One particular issue I will spotlight on NOW as an example, and that is Video Transmission power. In the UK you are limited to a MAXIMUM output power of 25mW (milliWatts). A LOT of product being sold is in the UK by UK sellers is at least 200mW. Worse, a lot of it is also on a frequency band or has a band available which falls outside the UK legal band.

Those tempted to cheat should bear in mind that operating with too much power drastically increases the chance that you will affect others, esp others trying to fly with you in the case of FPV Quad racing.

Anyway, enough of that negativity, The genre of "Race" Quad flying is exciting, relatively cheap, is a fresh challenge, and will give a buzz that's hard to match from any other form of RC flight.

You can be fully equipped flight ready for not much more than a single club size ARTF, and it'll survive a considerable amount more punishment.

We'll see how best to approach this in later posts.

An interesting article on drone usage. Hydrogen fuel cells are an interesting development.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36301378

Came across this today. I hadn't heard of it before but apparently the CAA have recently launched a DroneCode about safe use of "small unmanned aircraft systems" or "SUAS" as they abbreviate the term to. Worth a read just so we are familiar with the rules.

http://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Model-ai ... ng-drones/

Also the Government "Drones Public Dialogue" page which is also linked in the CAA article

http://dronespublicdialogue.co.uk/