I did my first flight today and it went well, was nervous but the Nano took care of me. The takeoff was about 4 out of 10, things happen so fast, it is pretty amazing. The landing was about 8 out of 10, floated down like a butterfly. I didn't video this flight, I will video flights going forward, hoping tomorrow I can go again. I will still stay around the pattern and practice controlling my speed/altitudes better, I was pretty much a mess today. The control inputs needed are "very" light, way different from what I learned on where you had to horse the controls around, the Nano so much easier. The things I would recommend doing before flying your Nano:
Practice w/o the blades on, get up to temp, apply brake and get up to 2500rpm and let brake go for 1 or 2 seconds to feel how fast it launches. My first 2 attempts stunk as I wasn't prepared for how quickly the Nano wants to go.
Pedals - keep them straight/level - My first 2 attempts during prerotation I must have pushed a little left and didn't notice and when I let go, it darted to the left and freaked me out. The 2nd attempt was worse and I went into the grass then after talking with Lukas and Dale they guessed as to what I was doing and I agree with them. So....the last thing I do now before disengaging the rotor brake is to look at my feet to make sure I will launch straight....very important.
Landing - right before touchdown, I also looked at my feet to make sure I was straight/level. Lukas mentioned with more flight time you will get a feel for it and it will just be automatic, I am clearly not to that point yet :)
prerotation, have stick all the way back after 100-140rotor rpm (light wind 100, 10mph wind after 140 rotor rpm) This takes a lot of the weight off the front wheel, you can see the front kinda bouncing when stick is all the way back. This will help if you don't have your pedals level, just make it a point to always look at your feet before releasing brake. This might have saved my first 2 attempts.
Clearly I am not an instructor and these are just a few things that I would have done before my first launch attempt. I will talk more about this in the next few flying videos in more detail.
For the videos, if anyone has any suggestions on topics/ things you would like to know etc, please post or email me, I will do my best to cover them all in future flights that I record.
NANO NATION
Fantastic, 3 more are almost here in the states and 2 more shipped this week.
My Nano has arrived in country (NZ), just waiting for release from customs and get it trucked to my field. Great birthday present on its way!
I spent a weekend with Jeffrey in May at the Carolina Barnstormers event. And had a great time meeting him and his Nano. He showed me how he installed/removed rotors (solo) and I got a chance to taxi and pre rotate all I wanted.I should be getting mine in a couple of weeks.
It is a little rocket ship, u give throttle it wants to go and go right now. Flight 2 done, things slowed down some, not sure it recorded tho. On first flight i had clear glasses for wind as i dont have a visor, i forgot to out then on, zero wind issues around my face, didnt even bring for 2nd flight.
That’s so correct! My plans exactly. Taxi around wo blades and get a feel of throttle response,thrust, steering, braking. (A little windshield time)
PS for number 1, work your rpms up to 3000rpm but do little by little, keep pedals level!!!