I tried manually landing once or twice and each time was scarier than the other. Every time it wanted to tip over and luckily I recovered and got back in the air. I too started just catching for a while until I placed my faith in the auto land button. So far (knock on wood) every landing has been as smooth as silk. I try to always take off from a good flat and open area with that being my RTH point as well. I haven't heard of any auto lands that have went bad but I'm sure they're out there. I see where it appears 99% of y'all hand catch..... I'm curious why this is? Do I need to worry about auto landing? Have any of y'all crashed an auto land? Like I said, the lands have been great every time. Geeeez, now I'm worried!!!
How do you land?
- Thread starter Shawnakova
- Start date
Ya, thats one problem I have seen repeated over and over. The P3 is really top heavy compared to its landing struts base. I am sure that is one thing I will be addressing with my 3D printer after I get the P3 in hand to see what the actual issue is.
I launch from my case or backpack, and hand catch the Phantom. This keeps debris from contaminating the motors. Trust me, you don't want magnetic sand stuck in your motors!
I launch from my case or backpack, and hand catch the Phantom. This keeps debris from contaminating the motors. Trust me, you don't want magnetic sand stuck in your motors!
Well, unless you are flying over iron mines or smelters, is that actually a problem?
So I almost always land manually (left stick down) or auto land on top of my hard case to keep debris away from camera. But it is kind of a small target to hit. I have hand caught a few times when I have someone with that can catch while I work the controls. How do you hand catch without a second person? I'd prefer to do that if I can find a safe method.
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alokbhargava
Premium Pilot
I also (almost) always hand catch. If there's a level, clean, dry surface without weeds or rocks and very little wind, I might land on it instead.
When you do hand catch, make sure you're upwind and if in doubt, let the bird hover for a few seconds so you're sure it won't move unexpectedly. Avoid "fighting" the bird by pulling it down or toward you -- this can stress the frame.
When you do hand catch, make sure you're upwind and if in doubt, let the bird hover for a few seconds so you're sure it won't move unexpectedly. Avoid "fighting" the bird by pulling it down or toward you -- this can stress the frame.
Yes, take a magnet to a sand deposit and you'll be surprised how many magnetic particles you can attract.
In fact, more than once I've had to change locations to not have a compass error near sand deposits.
A couple of years ago I'd been flying by a local river and landed my Phantom on the shore. Two flights later, from 330' high, the Phantom's left front motor stopped. 10 seconds later, the bird hit the ground. I disassembled the motor and it had several tiny black particles stuck inside. I used motor cleaning putty (like silly putty) to grab the particles and have not landed on the ground since.
When I hand catch, I let it hover at about 6 feet off the ground. I have a neck strap for the remote control, so I use my right hand to grab one of the rear legs. As soon as I have a good grip, with my left hand I lower the throttle (left stick) all the way and hold it until the motors shut down (about 3 seconds).
I hand catch about 1/3 of the time, I land in GPS mode about 1/3 of the time, and I land in ATTI mode about 1/3 of the time. It helps me keep the flying skills up for the inevitable time that I am faced with having to land and can't hand catch. I also enjoy the challenge, as half the fun of these things is learning to master them without all the computer assistance.
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Phantom's landing behavior is unpredictable , if i try landing its will cut the whole grass for me 
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Thanks for your hand catch procedures.
As for it being unpredictable I really never have trouble with full landing. It seems reasonably easy to control. Just think hand catching reduces chance for dust/moisture on the optics of the camera.
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As for it being unpredictable I really never have trouble with full landing. It seems reasonably easy to control. Just think hand catching reduces chance for dust/moisture on the optics of the camera.
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I bring a 4 ft square piece of plywood and throw that down when I fly as my landing pad. Easy enough for me to carry in my truck, and it gives me a nice flat, clean area for takes off and landing. Have not had any problems with this arrangement.
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Yeah good idea! I use my p3p case so a bit smaller target and the 12" height makes it a bit more intense 
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Had thought about a fold out landing pad to have in my case, even with a LED light for possible future night flights and assisted landing.
Uneven ground - winds - sand - dust - fences - there are loads of reasons to hand catch!
Man if I hadn't read this thread I would have thought 80+% of people landed it manually. I got my P3A 13 days ago and have flown every single days 2-4 batteries. One of first things I did was practice landing because, why not, I figured I'd need to know how to do that very well. Now, it's one of my favorite parts of flying, the icing on the cake. Last night I landed it in the back of my pickup truck (which has a cap in it). I've landed it on many things. I'm really surprised the consensus says catch it. Seems so anti-climactic.
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Catch always - the legs are suitable for take off but suck for landing unless everything goes perfect.
NOTE: On launch, 100% throttle until off the ground ALWAYS
NOTE: On launch, 100% throttle until off the ground ALWAYS
