How to keep Aircraft Steady on decent

JFattizzi · Jan 3, 2017

While filming with the camera straight down and keeping the aircraft in a steady descent, how can i keep the aircraft from spinning? I can do it, but have to be extremely careful to keep the stick exactly downward.

rockydog · Jan 3, 2017

You've answered your own question...you just have to be careful not to apply any sideways movement as you pull the stick towards you.
The more you practise, the better you get

Kirby Johnson · Jan 3, 2017

I have thought the same, and come to the same conclusion as Rocky. I wish there was a small detent at exactly center up and down which would tend to center the stick.

JFattizzi · Jan 3, 2017

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing anything. I remember when i had the Phantom 3 standard, the stick used to stay in the down position.

Slackware · Jan 3, 2017

Are you using your thumb, or your finger on the stick? When I don't want yaw, I pull down with my finger on top face of stick.

JFattizzi · Jan 3, 2017

Slackware said:
Are you using your thumb, or your finger on the stick? When I don't want yaw, I pull down with my finger on top face of stick.

I will try...usually my thumb.

Quadpilot · Jan 3, 2017

JFattizzi said:
While filming with the camera straight down and keeping the aircraft in a steady descent, how can i keep the aircraft from spinning? I can do it, but have to be extremely careful to keep the stick exactly downward.

Depending on rate of descent, you could be encountering the effects of Vortex Ring State, which describes the instability encountered when a multicopter encounters the disturbed air from its own propellor wash. This effect is most noticeable when descending in still air.

Wrice4 · Jan 3, 2017

Also, the slower you go, the less the motors have to over-correct each other; therefore, the stability is smoother.....

JFattizzi · Jan 3, 2017

Do you guys change your stick settings and sensitivity?>

Wrice4 · Jan 3, 2017

JFattizzi said:
Do you guys change your stick settings and sensitivity?>

I lowered them, in gps mode, on my mavic. I haven't found the need to on my p4p, as the stick movement is smoother/easier when doing small stick movements.

J.long · Jan 3, 2017

Just went for a fly with the guards on.not a bad flight however the controls are weird. Left is not left it's right and so forth.. which mode is best to be accurate.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Wrice4 · Jan 3, 2017

J.long said:
Just went for a fly with the guards on.not a bad flight however the controls are weird. Left is not left it's right and so forth.. which mode is best to be accurate.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Mode 2 should be the default, and the one I recommend. Use that. It should display the controls when choosing the modes, so you can see what stick does what.

rockydog · Jan 3, 2017

JFattizzi said:
Do you guys change your stick settings and sensitivity?>

I've slowed the yaw rate down, and reduced the Expo setting....better for smooth pans, (and could be useful for your problem).

rockydog · Jan 3, 2017

J.long said:
Just went for a fly with the guards on.not a bad flight however the controls are weird. Left is not left it's right and so forth.. which mode is best to be accurate.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Are you sure you're not getting confused by orientation when flying towards you? Mode 2 is the norm.

RW-1 · Jan 3, 2017

Quadpilot said:
Depending on rate of descent, you could be encountering the effects of Vortex Ring State, which describes the instability encountered when a multicopter encounters the disturbed air from its own propellor wash. This effect is most noticeable when descending in still air.

It's not VRS, VRS would mainly increase his descent rate, and the camera/quad would wobble -> he's cross controlling - adding a slight left/right yaw when pulling the left stick down.

Slackware · Jan 3, 2017

J.long said:
Just went for a fly with the guards on.not a bad flight however the controls are weird. Left is not left it's right and so forth.. which mode is best to be accurate.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Left is the drones left, not yours.

azgeek · Jan 3, 2017

Kirby Johnson said:
I wish there was a small detent at exactly center up and down which would tend to center the stick.

I have the same thing happen to me. Your wish would work for full power ascents/descents but wouldn't quite be of any use for more controlled maneuvers. Still not a bad suggestion.

Matchlock · Jan 3, 2017

Here's one way that works well for me. A lot of guys like long sticks. I do not. I make the sticks as short as possible and find them much easier to control. Up and down filming is no problem for me with shorter sticks.

Bud

JFattizzi said:
Do you guys change your stick settings and sensitivity?>

Kirby Johnson · Jan 3, 2017

azgeek said:
I have the same thing happen to me. Your wish would work for full power ascents/descents but wouldn't quite be of any use for more controlled maneuvers. Still not a bad suggestion.

Yeah Az you are right. I used to always like to descend as fast as possible. It looked cool plummeting toward the ground, then slowing to a gentle soft touchdown. Then on a couple of perfect still days saw something happening that was not good. I think it was the almost a beginning of the dreaded VRS, so now I either descend slowly or a little sideways, or in short bursts.