Hubsan H501S RTF FPV - Maiden Flight (with photos)

So the time has come we are getting a full FPV setup RTF, Plug and play for a little over £200. With it's height holding and sedate 2s power this is not winning any races or even flying fast down low because it has no camera tilt from level but that wasn't the intention. It's intended for new flyers who just wish to float around and enjoy the view.
After 30 seconds flying this quad in GPS hold I would without doubt let anyone fly it with zero prior experience, even FPV as it's totally hands off and depending on your particular FPV goals, could be the perfect stress free flyer to make that first step.

The height holding works a treat and does what it is supposed to along with the fairly aggressive self level but easing in and out of a stationary hover into flight is very tricky without causing wallowing when the leveling and height holding are fighting you. Here there really needs to be a basic ground station app or pc software where you can lower the forces pulling it back to normal. This alone will stop me really feeling connected with the quad as you are forced to use whatever Hubsan feel you should use.

The TX has sprung sticks both sides to revert back to auto level when they are released to aid automatic height holding and is an absolute monster when it comes to eating batteries. I lipo mod is easy enough and would be essential if you went out with 3 stock lipos to fly as you are up in the air for 15 - 20 minutes.

The camera and TX screen/ picture quality is absolutely superb, crisp, colorful, smooth panning and loaded with all OSD, GPS and recording info that you could possibly need, including battery power for the quad although the voltage shown is more accurate than the actual power bars.

The final section in the 3rd area was recorded but after the auto land I turned the TX off without pressing the record button to stop the recording so it was corrupt and no amount of googling apps to sort it actually sorted it so after 2 nights I just gave up. Hubsan not fitting a simple capacitor to keep power long enough to finalize the recording is just plain lazy but at least I am aware now.

Next, I want to try out the semi hidden manual mode and take it out on a windy day and see how it handles that..

Stock lipos are 2s 2700mah and just skinny enough that 2 cells from an old 3s 200mah don't fit but I made one up with some 2mm bullet sockets on it which fit the EC2 connector and strap to the bottom of the quad - not perfect but more flight time once i'm at the field and it's not £20 they want for another.

H501S playlist
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Available at Banggood
http://www.banggood.com/Hubsan-X4-H50...