Air 3s arrived

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Spent several days going through settings, getting Dora the Drone registered, making pre and post flight check lists. Added a FireHouse Anti-Collision light. Today was my first flight, first photo, nothing to write home about except I got off the ground several times, varying length of flights and landed several times with rth And did not crash. Took 1 photo and made it to 300 ft. Now that Dora and I are ready to go up again the temperature is 107 at noon. Only morning flights for this inexperienced pilot. We may have a bit of an unusual cooler spell coming soon.

 

[wco81]

Where did you buy it from?

Which settings did you use, a set from some YouTube video or maybe posted here?

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Where did you buy it from?

Which settings did you use, a set from some YouTube video or maybe posted here?

eBay. I used YT videos to make the normal changes that many have suggested along with suggestions I’ve read on groups. I went through each category and if I wasn’t exactly sure what to change I would look it up.

 

[DenMac55]

Congratulations on your Air 3s. I also have an Air 3s and wanted to add a strobe to mine also Just a question did you notice if your strobe light made a difference in seeing the drone. The only reason I’m asking is I had those on my phantom 4 but were on the legs. I was wondering if it’s on top of the drone does it help with seeing the drone

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Congratulations on your Air 3s. I also have an Air 3s and wanted to add a strobe to mine also Just a question did you notice if your strobe light made a difference in seeing the drone. The only reason I’m asking is I had those on my phantom 4 but were on the legs. I was wondering if it’s on top of the drone does it help with seeing the drone

Thanks. I put mine on the top of the drone since it is my anti-collision light. I’m considering another light on the bottom as well or on the legs for orientation or maybe both. I’m still trying to figure things out.

 

[kenjancef]

Congratulations on your Air 3s. I also have an Air 3s and wanted to add a strobe to mine also Just a question did you notice if your strobe light made a difference in seeing the drone. The only reason I’m asking is I had those on my phantom 4 but were on the legs. I was wondering if it’s on top of the drone does it help with seeing the drone

I have the Firehouse Arc V on the top of my 3S, towards the front. A few weeks ago I took a dusk flight out to a big crane that was docked in a harbor here in Rhode Island. It was about 4,000 feet away and I could see it clearly.

 

[DenMac55]

Wow good to know. I’m ordering my now.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

I have the Firehouse Arc V on the top of my 3S, towards the front. A few weeks ago I took a dusk flight out to a big crane that was docked in a harbor here in Rhode Island. It was about 4,000 feet away and I could see it clearly.

Pilot Institute tested several anti collision light and that is the only one that could be seen from 3 miles away.

 

[DenMac55]

Thanks for info. Just ordered from Amazon. Boy my eyes will thank me when I’m flying in low light. Lol

 

[Kyle76]

Thanks for info. Just ordered from Amazon. Boy my eyes will thank me when I’m flying in low light. Lol

Your eyes will hate you if you accidentally look at it up close at night. You won't be seeing anything for awhile.

 

[Rchawks]

I also have a Air 3S, beautiful flying (and sounding) drone.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

I also have an Air 3S, beautiful flying (and sounding) drone.

Congratulations

 

[Rchawks]

I was very happy when it arrived last year.

 

[Dave Pitman]

and landed several times with rth

Congrats! Try to become proficient at flying the drone back to yourself and landing.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Congrats! Try to become proficient at flying the drone back to yourself and landing.

good advice thanks

 

[wco81]

Mine just arrived from Adorama.

Was surprised to see the case be actually bigger than my Mavic 2 Pro FMC shoulder bag. When I travel, I put the drone and the 3 batteries into that bag along with extra propellers and some other accessories. The bag takes up about 1/3 of my carry on suitcase.

The Air 3S case has a bigger footprint than the Mavic 2 Pro shoulder bag though it's not as thick. But the reason is that the Air 3S case is built to carry the battery charging hub as well as the controller.

So I think I would keep using the Mavic 2 Pro FMC shoulder bag for the Air3S. The batteries though, I can only fit 2 of the Air 3S batteries because they're longer and thinner whereas the M2P batteries were wider and shorter so I could stack 3 of them in one half of the M2P bag.

I also realized the Air3S has a slightly bigger footprint than the M2P when the legs ar folded. The reason is, the gimbal juts out from the body and that gimbal cover protrudes away from the aircraft body as a result.

So it's about an inch to inch and a half longer than the folded M2P. I can probably still fit it in the M2P bag but it probably makes the cover of the bag put more pressure on that gimbal cover. I have to be careful that when I pack my carryon, it won't press against the bag or else it might crack that gimbal cover if there's enough pressure on it.

Not likely but it's possible.

The other thing I noticed, the RC-N3 is going to require getting used to. When I slide my iPhone 16 Pro Max, I have to be careful because the bracket which holds the phone is pushing up against the button. In particular the camera action button of the iPhone which is on the right lower half. So I have to set the iPhone a little more left of center or right of center to avoid it activating the iPhone Camera app.