FUDHU Mavic Air from Rib
The key point is that I am an arrogant p***k who thought he knew better and didn't listen to my more experienced betters!!!
I was absolutely sure the bow sunbathing cushion area in the prow of my 20 foot rib was perfectly adequate for landing the Mavic Air. None of this perilous hand catching for me - no cut fingers!
Yer, well, I was wrong. You can't land a Mavic air in pretty much dead calm conditions off Yarmouth on the Solent on a stationary (engine in neutral RIB).
At least not at my pilot skill level!!!
Launching was a doddle.
I attempted two landings onto the deck (actually the sun bathing cushion which i thought would be more forgiving than fibreglass) - the first and last I will try on my RIB.
The first time I just clipped the tube edge as I came in. Nasty noise but no damage - Drone landed safely as normal. Reckoned it was collision avoidance so i turned off all the sensors... and decided to try again.
I did not realise that without collision sensors and landing assistance she would drop quite fast! Bounced - yes bounced - on the cushion, and flipped backwards (across the red line, see closeup) of the cushion onto the deck jamming herself between the forward locker and the cushion like an upside down beetle. Engine was still running so two props broke and the others have been retired. She eventually cut off the engines.
I did not try again till I got home with new props. Launch was fine but without the lading sensors etc she landed hard onto concrete - no damage - but a new prop which I had failed to push in properly flew off!!!
worked out I needed to put back on all the sensors and re attached the undamaged prop.
She seems fine - only my arrogance has been revealed and my pride dented!
Boats move - even in relative calm. Obvious really - don't try and land unless you have oodles on non metallic deck space - and I mean oodles. The relative motion is a challenge!!!! I definitely don't have enough!!!! And it was a calm evening.
The challenge is a small rib which moves in multiple axes single handed alone on the boat. I can hand catch on dry land - no problems. But even 0.5knots per hour horizontal movement and a gentle swell produces significant movement! Just did the math. That's 30 cm per second. My safe landing area is approx an equilateral triangle with base 90cm and height 119cm. That gives me 3 to 4 seconds on a vertical decent from a safe 3m height to clear the A frame and aerials. Plus the 30+ degree random swell.... No wonder it was hard....
Whats the plan, Stan? Learn to catch Mavic Air on the land. Then try again on the sea. I don't think its going to be trivial on the sea!!!
Thanks for reading and I hope this helps someone! From: A chastened failed pilot!!
https://youtu.be/gnEHsmANCuU
lol were all human mate.
Your drone is flying, so keep some of it to yourself and Keep flying fun happy