Inexpensive Landing Pad

gjmphoto · Jul 22, 2018

Folks...being a photographer, I have a lot of extra equipment laying around. It happens I had an old beaten up reflector (foldable). So I converted it to be a launching pad by using four binder clips with four fishing weights attached. I put a uni-directional pattern on the surface using black gorilla tape and, voila, my Mavic finds it perfectly.

I noticed that B&H has a flash sale (today - Sunday, 7/22 - only) on 32" reflectors (Link) for $20 which would work just fine. So for something like $25, you can have a great little portable landing pad with a bag.

Here are some photos of mine and the detail on the binder clip.

- Gary

msinger · Jul 22, 2018

PGYTECH makes this landing pad out of similar materials. They are 30", come in bright orange/blue (flip over to change the color), and have stakes to pin the landing pad to the ground if needed. At $14, it's another inexpensive landing pad option to consider.

gjmphoto · Jul 22, 2018

msinger said:
PGYTECH makes this landing pad out of similar materials. They are 30", come in bright orange/blue (flip over to change the color), and have stakes to pin the landing pad to the ground if needed. At $14, it's another inexpensive landing pad option to consider.

View attachment 42505

Even better! Mine was free...but that's pretty good!

gjmphoto · Jul 22, 2018

gjmphoto said:
Even better! Mine was free...but that's pretty good!

Also...people might consider using the binder clips with that one as well...since you can't always stake into the ground.

msinger · Jul 22, 2018

Well, you certainly cannot beat free

msinger · Jul 22, 2018

gjmphoto said:
people might consider using the binder clips with that one as well...since you can't always stake into the ground.

The binder clips with the weights is a great idea! I've never seen that one before.

gjmphoto · Jul 22, 2018

Ha! And now I found another reflector (also at B&H) for $12!

I'm sure you can find cheaper on ebay...but I'm not looking anymore

LEO_Pilot · Jul 22, 2018

I found the cheap pads just don’t work good for me. You have to stake them down, and if the ground is hard, good luck. Hoodman is the way to go. It has a weight that runs along the outer edge. Never moves around from prop wash, or blows away in the wind.

gjmphoto · Jul 22, 2018

LEO_Pilot said:
I found the cheap pads just don’t work good for me. You have to stake them down, and if the ground is hard, good luck. Hoodman is the way to go. It has a weight that runs along the outer edge. Never moves around from prop wash, or blows away in the wind.

I can't speak for the staked ones...but with a photo reflector (which are made with excellent materials), the binder clips and fishing weights, it goes nowhere. It would take a huge wind to budge this thing...more than you'd want to fly in!

msinger · Jul 22, 2018

LEO_Pilot said:
Hoodman is the way to go

While pricey, they are the best way to go if looking for a landing pad that is convenient to use.

98 SNAKE EATER · Jul 23, 2018

msinger said:
PGYTECH makes this landing pad out of similar materials. They are 30", come in bright orange/blue (flip over to change the color), and have stakes to pin the landing pad to the ground if needed. At $14, it's another inexpensive landing pad option to consider.

View attachment 42505

I have the same one and it works great, but a floor mat from my car works just as good in a pinch

Bunny Too · Jul 23, 2018

gjmphoto said:
Folks...being a photographer, I have a lot of extra equipment laying around. It happens I had an old beaten up reflector (foldable). So I converted it to be a launching pad by using four binder clips with four fishing weights attached. I put a uni-directional pattern on the surface using black gorilla tape and, voila, my Mavic finds it perfectly.

I noticed that B&H has a flash sale (today - Sunday, 7/22 - only) on 32" reflectors (Link) for $20 which would work just fine. So for something like $25, you can have a great little portable landing pad with a bag.

Here are some photos of mine and the detail on the binder clip.
View attachment 42503 View attachment 42504

- Gary

Very nice idea, clever with the fishing weights.

Canuk · Jul 23, 2018

msinger said:
PGYTECH makes this landing pad out of similar materials. They are 30", come in bright orange/blue (flip over to change the color), and have stakes to pin the landing pad to the ground if needed. At $14, it's another inexpensive landing pad option to consider.

View attachment 42505

I have this same one and it is very cheap to buy and does the job very well . I paid 14 bucks and free shipping

Mossiback · Jul 23, 2018

I now prefer hand launching/landing but have used my car's floor mat as a pad.

mad monkey · Jul 23, 2018

I'm going to try the weights idea on my pop out pad.

Thanks

scotte · Jul 24, 2018

The floormat idea is great!

gjmphoto · Jul 24, 2018

I got a private question regarding what I meant by "a Uni-Directional Pattern" on the face of the disk, so I figured I'd answer it generally. The pattern that I put on the pad can only be oriented in one direction. Unlike the "H" and circle, which could be viewed upside down without a difference, the triangle with one of its legs doubled removes any doubt as to orientation. I hoped this would make it even easier for the sensors to gain alignment on landing.