Landing pad

[Porky]

I highly recommend you hand catch from the BOTTOM of the drone (laugh)

Now your telling me, thought I was doing something wrong...

 

[Kgitti]

My 1st time trying to hand catch!

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A lot of members prefer to hand catch rather than land. It’s down to personal preference I suppose

I’ve been there! They are like paper cuts and hurt like hell.

 

[ff22]

I highly recommend you hand catch from the BOTTOM of the drone (laugh)

Here's a more interesting hand catch:

Watch: Fish and Wildlife captures red-tailed hawk that breaks into Bellevue home

 

[ff22]

I think it’s a perfect size too, I do have a bit of a nightmare folding it up, especially when it just starts raining, sods law...

Yes, the metal hoop is much tougher to "fold" than the ones in my windshield sun protectors. Those loop immediately.

 

[Speedmeister]

My 80cm landing pad. Metal ring has 0.35 inch width. Twist to figure 8 to fold. Works every time.

 

[Porky]

My 80cm landing pad. Metal ring has 0.35 inch width. Twist to figure 8 to fold. Works every time.

Very nice

 

[deleted member 877]

+1 why handcatch if you aren’t on a boat or similar situation?

Because if you Hand Catch you're never going to risk landing in long grass or on sand/rocks/dust, all of which can cause damage to the drone. Even with a landing pad, it's possible to miss it if you're not paying attention.

 

[RFaust]

This is a little off your original question of size, but I just made this helipad for launching from our back deck. It can collapse down to stand in the corner. It measures 2x3 ft and mounts on the railing. It's necessary because the deck is covered and takeoff can be somewhat unpredictable. Also there is no noticeable compass interference 3 ft away from the railing. Hinges and screws are aluminum.
I prefer this location because it gives me better range and visibility that down below. Plus it's a great spot when there is snow in the grass.
I also put a similar size pad in the grass below beyond the trees. I set a couple of flat concrete roof tiles in the ground for that one.
I still usually hand catch to avoid chopping weeds. I've been doing it for years with no accidents to date. (I don't fly when it's windy.)

 

[JDawg]

Hand catch - from the bottom...

 

[JDawg]

+1 why handcatch if you aren’t on a boat or similar situation?

Because it is the cleanest, easiest way.

 

[Rusty in Bend]

Here's my favorite ... PGYTECH ... solid, big, folds nicely, doesn't blow away.

 

[mfc]

Here's my favorite ... PGYTECH ... solid, big, folds nicely, doesn't blow away.

Thanks for this ... I'd tried a circular metal-hooped one and on the third fold the weld broke and the two ends sprung apart -- one cutting my hand and the other gashing my eyebrow less than an inch from my eye. I'll never try one of those again. But the square one looks excellent!

Happen to know if anyone does something similar but with traditional airfield 'T' instead of the 'H'? I've found that the Mavic orients itself better to the T (as well as reminding me to note the wind direction and take off into the wind).

 

[schojac]

Folding - hold vertcally in front, one thumb to the fron, one thumb to the rear, twist into figure of eight and push hands together. Same technique as folding bandsaw blades.

 

[mfc]

Folding - hold vertcally in front, one thumb to the fron, one thumb to the rear, twist into figure of eight and push hands together. Same technique as folding bandsaw blades.

Except that bandsaw blades don't usually become unwelded when folding ...

 

[schojac]

Except that bandsaw blades don't usually become unwelded when folding ...

True, very unlucky I think.

 

[g36pilot]

Found the PGYTECH flat folder @ Gearbest.

 

[Speedmeister]

Thanks for this ... I'd tried a circular metal-hooped one and on the third fold the weld broke and the two ends sprung apart -- one cutting my hand and the other gashing my eyebrow less than an inch from my eye. I'll never try one of those again. But the square one looks excellent!

Happen to know if anyone does something similar but with traditional airfield 'T' instead of the 'H'? I've found that the Mavic orients itself better to the T (as well as reminding me to note the wind direction and take off into the wind).

Great for manual landings not so much for precision landings. One or more legs are off the pad.

 

[mfc]

Great for manual landings not so much for precision landings. One or more legs are off the pad.

Note quite sure what you are referring to, here .. the 50cm x 50cm square pad? If so, I'm surprised -- my current pad is 31cm x 31cm and for that, yes, one or two legs are usually off the pad. But almost never by more than 3-4cm .. so for 50x50 I'd be surprised if a landing was off-pad unless in very gusty conditions?

 

[Chaostactics]

I run a 22" landing pad. Its a bit tricky in high wind but 22" vs 30" is so much easier to store when your bag space is at a premium.

 

[Speedmeister]

Note quite sure what you are referring to, here .. the 50cm x 50cm square pad? If so, I'm surprised -- my current pad is 31cm x 31cm and for that, yes, one or two legs are usually off the pad. But almost never by more than 3-4cm .. so for 50x50 I'd be surprised if a landing was off-pad unless in very gusty conditions?

Sorry, was referring to the pgytech landing pad.