RTH-Mat

[Mymgb]

My wife gave me an old cutting board from her quilting things and with a Black Sharpie I layed out a landing pad as I seem to be in taller grass and sandy areas. Upon take off I checked return to marked spot and the MP rose 10-12 ft then I took off. I have attached the results and if it wasn’t so “gusty” today it might have been perfect??? The landing was from a height >100ft







I might also add for new pilots to pay close attention to the orientation of your MP and turn as the drone turns as well as WATCH YOUR SCREEN

 

[Xtreme Drone Pilot]

A large (iirc, about 1m in dia.) round collapsible landing pad (the one with blue/orange sides) is the best $15 you can ever spend.

 

[OzoneVibe]

When I'm hiking I'm trying to reduce weight, not add to it!
Leg extenders. #Sorted. [emoji6]

 

[Simmo]

Mate I have a black and white tile, 400mm x400mm and the mavic nails it every time. I reckon give your landing pad more contrast will give better results...

 

[Xtreme Drone Pilot]

When I'm hiking I'm trying to reduce weight, not add to it!
Leg extenders. #Sorted. [emoji6]

For hiking, I have a smaller version of the same, iirc it's 75cm dia. It weighs nothing. Landing pads are probably the best accessories I bought for Mavic.

 

[Mossiback]

I use my car floor mat if it is close by. If needed I hand launch and turn off the downward sensors to hand catch.

 

[OzoneVibe]

For hiking, I have a smaller version of the same, iirc it's 75cm dia. It weighs nothing. Landing pads are probably the best accessories I bought for Mavic.

Up in the rocky peaks of the Dolomites, a landing pad helps not at all. The leg extenders enable landing on quite a small rock a relatively simple task.

 

[Xtreme Drone Pilot]

Up in the rocky peaks of the Dolomites, a landing pad helps not at all. The leg extenders enable landing on quite a small rock a relatively simple task.

Yeah, in the mountains I usually use "landing" pad as "launch" pad only, hand-catch landing. Helps with warming up Mavic while it fixes sats without juggling it and RC in my hands.

BTW, I was flying my wingsuit in Dolomites (Sass Pordoi) this September. Lots of PGs there. Had my Mavic with me, just didn't have time to fly it in Dolomites - all time was consumed by jumping.

 

[Qoncussion]

Up in the rocky peaks of the Dolomites, a landing pad helps not at all. The leg extenders enable landing on quite a small rock a relatively simple task.

One advantage of the landing pads are that they keep your lens clean, by not blowing dust and dirt all over the place during takeoff. With the Mavic's camera sitting right at ground level, the lens catches a bit of everything during takeoff. I am a lens cleaning fool, as I've been shooting professionally for a long time. Some might say that they don't have this issue, or they never noticed ~ but it's there. However, for hiking I most certainly see the appeal of shedding everything that has weight or bulk to it. In which case, I'd just hand launch/catch.

 

[Mymgb]

All good comments but the intention of the post was for new pilots and there possible understanding of the RTH function and as above Post to illustrate take off and landings in tall grass,sand or rocks. KEEP FLYING

 

[OzoneVibe]

One advantage of the landing pads are that they keep your lens clean, by not blowing dust and dirt all over the place during takeoff. With the Mavic's camera sitting right at ground level, the lens catches a bit of everything during takeoff. I am a lens cleaning fool, as I've been shooting professionally for a long time. Some might say that they don't have this issue, or they never noticed ~ but it's there. However, for hiking I most certainly see the appeal of shedding everything that has weight or bulk to it. In which case, I'd just hand launch/catch.

I hear what you say ... but when I'm out hiking I usually find a nice bare rock, blasted by years of wind and rain, with the minimum of dust.
If I was filming a potential blockbuster movie ..... (a) I might be more picky and (b) probably using a Red Monstro on an Octocopter.

 

[Qoncussion]

I hear what you say ... but when I'm out hiking I usually find a nice bare rock, blasted by years of wind and rain, with the minimum of dust.
If I was filming a potential blockbuster movie ..... (a) I might be more picky and (b) probably using a Red Monstro on an Octocopter.

Yeah, I'm one of those OCD camera guys who loses his mind whenever I see someone shooting vertical video from their cell phone ~ thinking to myself how great that footage will look, banded in the middle of their big screen TV ... I need a vacation.

Ok, sorry OP... Back to the topic at hand.

 

[Mossiback]

To the OP, nice job on the mat. I would suggest some bright, perhaps reflective tape over the marker lines to give more contrast in low-light conditions.

 

[Xtreme Drone Pilot]

Yeah, I'm one of those OCD camera guys who loses his mind whenever I see someone shooting vertical video from their cell phone ~ thinking to myself how great that footage will look, banded in the middle of their big screen TV

I used to be the same re: vertical video, until I realized that these videos are perfect for viewing on the phone in portrait, they create this eerie feeling of being right there, as if you're a correspondent on a scene of a catastrophe.