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The Air 3 compared to FIMI Pro.

Brutalwarpig

Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2024
Messages
12
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25
Age
57
Location
Tennessee, USA
I bought my first modern GPS quad less than a year ago. It was a used DJI Mini first generation. I liked it so much that I bought a Mini 3 with RC controller just 2 months later. I love both Minis but 249g drones have their limitations with wind, battery life etc. They also seem slightly more fragile than heavier UAVs. So I decided to buy a bigger drone. So I purchased a couple of FIMI drones, the X8 Pro and the X8 2022SE. They're great drones and a good value if you don't need service. If Fimi would tighten their quality control and improved their after sale service, Fimi could be a serious competitor in the drone market. The X8 Pro is a fairly close to the Air 2 or 2S. I opted for the FIMI TX10A built in screen controller and 2 batteries for less than $800. Substantially cheaper than the DJI counterpart. However, the poorly executed firmware updates and still waiting for FAA Declaration of Compliance and difficult after sales service requirements have made me appreciate the refinement of DJI's products.
I just received my DJI Air 3 with RC2 fly more package last week. The Air 3 is an amazing UAV. I literally have zero complaints. I'm afraid that DJI has set the bar so high that I will never want drones from other manufacturers.
 
Welcome! You sound very much like me. I have a couple of Mavic Pros but decided to check out the Fimi X8 to see how close they come to my old Mavics. I was enticed by the apparent bang for the buck and fell for the advertising that they are RemoteID compliant. I first bought the X8 2022SE V2 with the TX10A controller and was pretty happy with it. Sure, not as smooth as the Mavic to fly, but faster and I'm not out as much if it gets lost or damaged while camping. So then I purchased an X8 Pro for the 3-direction collision avoidance. I'm a bit grumpy that they still don't have their RemoteID compliance and it's frustrating that the collision avoidance defaults to "off" and I have to turn it back on every time I start up the quad. But I also agree, if they could get their customer support improved, they could be quite a competitor to DJI. Overall I'm quite impressed with the quality of the hardware for the price. I find myself flying my X8 Pro much more often than my Mavic.
 
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
 
I just received my DJI Air 3 with RC2 fly more package last week.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.


As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). Your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and even while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are required to register your Drone.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)


FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com trust.pilotinstitute.com

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)


If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…


Since you live in Tennessee, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.


Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Air 3.

After you read all the material, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
 
Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.
 
Greetings: welcome to the forum from Chicago the Windy City.
FLY SAFE & FLY SMART
 
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Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.


As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). Your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and even while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are required to register your Drone.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)


FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com trust.pilotinstitute.com

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)


If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…


Since you live in Tennessee, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.


Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Air 3.

After you read all the material, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"


Fly On and Fly Safe…
Very helpful, thank you.
 
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Welcome! You sound very much like me. I have a couple of Mavic Pros but decided to check out the Fimi X8 to see how close they come to my old Mavics. I was enticed by the apparent bang for the buck and fell for the advertising that they are RemoteID compliant. I first bought the X8 2022SE V2 with the TX10A controller and was pretty happy with it. Sure, not as smooth as the Mavic to fly, but faster and I'm not out as much if it gets lost or damaged while camping. So then I purchased an X8 Pro for the 3-direction collision avoidance. I'm a bit grumpy that they still don't have their RemoteID compliance and it's frustrating that the collision avoidance defaults to "off" and I have to turn it back on every time I start up the quad. But I also agree, if they could get their customer support improved, they could be quite a competitor to DJI. Overall I'm quite impressed with the quality of the hardware for the price. I find myself flying my X8 Pro much more often than my Mavic.
I
Welcome! You sound very much like me. I have a couple of Mavic Pros but decided to check out the Fimi X8 to see how close they come to my old Mavics. I was enticed by the apparent bang for the buck and fell for the advertising that they are RemoteID compliant. I first bought the X8 2022SE V2 with the TX10A controller and was pretty happy with it. Sure, not as smooth as the Mavic to fly, but faster and I'm not out as much if it gets lost or damaged while camping. So then I purchased an X8 Pro for the 3-direction collision avoidance. I'm a bit grumpy that they still don't have their RemoteID compliance and it's frustrating that the collision avoidance defaults to "off" and I have to turn it back on every time I start up the quad. But I also agree, if they could get their customer support improved, they could be quite a competitor to DJI. Overall I'm quite impressed with the quality of the hardware for the price. I find myself flying my X8 Pro much more often than my Mavic.
I noticed that in some tutorials, it shows the collision avoidance screen for the X8 Pro which has the "brake" and the "bypass" options available. On my TX10A/X8 Pro it only gives the "brake" option or to turn the collision avoidance off. Does your X8 Pro have both options or just the "brake" option?
The build quality of the X8 Pro is fantastic. The rotor arms have a solid detent that locks them into place securely and the drone just feels solid.
I prefer the single axis of rotation design of the rotor arms on the X8 drones over the diagonal design on my DJI drones.
By the way I just purchased a "plus" battery for the X8 Pro. They are available now.
 
With the TX10A I only get the Brake Stop or Off options. I haven't tried the standard controller with the phone app and I'm not sure I'm curious enough to go through the rebinding process to check it out, but that's interesting. I would suspect that there may be a firmware update at some point then that will add the bypass option to the TX10A. At least I hope so.

-Rod
 
I see that the Fimi X8 SE 2022 V2 is finally RemoteID certified by the FAA. Hopefully the X8 Pro is not far behind.

-rod
 
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