As I was repairing my Tinyhawk freestyle… I realized the only non-sub 250s I have are my 5” bashers..even my Betafpv twig XL with 3.5” props ad 650 4s is sub 250.

(23-Jun-2022, 01:58 AM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Ronin, you nailed it Man !!

Yeah, if I lived on a 40 acre ranch, I might be flying something bigger...
keep in mind that you could still get caught. I would bet a pilot in manned
aircraft just might turn you in and have the authorities searching for you.


After the first test flight of my Rescue Quad, I was quite impressed by 
a 7 inch craft.

But, as you say, I don't have any clear space with that kind of "freedom".

The sub-250 gram category just fits my needs so much better. Plus, I have
a better chance with the "man" and I won't disturb the Karens.
 

If I lived on a 40 acre ranch, I would definitely be flying something massive, like 10 inch level with things mounted on it for keeping the airspace clear above my ranch.   My own Predator Quad.

(08-Jul-2022, 02:03 PM)Janz99 Wrote: I think a well built sub 250g hits a sweet spot for a lot of people who live in urban areas.  I live really close to downtown in a shhmedium-ish city and my 3.5" is really well suited for the type of flying we do.  Noise levels are manageable and doesn't bother/alert most people if we are flying in a park area. We can be stealthy if we want to fly some "questionable" spots and has enough power to have fun, but not get yourself into too much trouble.

I've been lurking around FPV for the past 2-3 years wanting to get into the hobby.  With the drone laws that came into effect the last couple of years I was always extremely hesitant.  With the BNF sub-250g category gaining some momentum I finally pulled the trigger, and I'm glad I did.  I'm sure there are a ton of other people in the same situation as me.  I think companies getting on board and building some great flying sub250's will keep attracting and growing this genre.

This is basically the reason (at the minute) I like Whoops.  I can literally go and fly it in a park away from people and no one bats an eyelid.  It looks toy size, but as i'm finding out currently, it's anything but, in terms of raw power.  I think most 2-3" drones/whoops/etc. would fall into this group.  

The problem with bigger quads is that roar, like the gatling gun on a Warthog, when they throttle up.  It turns heads way too much.  Even out in the middle of nowhere you might find someone driving from a mile or two away to find out what's going on.  That for me is a good reason to avoid 4-6S and 5"+ drones.  It draws too much attention.

My 3s/4s 4” PowerPick with low pitch props is actually quieter than my 2s & 3s whoops. It doesn’t have that high pitched whine.

…but visually, it certainly looks more dangerous than a little 65mm to 90mm whoop with prop guards.

Man if I lived in wide open space, I'm pretty sure I'd be flying long distance wings more than I do proximity quad freestyle. I'm super itching to try and fly a "nano" fixed wing even in my confined spaces ... just cos it looks so damn fun lol.

Is sub-250 still relevant ??  ABSOLUTELY !  

Since RDQ lost the lawsuit against the FAA. All of the new regulations,
including Remote ID for drones that weight more than 250 grams, are
going into effect on schedule. In a few months, manufacturers will be
required to have Remote ID on drones thay make for sale in the USA. 

You might want to take a look at the following thread.

ANNOUNCEMENT  Remote ID - RDQ vs FAA -> RDQ Loses, FAA Wins

In about a year, Remote ID will be required on ALL drones that weigh more
than 250 grams and on all quads that fly Part 107 activities.

It is already in force that any drone weighing more than 250 grams requires 
registration and the pilot must have a Part 107 license... and in about a year,
it will also require Remote ID. Yeah, there are likely a lot of pilots who violate 
these regulations, but a new day just might be coming. The Remote ID thing 
alone is going to change the landscape. There are many opinions regarding 
the FAA's ability to enforce the regulations, however, they are still the law and
we have not yet seen the FAA's campaign, who they might enlist, or what they 
might do. 

That said, there is still the "Recreational Exemption" where a Category 1 
{sub-250 gram} drone may be flown without registration, without Remote ID,
and without a Part 107 pilot's license as long as the flight is purely recreational
and No entity, anywhere, can possibly benefit in any manner for the activities
of the flight or any video. Fly a Category 1 drone, fly it just for fun, and 
don't post the video. Yeah, don't check your gutters either. I know it sounds 
funny, but the FAA actually uses this as an example of a Part 107 activity since you
would get the benefit of knowing the condition of the gutters. I know...but it
just is what it is.  

So, does this make the Category 1 {sub-250 gram} drone relevant 

Well, for me, it does since I don't want to register my quads, I don't want any
part of Remote ID, and I don't want a Part 107 pilots license. I am perfectly
happy just flying for my own personal enjoyment that will NOT benefit anyone,
any where, or any how. 

Well .. apparently.. it is now MORE relevant..

(31-Jul-2022, 12:51 AM)Rob Axel Wrote: Well .. apparently.. it is now MORE relevant..

Much much more relevant. I already love RoninUAV frames, but I appreciate them even more now.

Is it weird that now I have a serious urge to design a non-sub250 5 inch? I really do miss the sheer power.

(02-Aug-2022, 06:34 PM)the.ronin Wrote: Is it weird that now I have a serious urge to design a non-sub250 5 inch? I really do miss the sheer power.

Rebel.

Well, according to Rob Axel, Krhosis, and maybe others; the local law enforcement
has better things to do than go after drone pilots. Well, that may be {at least for
now}, but after the Rescue Quad, I am going back to sub-250 gram quads. 

I have started a thread for my next sub-250 gram build which will be a 6 inch 
using gt40's 6 inch, 32 gram frame {sorry Ronin, but you don't have a 6 inch frame}. 
Using 1804 motors, I am coming it at less than 100 grams for the Frame and Propulsion.
I am working for a dry weight of less than 150 grams. 

I would also like to build a sub-250 5 inch similar to the Unsanctioned -1,
but I am not in a hurry for this one.

So, Ronin, are going to design a new frame for the over 250 gram 5 inch
build that you have in mind??  Maybe resurrect the Daimyo project? What
are you plans? Do Tell 

Honestly, just a hunky version of the Ronin with proper beefy 5 inch arms. Only thing is it will need all new big boy hardware like M3 screws and standoffs. I'd also opt for individual arms rather than arm pairs but trying to see if I can gleen some clever way to interlock them studying Japanese wood joinery videos (famously, they don't use any metal hardware to build these massive temples). I'd market it as an unsactioned, one-off, pet project of "roninUAV Skunkworks" lol.

Ok, I'm in.  When you get the design worked out and go to cutting, I want one.
Be sure to put in on the webite as others might want one as well. 

(02-Aug-2022, 07:39 PM)the.ronin Wrote: Honestly, just a hunky version of the Ronin with proper beefy 5 inch arms. Only thing is it will need all new big boy hardware like M3 screws and standoffs. I'd also opt for individual arms rather than arm pairs but trying to see if I can gleen some clever way to interlock them studying Japanese wood joinery videos (famously, they don't use any metal hardware to build these massive temples). I'd market it as an unsactioned, one-off, pet project of "roninUAV Skunkworks" lol.

How about a frame that fits a 30x30 stack and also a 1 watt HD0 VTX? If so, I am in for one.

Is 250g relevant? Ofcourse.
I am a strong proponent of preserving this hobby, and keeping it safe from Karen.

Small quads are durable, cheap and in most metrics good enough in performance.
Obviously very bad at carrying weight, but thats what Thumb / ThumbPro and Insta360 is for.

I started 5" ultralight journey on old frame with 1806. Meh.
RC1506 on 30g frame - long before similar BetaFPV XKnight - slow flying did 25min+ on a 1350mah 3S. But performance was underwhelming. ET5 with 1607 was a breakthrough. Great flight time, and just enough kick.
Finally built the FPVCycle2204 on PodRacer.

IMHO 1804 6" is a terrible idea. You are trying to squeeze too much.
Literally, the only thing you are doing is massively undersizing motors. Instead of poor flying 6", build a good flying 5".

(12-Jul-2022, 12:52 AM)the.ronin Wrote: Man if I lived in wide open space, I'm pretty sure I'd be flying long distance wings more than I do proximity quad freestyle.  I'm super itching to try and fly a "nano" fixed wing even in my confined spaces ... just cos it looks so damn fun lol.

If you go wings or planes Ronin, your quads will likely become dust collectors....at least mine have.  I still take a quad on our RV trips, but MAN what a hoot to fly fixed wings.