I am In my Tricopter build right now. Just got done epoxying the windings on my motors. A huge thank you Flight Test and David W. for the pathfinding and inspiring me to build this awesome project! You all do amazing work.
Your the Man! Your Tricopter design and the RC Explorer online guides have changed the face of Multirotors forever. Respect. I am hoping to get my first Multirotor craft (a Winderstal Tricopter) up & running before christmas. Fingers Crossed. Go the Swishiness!!!
It's amazing watching this old footage, with people trying to describe how a... drone... flies. Because nobody had ever seen one before. It was brand freaking new. Thus the beauty of youtube. This history is preserved for us later people to appreciate.
Hey Bixler, Here's a flight tip for you to help with vibration on your Tri-copter. Fill the aluminum tubes with canned expanding spray foam. It is extremely light, strong & most importantly absorbs tons of vibrations. Also besides balancing your propeller blades, mount your motor mounts on top of thin rubber pads, also mount your K-board on a thin rubber pad as well, including your camera. Makes a huge difference...
It's so funny going back and watching this episode and seeing how the whole FT team has evolved. David is so much better on camera nowadays! And it's great that FT has worked to make multirotors something everyone can do!
definitely going to build one of these! just need to know if i can run one of these with a 4ch tx... huge fan of these tri's now that ive seen a lot of David's videos using his... found plans on his website, and have every intention of building one!
Just curious. What would it matter if the FPV gear was on 2.4. The airplane radio 2.4 is frequency hopping so fast I would assume it wouldn't matter. That's the purpose of 2.4 isn't it? To use the frequency hopping so multiple other 2.4 radios can avoid interferenc? I'm new to 2.4 so I'd like to learn why or why not that would be correct or not.
Another excellent video! I think I've watched all of them....most of them twice! What would be the shortest practical length of the arms and still be stable and carry a GoPro FPV?
I build my quad with 1200KV, and I am now learning that lower is better assuming the same thrust. Someone else also made a comment about low KV motors above.
Using both on 2.4 with frequency hopping could work in theory, but remember that both would be hopping and you would have a lot of times when they could be using the same ranges. With your Tx/Rx and FPV video gear you don't want it to cut out so it is better to avoid the risk and use different frequencies.
Hey guys I know I'm coming in late on this video but just bought all the stuff to build. Anyway.. JOSH... on the vibration... thought... if you're still using the aluminum rods, have you tried to spray some "Great Stuff" inside the tubes for dampening? Basically it's spray foam insulation... OR... how about mounting the motors on top of 3-4 pieces of 2 sided foam tape and then securing with tie straps?? Just a thought, thinking of doing the same... Great job, as always!! :) jerry
@Tymopta Low KV motors with large diameter react a LOT more quicker to throttle movement due to more torque, that also means the controller boards instructions. Much more stable in flight. In fact high KV motors are almost impossible to stabilize with.
Please a step by step on how to do a tricopter!!! Watched your videos, watched David videos, but a how-to video would help a lot!!! Keep up the good work guys!
Ok i really need some help, i have all of the tricopter parts coming in the mail here is the list, -Hobbyking X900 Tricopter Glass Fiber Multi-Rotor Frame -3XTURNIGY Plush 30amp Speed Controller -3XNTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000KV / 315W (Motors) -Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board -TGY-306G Ultra Fast/High Torque MG Digital Alloy Cased Servo 3kg / .06sec / 21g My question is what transmitter/reciever to buy, what prop size, and what battery? I hear the Turnigy 9x, and DX6i are good
You could probably put rubber washers on all the screws or pins (whatever is use to connect the rods to the center) to reduce the vibrations even more.
Luved It. I have a Warthox Board for a Multirotor unit, I just need a fuselage, I was going to go down the Aluminium route but I may consider the wood option as a build material.
I've been kicking around with the idea of a T-tricopter and all the booms have servos to make a tilt rotor tri-copter. Also what do you think is better? T or Y tricopter?
Hey, I'm just wondering Whats the difference between the Tricopter and The Average Helicopter ? Ive mastered the Helicopter and im wondering if there's any differnce ? Will i struggle when flying this ? And Where can i buy a tricopter ? ; Australia
i ordered the 20.00 ready made frame. i will be using the kk2 board. hobby king is out of the motors suggested in your build video. can you give us some good alternatives ? also a flight video showing the capabilities of the tricopter would be fun to watch, thanks dudes !
Has David made available his plans for building this tricopter? I would really like to build one similar if there are any guide available it would be great! Thanks!
Hey Guys How about doing some reviews on the camera options that are out there for attaching to RC planes. I have a bunch of Parkzone planes and I am interested in camera options for attaching to a lightweight plane. I also fly a real Plane (Piper Navajo), so duct taping a mini cam to either the fuselage somewhere or in the cockpit somewhere would also be a nifty ability.
Very cool! I've been meaning to build one of these tri-copters for a while. They look like a lot of fun. Is that an IBCrazy Cloverleaf CP antenna? I was expecting Josh (or Josh) to comment on it.
Im building one of these now, just waiting on the electronics to get here from HK HongKong, hopefully in a couple weeks, ugh. Wish HK USA carried more stuff!!!!
@redhotpearl1, when you are willing to take risks it shows in the material and it gets interesting. Check out Trappys new film from Istanbul. Btw. are you flying fpv or just taking snaps from hover on calm days?
Iv noticed that all the quads and tri's have low kv motors, 700 750. Do they have to be low or can i use something like 1500- 2000 kv? Thanks to anyone who can answer.
@flitetest Do you guys know if Hobbyking is going to get any 50cc ariplanes soon? And you guys should do a couple of reviews on their 30cc yak that they have, I would really enjoy seeing that lol
You need an esc for the tail motor. Total 3 escs in this build they plug to channel 1,2 and 3 on the output side of the flight controller, you don't need one for servo it plugs directly to channel 4 on the the flight controller. If you use the standard tricopter setup. Like this one.
can anybody recommend me a tricopter or quadcopter kit with everything included and also instructions on how to build it. It seems like a cool hobby to get into, and a great project to do with my dad (I'm 13)
there's a melancholy to watching these old videos when David first came in.
@kipper308 They are on Davids site! The Link is in the description.
I am In my Tricopter build right now. Just got done epoxying the windings on my motors. A huge thank you Flight Test and David W. for the pathfinding and inspiring me to build this awesome project! You all do amazing work.
@ThaBreit Its a Circle track, for many different types of races.
Your the Man! Your Tricopter design and the RC Explorer online guides have changed the face of Multirotors forever. Respect. I am hoping to get my first Multirotor craft (a Winderstal Tricopter) up & running before christmas. Fingers Crossed. Go the Swishiness!!!
@dvvarf2 David has one on his site! The link is in the description!
It's amazing watching this old footage, with people trying to describe how a... drone... flies. Because nobody had ever seen one before. It was brand freaking new.
Thus the beauty of youtube. This history is preserved for us later people to appreciate.
David is my hero. He took the world of multirotors and took them from daunting to do-able.
Haha I sound so dorky :D
Great job on the editing guys!
Too bad the weather wasn't good :)
Hey Bixler, Here's a flight tip for you to help with vibration on your Tri-copter. Fill the aluminum tubes with canned expanding spray foam. It is extremely light, strong & most importantly absorbs tons of vibrations. Also besides balancing your propeller blades, mount your motor mounts on top of thin rubber pads, also mount your K-board on a thin rubber pad as well, including your camera. Makes a huge difference...
Watching in 2017! Multirotors have come a long way!
Smart people doing clever things while having fun. “You guys” are always enjoyable.
Thanks for sharing…
David and his site RCexplorer.se inspired me to start flying multicopter and FPV. This has revived my interest in RC. Thanks David!
It’s so awesome to see David come so far from here! Massive… Props… To you!
Been a fan of David for a while now, He's a great guy. Also been a fan Of Flite Test, The only RC program i watch, Great work guys.
It's so funny going back and watching this episode and seeing how the whole FT team has evolved. David is so much better on camera nowadays! And it's great that FT has worked to make multirotors something everyone can do!
Far out I'm loving these vids...you guys have such a good format for your show!
I'm going to build one because of all of the great info that David has shared. Thanks David!
@Tymopta - you want the lower kv motors torque to allow the multicopter to react as fast as possible.
definitely going to build one of these! just need to know if i can run one of these with a 4ch tx...
huge fan of these tri's now that ive seen a lot of David's videos using his... found plans on his website, and have every intention of building one!
Just curious. What would it matter if the FPV gear was on 2.4. The airplane radio 2.4 is frequency hopping so fast I would assume it wouldn't matter. That's the purpose of 2.4 isn't it? To use the frequency hopping so multiple other 2.4 radios can avoid interferenc? I'm new to 2.4 so I'd like to learn why or why not that would be correct or not.
There is a video out cord for the GoPro. It uses a 2.5mm 4 Conductor Plug. There is lots of info on it on RCGroups forums.
Longer fly time, excellent camera stabilization, easy to fly and I love the video goggles!
This is KICK ASS KOOL!
Great Video, where do you suggest to get those glasses and the transmitter, I thought it was great... Thanks
Another excellent video! I think I've watched all of them....most of them twice! What would be the shortest practical length of the arms and still be stable and carry a GoPro FPV?
What is the long straight antenna for on? I assume the cloverleaf is for video transmitting?
Good choice of guest!
Thanks for bringing us this.
I build my quad with 1200KV, and I am now learning that lower is better assuming the same thrust. Someone else also made a comment about low KV motors above.
Is there a good known-to-work solution for using the new sensors inside the HK's Gyro HK401B? I Couldn't find it on the rcgroup KK thread!
Using both on 2.4 with frequency hopping could work in theory, but remember that both would be hopping and you would have a lot of times when they could be using the same ranges. With your Tx/Rx and FPV video gear you don't want it to cut out so it is better to avoid the risk and use different frequencies.
So excited to build mine! Just ordered all of the parts listed on david's website for the tricopter 2.5 version. :D
Hey guys I know I'm coming in late on this video but just bought all the stuff to build. Anyway.. JOSH... on the vibration... thought... if you're still using the aluminum rods, have you tried to spray some "Great Stuff" inside the tubes for dampening? Basically it's spray foam insulation... OR... how about mounting the motors on top of 3-4 pieces of 2 sided foam tape and then securing with tie straps?? Just a thought, thinking of doing the same... Great job, as always!! :) jerry
How does David make his Cloverleaf Antennae, they look a good size. Also, what freq is he using to fly with (not for FPV which he said was 1.3GHz).
@Tymopta Low KV motors with large diameter react a LOT more quicker to throttle movement due to more torque, that also means the controller boards instructions. Much more stable in flight. In fact high KV motors are almost impossible to stabilize with.
that was great - I loved the dual wireless link. Is there any noticable deterioration in quality due to this setup?
Please a step by step on how to do a tricopter!!! Watched your videos, watched David videos, but a how-to video would help a lot!!! Keep up the good work guys!
I got one now. Thanks David for the build instructions! Now I just have to learn and fly the thing!
It'd be great if you guys can talk more on the mechanism/electronic options n setup of multirotor birds.
Great videos. I have just recently finished my tricopter and think it works great.
I built David's tricopter, it flies awesome!! And just to prove its for all ages, I'm 14!
Ok i really need some help,
i have all of the tricopter parts coming in the mail here is the list,
-Hobbyking X900 Tricopter Glass Fiber Multi-Rotor Frame
-3XTURNIGY Plush 30amp Speed Controller
-3XNTM Prop Drive 28-26 1000KV / 315W (Motors)
-Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board
-TGY-306G Ultra Fast/High Torque MG Digital Alloy Cased Servo 3kg / .06sec / 21g
My question is what transmitter/reciever to buy, what prop size, and what battery?
I hear the Turnigy 9x, and DX6i are good
You could probably put rubber washers on all the screws or pins (whatever is use to connect the rods to the center) to reduce the vibrations even more.
Luved It. I have a Warthox Board for a Multirotor unit, I just need a fuselage, I was going to go down the Aluminium route but I may consider the wood option as a build material.
Hi David,
How did you extend the ESCs? I have heard a lot of different things on extending them.
I've been kicking around with the idea of a T-tricopter and all the booms have servos to make a tilt rotor tri-copter.
Also what do you think is better? T or Y tricopter?
FliteTest, can you program the tricopter with CCPM?
David's English fluency has come such a long way since this video came out.
Shufty yep you are tight
@Martin100k Michael Composes all of our music.
I did not know you could have all rotors turn same way on tricopter, finally a use for my CW prop surplus
Fantastic video! What is your KK board model of choice, and where can you buy one? Would you comment on the WII board vs. the KK board?
Hey, I'm just wondering Whats the difference between the Tricopter and The Average Helicopter ? Ive mastered the Helicopter and im wondering if there's any differnce ? Will i struggle when flying this ? And Where can i buy a tricopter ? ; Australia
Way too cool, Ordering my stuff to build one this week.
Thanks for posting this Guys.
i ordered the 20.00 ready made frame. i will be using the kk2 board. hobby king is out of the motors suggested in your build video. can you give us some good alternatives ? also a flight video showing the capabilities of the tricopter would be fun to watch, thanks dudes !
Just went back and rewatched this because I was listening to the podcast about davids first video. its too bad David just can't move here.
They only let Mexican and Muslims in nowadays..
I'd like to see a build/setup video by you guys on this.
Ive seen some tricopters that don't have a pivoting tail motor.....how do they do that?
Has David made available his plans for building this tricopter? I would really like to build one similar if there are any guide available it would be great! Thanks!
Hey Guys
How about doing some reviews on the camera options that are out there for attaching to RC planes.
I have a bunch of Parkzone planes and I am interested in camera options for attaching to a lightweight plane.
I also fly a real Plane (Piper Navajo), so duct taping a mini cam to either the fuselage somewhere or in the cockpit somewhere would also be a nifty ability.
Great show guys.
What rf module was attached to David's Hitec Aurora 9?
Have the parts for one in the post - great review!
Hello, I was just wondering what speed controllers are you using. Thank You
Do you need to use a 4 cell battery with this setup?
Very cool! I've been meaning to build one of these tri-copters for a while. They look like a lot of fun.
Is that an IBCrazy Cloverleaf CP antenna? I was expecting Josh (or Josh) to comment on it.
Can you attach a secondary battery to increase flight times?
Im a beginner, so can you please give me the correct equipment specifications for this tricopter
Does anyone know if this is David's first flitetest video? Thanks
Im building one of these now, just waiting on the electronics to get here from HK HongKong, hopefully in a couple weeks, ugh. Wish HK USA carried more stuff!!!!
@redhotpearl1, when you are willing to take risks it shows in the material
and it gets interesting. Check out Trappys new film from Istanbul.
Btw. are you flying fpv or just taking snaps from hover on calm days?
Iv noticed that all the quads and tri's have low kv motors, 700 750. Do they have to be low or can i use something like 1500- 2000 kv? Thanks to anyone who can answer.
What was that video where david says SSiP ties?
nice one guys, brilliant video. did you sort out davids flight?
@flitetest Do you guys know if Hobbyking is going to get any 50cc ariplanes soon? And you guys should do a couple of reviews on their 30cc yak that they have, I would really enjoy seeing that lol
Do you need an ESC for the servo controlling the yaw? And also where do you plug that in?
They have an episode where David shows how to build his tricopter design. Look up "Flitetest tri-copter build"
You need an esc for the tail motor. Total 3 escs in this build they plug to channel 1,2 and 3 on the output side of the flight controller, you don't need one for servo it plugs directly to channel 4 on the the flight controller. If you use the standard tricopter setup. Like this one.
all parte sale in hobbyking? could you tell me which one?
where do i get the kk bord ? , and are there any plans ?!
Nice flying! Looks like a lot of fun.
Whats the dirt oval for by the tower ?
which motors is he using on this tricoptor? thank you
What is the music played from 11:20 on?
It is awesome!
Great vid!
How is the gopro used for recording video and transmitting it
Connecting the tricopter to the ground station on 1.3 Ghz and then connecting the GS to the goggles with 5.8 is genius!!
whats that type of antenna called for the FPV?
can you please review this pros cons etc.? i am not sure but infatuated with tri-copters.
Quanum Trifecta Mini Foldable Tricopter Frame (KIT)
DATS A HUGE HEAD! i appreciate your guy's work. and the cameos are really cool... TV network material...
funny with the car.
Could you do some more helicopter reviews?
I see you have some helis on the background.
Great vid.
I'd like to build one of these, where could i find the info i need to do so ?
Have you been on rcexplorer.se loads of step by step pictures
Great episode! This show should be on "real" TV!
What do i need to build one of these ?
how you put the go pro whit the FPV??
from argentina
@flitetest
Thanks for your answer,
is that music available for purchase somewhere? (or free giveaway;-)
Keep those great videos coming!
Wow this is a very old episode.i do like intro sound track much more than the new one.
can anybody recommend me a tricopter or quadcopter kit with everything included and also instructions on how to build it.
It seems like a cool hobby to get into, and a great project to do with my dad (I'm 13)
I really love all these videos, thank you so much!
how loud is your tricopter compared to your quadcopters?
has he ended up putting propsavers on it
Thanks a ton cant wait to get it built and flying
Watching this in 2016 :)
Also
Watching in 2017 haha
can you legally use 1.2ghz in the US?
you can on some ads, i think if its a certain length you can skip it