The Draganflyer is an amazing piece of kit: this remote control helicopter has a unique design, is extremely maneuverable and very easy to fly compared to conventional RC helicopters. 

We have just taken delivery of the Draganflyer Stabilized Aerial Video System (SAVS) and will bring you a series of in-depth reviews on the unique capabilities of this UAV. 

This is not a toy, nor is it a professional tool but occupies a niche position to create some great aerial video.

Here is Part One.

Ever since my youngest brother got himself a remote control helicopter more than 20 years ago, I have been rather scared of these things: they were very hard to control and the fast spinning rotor was extremely dangerous. 

It was not until I saw the Draganflyer on a video clip that I realized that the concept of four small rotors providing the lifting force would do away with the need to compensate for any yawing.  In addition, the Draganflyer has Thermal Intelligence to provide additional flight stability when you fly it outdoors. If you lose orientation while flying you can just release the right control stick and the infrared sensors will automatically bring the helicopter to a level hover. Every Draganflyer SAVS also utilizes three state-of-the-art piezo gyros to maintain stable flight. 

That doesn’t mean to say that it will never crash.

Crash Hot
You are guaranteed to crash this machine quite a few times.  As a professional pilot I find that a scary thought but then again this is an unmanned vehicle.  Even so, damage can occur to both the aircraft and bystanders so it pays to do all your practicing in the wide outdoors.  The Draganflyer is made for crashing even though it looks very flimsy.  The sturdiest thing about the whole Draganflyer system are the cases they come in: the large case houses the helicopter, the transmitter and various other bits and pieces whilst the smallest case contains the ground base station to receive the video signal. Loaded in this case is a so-called diversity receiver which uses two sets of reception circuitry with two patch antennas. All this is aimed at providing a great range and increases video clarity while reducing signal loss.
Back to crashing: having a lightweight aircraft that just weighs 19 ounces and just 30 inches in diameter means that the crash is not a disaster. Its carbon fiber and high impact nylon frame construction makes the Draganflyer SAVS virtually indestructible, says the company.  I’m not so sure and these reviews will put it to the test.  I’m more worried about the rather exposed electronics on the circuit board. I know how fragile the mainboards can be in a computer, let alone when it is being tossed around and frequently impacts the ground at high speeds...

It is inevitable that some damage will occur and that’s why it is wise to have most of the moving bits duplicated.  Our system came with a complete spare set of rotor blades gears and motors.  The only thing it did not have was a spare fuse!  The 15Amp fuse blew within the first 10 minutes of use and the Manual suggested replacing it with a 20Amp one.  Fortunately, my Ford Falcon’s fuse panel could help me out with a spare...

Another great and indeed essential part of getting ready to fly for real is the flight simulator software so you learn to fly the helicopter using a special USB cable attached to the transmitter so that you can crash without the risk of damaging parts. The FMS sim is actually quite fun to do but it doesn’t run on Vista machines (nor Macs for that matter). So don’t throw away your old XP yet!
It took me several hours on the flight SIM to feel comfortable with the controls and the flight characteristics of the Draganflyer.  Mind you, I am not a gamer or a flight simmer and I only fly fixed wing aircraft, not helicopters, in my daily life.  The only way a helicopter can fly, we fixed wingers are fond of saying, is because their ugliness repulses gravity …
Oh well, some choppers do look pretty, I guess.

It’s Not A Toy...

But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it!  It is however the wireless, stabilised video system that will elevate it beyond the YouTube sphere. 

There are some serious applications around for a system like this.  As an aerial photographer I come across situations all the time when I need to be closer to the action, rather than at least 1000 feet up in the air.  The SAVS allows you to come in very close and quietly, not like noisy choppers, manned or unmanned.  This is great for filming real estate because nothing sketches the location of a property like an aerial perspective.  You can even fly through an open window and film inside the house!

Initial Impressions
Well, the Draganflyer cannot be classified as pretty but it is very capable and that’s what counts.  It looks flimsy and fragile, despite its carbon fiber and high impact nylon frame. 

For instance, the so-called anti-vibration mounting system consists of just a few rubber bands!  In reality, this simple system is probably the best solution – and certainly the cheapest – to combat vibration.  It doesn’t always have to be complicated or high tech.
And, being electric, it cuts down on the vibration levels as well with the additional bonus that it is extremely quiet.

Being rather fragile, connecting things can be fiddly.  One example is the hooking up of the battery.  It took me several minutes to get the connector in for fear of bending or breaking the circuit board.  Since this is a function that you need to do every time you switch off the chopper I would strongly suggest a more accessible place for the connector or a different connector altogether.
When the system is delivered to your door step the temptation is a great to start flying straight away.  This is entirely possible as the system has been pre flown at the factory and fully tested.  If you are an experienced RC helicopter pilot you can do just that.  For a landlubber  like myself who has the dexterity of a left-handed elephant, things are not so easy!  A good read of the manuals is essential and spending a few hours on the flight simulator is crucial.

Interestingly enough, the company recommends dismantling the video camera from the helicopter for the first training sessions.  That makes good sense as hard landings and bounces are guaranteed and crashes almost certain.

So how did I go on my first test flight?
I would not call it a flight as it was more in the hop, skip, jump category.
What you initially try to achieve is a stabilised hover.  Before you can do that you need to trim the system. 

On the FM transmitter you have a number of trim buttons adjacent to the joysticks.  If the helicopter has a tendency to scoot to the right for instance you need to trim it towards the left, etc.
Trimming is also essential after each and every crash so you get to be quite proficient at this!

Let’s talk a bit more about the startup procedure.  The Draganflyer is equipped with a large red  LED on the top, much like a rotating bacon.  First you switch the transmitter on, followed by switching on the machine.  If you now move the throttle up you will see this LED flicker faster and faster.  Next, you need to alarm the chopper by pressing a little button near the on switch.  The machine is now “live”. 

You also need to tell the helicopter the level position by placing it on a level surface, holding the left throttle all the way right-down.  The two green LEDs in the front of the Draganflyer canopy start flickering, thus storing the level position.

If you want the thermal intelligence feature to be active you need to hold the Draganflyer at arm’s length and vertical so that two of the thermal sensors can see the sky and the other two will see the ground.  The thermal difference between the two will tell the Draganflyer which side is up.  This is a very clever and simple solution!  Maybe a bigger version can be implemented in all helicopters!  I am not totally being facetious although these days there are automatic levellers that are GPS based.

The first few hours were spent in trying to control the beast.  Small hops, about knee height, before losing control after a few seconds. 

Frustrating work, particularly when the controls are reversed when the chopper is heading towards you!  Left becomes right and that gets tricky. 

Damage to the chopper at this stage was limited but my ego was severely bruised: is this all I had to show for after years of training to become a professional pilot?
It was a small consolation to read in the Manual that it does take a couple of hours before you become proficient at hovering.

Then, suddenly, it clicked!  I was able to have the chopper up in the air for over a minute!  Sure, it was still going up and down like a yo yo but I got up at least 20 feet and as far as way as 50 feet. 

You could not wipe the smile off my face!
Finally, as things were coming together, my moves got bolder and my bravado took me to my first encounter with a tree… 

We’ll leave that story for the next time.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of this review. 

This is easily the most complicated, involved and challenging review we have ever done in the last five years, so we’ll take our time as we keep on practicing! 

The end goal is to be able to produce a great aerial video.

Specifications and Equipment

Draganflyer SAVS R/C Helicopter includes:

Draganflyer Flight Simulator with USB interface cable for windows operating system

 

Extremely durable, assembled Draganflyer frame with extra frame bracing

 

High quality 6 channel computerized FM transmitter at 72 MHz, with a flexible, high gain detachable antenna

 

One CPU seven-sensor control system with built-in dual conversion 72 MHz FM receiver featuring DSP filtering and Thermal Intelligence

 

Two sets (eight) of newly designed damage resistant injection moulded nylon rotor blades

 

Four high speed electric motors with installed pinion gears and capacitors

 

Four drive gears with 2 precision ball bearing each

 

One 3 cell 11.1 volt 1320mAh Lithium Polymer high discharge battery with protection circuitry

 

AC digital peak detection charger for Lithium Polymer battery and transmitter

 

Custom built hard shell transportation case

 

Printed instruction manuals and instructional DVD

 

Draganflyer SAVS wireless video camera system

 

Draganfly SAVS wireless video ground station

 

Draganflyer SAVS crash kit bundle

Draganflyer SAVS Wireless Video Camera System includes:

High resolution 480 line 1/3" CCD micro video camera with white balance switch

 

Powerful, 2.4 GHz 50mW video transmitter

 

SAVS vibration free camera mount

 

Video enhancing circuitry with regulated camera power supplies, video filters and high gain video transmitter antenna

Draganflyer SAVS Wireless Video Ground Station includes:

Custom built hard shell transportation case

 

Draganfly 2.4 GHz Diversity video receiver with adjustable positions

 

Two, circular polarized, 8 dbi patch antennas 3 cell 11.1 volt 1320mAh Lithium Polymer battery with protection circuitry

 

9 volt power regulator

 

Audio/video connection cable (standard RCA video connector)

Draganflyer SAVS Crash Kit Bundle includes:

2 - Folding rotors sets - virtually indestructible nylon injected rotor blades.

 

6 - High impact nylon motor mounts

 

12 - Nylon rotor thumbscrews

 

4 - Carbon fiber frame tubes

 

2 - Carbon fiber frame bracing tubes

 

6 - Vertical risers

 

1 - Draganflyer high strength canopy

 

1 - Frame bracing nylon mounting bracket

Draganflyer SAVS Specifications:

Size: 30" (76cm) in diameter

 

Weight: 19 ounces (540g)

 

Maximum Speed: approx 20mph (34kph)

 

Flight Time: 12-15 minutes