First FPV Flights after 130 hours of sim / BetaFPV CetusX

Here are my first four packs of IRL FPV with the BetaFPV CetusX after 130-ish hours in various FPV sims with a PS4 controller (DRL Sim, FPV Logic, FPV Skydive, Liftoff, Liftoff Micro, Tryp, Uncrashed). ATM I can't connect the Lite Radio 3 to my computer, so the only practice I had with the radio was hovering in my bedroom in Angle mode for about 5mins. Speaking of Angle mode, occasionally I got stuck in it and couldn't figure out why the drone felt different. I've since swapped Angle mode to the top of the rocker switch, so now when all switches are down that is my normal flying acro with air mode. I also put air mode on the turtle mode rocker switch, so air mode is on in the bottom position, off in the middle (in case I need it off), then turtle mode at the top. The day was a little gusty, sometimes you can see it in the trees, 10mph winds, but 20 - 25 mph gusts. Also, some of the DVR footage is not the right aspect ratio, I think because I had started recording before powering on the drone, so there is a bar at the bottom of the image of static, which I cut out. These clips are all with thumbs, not pinching/hybrid yet.
So to conclude, excuses aside, I definitely think I hit a point of diminishing returns on the sims with a PS4 controller. The main factor for me is the difference between the PS4 controller and the radio. The sticks are taller and thinner, completely the opposite to the PS4 controller. I might end up purchasing some stick ends to make them slightly thicker, but for now I've actually started hybrid pinching instead of just thumbing. Hopefully you'll be able to see in my later flights from today (when I upload them), that I'm a bit smoother. I perhaps would have been better on my first flights if I had practiced in the sim with my radio, but like I said I can't connect it atm. I might have to flash the firmware on my radio and my fc so they match and the radio works in the sims, but I want to get some flight time before I brick the drone lol. I've flown two more sessions of four pack since this and will upload them in due course 👍
Let me know what you think ...

[@GarethDix]

Wuuuuut!! That’s awesome! When you started flying that first pack I thought that was brave to fly for a first time in the trees in a small space. But you can see the improvement with each pack. It looks like the time in the sim really helped you can see you have the muscle memory it’s just getting used to the radio and the quad in real life. By that last pack that was way more controlled than I felt after a month of flying!

[@TheWaddler]

Thanks man, I appreciate the kind words. I know this garden like the back of my hand and I think it's got some good lines in it, when I'm more confident on the sticks. I really did feel the improvement with each pack. Twelve packs in and really enjoying it 😁

[@rwlauterbach]

Awesome! My first done was the betafpv Aquila 16. Major regret, your next drone will be so amazing.

[@TheWaddler]

What did you upgrade to from the Aquilla? As far as I could tell from the reviews the Aquilla was alright as a cinewhoop, but pretty incapable as a freestyle drone. That's why I went for the Cetus X, because it was at least capable of intermediate acro tricks. Once I get comfortable with intermediate tricks (or break it) I'll build a 3 - 3.5".

[@hockeyrounds]

Welcome to the madness of fpv 👍🔥

[@TheWaddler]

Haha thanks man! Loving it, who needs money anyway 😂

[@hockeyrounds]

@@TheWaddler just don't crash!

[@TheWaddler]

@@hockeyrounds You can see that so far I'm not very good at that haha! So far nothing is broken yet 🤞

[@VulcanRedux]

@@TheWaddlerin time you will get better! 🙏🏼

[@TheWaddler]

At crashing? No doubt 😂🙏

[@EuniceFPV]

Be prepared for your wallet to hurt lmao welcome to the hobby bub. Great first flights. You went the way most people should. I went for a 4s 5 inch vannystyle right out the gate. Keep it up!🔥

[@TheWaddler]

Haha thanks 🙏 Oh wow, how long did that Vannystyle last you?

[@EuniceFPV]

@TheWaddler I still have it as my daily ripper. Just broke an arm hear and there and also getting into racing so that's where most of my money goes right now but it's all worth it

[@TheWaddler]

@@EuniceFPV Oh nice, it's done you well then! I'm focussing on freestyle, but enjoy 👍

[@kutabareseniorita6036]

Well done. I can appreciate you more than likely couldnt use that drone in the sim? Whereas with dji its nearly exactly like real life, so took me bout 10hours to get it sorted in acro

[@TheWaddler]

Liftoff Micro Drones has a Cetus X so I had flown this drone a bit in the sim beforehand. I only flew 130 hours in the sim because I hadn't got a real drone yet, not because I needed to spend that much time to get better. There was definitely a point where I didn't get any better in the sims because I was using a PS4 controller. If I'd have started the sims with a proper radio then i definitely wouldn't have needed all that time.

[@justreddog]

use both sticks when turning to get smoother and quicker turns from your quad,but you doing good. keep strong and fly my friend.

[@justreddog]

also my friend fastest way to burn an esc is turtle mode flip over in grass,even a bit of grass can impede prop and overload esc and you get the magic smoke.

[@TheWaddler]

Yeah I know coordinated turns, I just wasn't used to my radio yet as these were my first four flights. I need to upload my flights from yesterday as I was much more confident . Now you mention it I do remember hearing that about turtle mode. I was only doing short bursts and it's only a small quad so I don't think it's pulling enough amps to blow it, but I'll bear it in mind. Thanks for reminding me 🙏

[@flannyfpv]

Awesome! another one bit by freestyle FPV bug! It’s a fun hobby for sure. Keep it flying 💪

[@TheWaddler]

For sure, I was bitten a couple of years ago and spent so much time in the sims that I thought it was about time I bought one! Loving it so far 👍

[@stuartwilson5827]

I’d recommend finding a controller you like and sticking to it. The controller that comes with the Cetus is ok, but a radiomaster pocket is so much better. It’s also not $300 for a controller so that’s nice. Does this have elrs? If it does the pocket will pair right up with it. If not you’ll still need the Cetus unfortunately. I bought my pocket before I bought a drone and spent my sim practice with that. Hope you keep having fun with it though!

[@TheWaddler]

Yes it's elrs. I plan on getting a Boxer, probably the max, as my first proper radio, but I'm going to use this as much as I can first. Yeah this is a bit small for hybrid pinching, but if I can get good with this setup then I'll be amazing on a boxer max! One can hope 😅

[@stuartwilson5827]

@@TheWaddler sometimes you develop habits that you don’t realize by using a certain set of sticks. I spent a ton of time on my pocket and when I tried a tiny hawk controller it felt so odd and I had to adapt to that. Don’t get me wrong once you reach a certain level you can general pick up anything that’s tuned and fly it. Just comes down to how you want to fly it.

[@TheWaddler]

@@stuartwilson5827 That's very true. Maybe I won't spend quite as much time with this radio as I planned, but I am only on my fourth day with it and I doubt habits from that quickly. I definitely picked up the odd bad habit from the PS4 controller that I used in the sims for 130 hours, like 0 throttle isn't centre stick 😂 Thanks for the advice 🙏

[@stuartwilson5827]

@@TheWaddler no problem you got this! We are all in this together! Hope to see more!

[@Hal-hq8fx]

Drunk driver! :)

[@TheWaddler]

Haha clearly! 🙏

[@FIGFPV]

After 130 hours in a sim your skills would be way beyond the capabilities of a Cetus.

[@TheWaddler]

No doubt, but I say in the description, I was using a PS4 controller. I'm not '130 hours of experience' good on a proper radio and that's what's holding me back atm.

[@kutabareseniorita6036]

I spent 10hours in simulator, crashed flying it drunk doing a quadruple roll. just nipped the ground. A bit of damage. Havnt crashed since. DJI FPV. I know it's not the same. It's a hybrid. But imo the best way to start flying. 10hours is all I needed to be confident enuf to fly well in manual. I will by the typical fpv eventually. But so far I am enjoying flying fast and far. The little space thing doesn't appeal to me

[@TheWaddler]

Each to their own. I'm interested in freestyle, tricks and gaps, not racing or long range. I also don't think I'll ever buy DJI, but you never know. My plan when I decide to move to a digital HD system is to go with HDZero, I'm not that big into closed source technologies. No Apple or DJI for me thanks 😅

[@kutabareseniorita6036]

@TheWaddler definitely not apple. The thing i like about dji is you take it out of the box and fly it. Simple as that. I probably get a 5" with 03 unit so I can use my current control and goggles. I like the smart things about dji fpv like when you loose signal and can't see anything it stops and ascends and returns home. Very useful and money saving

[@jamesmichaelcabrera9613]

Be ready to spend a lot of money. I just bought my caddx go

[@TheWaddler]

@@jamesmichaelcabrera9613 The cinewhoop? I'm going for purely freestyle atm, but yes I expect to spend a bunch when I start breaking stuff or when I decide to build my first, probably a 3" or 3.5", analog again probably then another, but hdzero 👍