FPV Tutorial: Tips for new quad flyers part 7 - Using Air mode

[@RC-Flight]

What a perfect description of air mode and what it does. Prior to watching this video I was having a hard time understanding what air mode was for. 🇨🇦

[@titoneri1]

hey, my name is thomas and i come from germany. this is the first channel i find, in which the information for me as a beginner is very well explained and worked up. with your help I have finally switched to the akro mode after weeks of trying. sorry, but my english is not so good, but i have to write here to say this to you. even if I have to listen to some 2-3 times, but this is not a problem. i hope, you continue with your videos and help for beginers like me.

[@CurryKitten]

Hey Thomas, thanks for the nice comment. Really glad you've managed to make the transition into acro flying. I have a few more of these tutorial plans (when we have better weather) but if you would like to see something specific covered, then just ask :)

[@westoncraig]

thanks for all the hard work on this series! I've not flown for over 3 years and always found it a bit too hard to control, but going back through these videos, adjusting pid rates, expo etc has made the Martian really dosile and nice to fly! My first flight back (today) in the wild was smooth and left me feeling relaxed and happy at the end. Straight back in Acro mode, but with Angle and Horizon set up just incase. So thank you once again for all your hard work helping the community.

[@CurryKitten]

Thanks for this comment - it's nice to see that the videos are useful to people :)

[@marsmachine1156]

You kind Sir, are awesome. Thank you. I am just getting the hang of flying acro FPV and it is so much fun. Got the Kopis 1 as my first RTF Race quad and highly recommend it. Your tips on keep flying forward and roll before yaw helped me tons! Airmode demo, schweeet. I was also practising LOS for too long! The Pro’s always say: start FPV and acro ASAP! I am still a newbie and agree: Just do it! It is so much easier. Acro LOS is hard as the quad just shoots off to one side, with a slight angle you weren’t aware of! Happy Flying!

[@MrJarrod]

Thanks best discription of air mode I have heard so far.

[@danield.8615]

I watched all videos of this series and I learned a lot. I started with a BetaFPV 75 Pro and it makes so much fun.

[@johnvodopier5318]

Another very good video. It was great to see the difference during flight. I definitely have air mode configured always on. Thanks again.

[@DanielLeeDrones]

Another great video! I had no idea about this, so glad I am taking the time to watch these before flying!

[@CurryKitten]

I hope they'll help when you get flying for real !

[@AndyRCchannel]

Air mode is more of a patch than just allowing you to fly at 0 throttle. If your motor idle speed is high enough and motor stop is off, the motors will spin at 0 throttle. Air mode speeds up the other motors at low idle to give you full authority of the controls. If it didn't do that and you have high rates the copter still moves slowly on the controls so that the props don't stop. Air mode puts a patch in to speed up all the other motors to give you full rates at low throttle. The down side is if the digital idle speed is too low it can still stop a motor and you get a flip of death where the other method you don't.

[@CurryKitten]

Ahh, thanks Andy. I know the official Betaflight "way" is airmode over idle-up or motor_stop off, but they do all keep the pid loop active. Useful to know that they do *something* else. I've only had that motor stalling issue on one quad so far, which was the lizard - so the default idle speed has mostly been ok, but at least is reasonably easy to recognise and correct.

[@AndyRCchannel]

too right Wayne Cheers

[@waynesrcspin4827]

Good info Andy, yes I have seen you talk about that on your channel so I do ensure I turn my digital Idle up if it's low. Thanks Andy

[@mike216ism]

AndyRC I like to use it because the quad is far more stable and responsive at lower throttle. It's a must even for acro noob like myself. Just be sure you can disarm airmode during a crash. I've been lucky so far. Three crashes and still haven't burned any motors or esc.

[@briancarson1859]

Ok I've been flying without air mode ... as a beginner I'm thanking you for this example.

[@CurryKitten]

Glad I could help!

[@noktrnl123]

I just got use to airmode. Before I would literally throw the quad in rotation. I feel without airmode you can fling it and roll within a smaller axis but it takes allot to compensate with the timing of throttle to get where I wanna go.. For example keep a tiny throttle on to have control during manuvers . Love the vid n keep it going. If it don't mind I'll use your great explanation for the friends I teach about the hobby.

[@CurryKitten]

Thanks - and yes, please feel free to share it with anyone you think might find it helpful :)

[@waynesrcspin4827]

Good video mate, personally I have air mode on my Acro/stabilized (same Aux channel)switch so it automatically is in Air mode when I'm in Acro and then I switch to Stabilized mode to land. I have the range set for Air mode so it is only active when in Acro, works for me anyway. Keep up the great videos mate, love watching your channel and thanks so much for introducing us to the Hellgate buzzer I love it. :)

[@CurryKitten]

I can't fly FPV in any stabilised mode for toffee - it completely screws me up. The only time I have had to do that is when I've had a really extreme camera angle + a muddy field where I've had to fly it close to my self, go into angle, take off goggles and put glasses on (without it crashing) to land it LOS :D

[@scootroter4859]

Nice video! Would love to see more about getting better at flying acro. Thanks! 😎

[@CurryKitten]

Ok - what sort of stuff? My plan was to do a bit about how to start doing things liek flips/rolls and a few other "tricks"

[@scootroter4859]

CurryKitten perfect! 😁

[@EnglishTurbines]

I would be interested in that one too Wayne.....:)

[@CurryKitten]

Right then - I'll be making it so... soon

[@MRdeLaat]

what settings do you use in airmode for the minimal motor speed?

[@EnglishTurbines]

Good, clear explanation, thanks Wayne. You looked so uncomfortable in Angle Mode.....lol.

[@CurryKitten]

I was - it's all wrong, and my view is trying to force me to look into the sky..... awful. Where I'm not a great LOS flyer, angle mode is great, I can fly around quite happily, but there's only one mode for fpv :)

[@EnglishTurbines]

Yes, I was thinking you must have a severe Camera angle to only see sky. My Camera angle is very modest in comparison. I will get to Acro / Air Mode at some point, I have tried it. I have only been flying my Quad under Goggs for about 2 weeks.

[@3-danything977]

Very nice. I love this. I really been wanting to talk about this and tick

[@JohanvanBreugel]

Lovely channel!! Thank you for your Tutorial series.

[@CurryKitten]

No worries - hope it was useful

[@dittobimaputra]

You helped me much sir. I use horizon mode and one shot 125 and have punch out then.....zero throttle... and.... catch...but during "catch" the motor goes uncontrolled...and finally crash....always. I check many times....my pid, calibrate esc evertyhing were normal. I was confuse....what happen with my quad? I would like to try this air mode. May be this is the solution.

[@CurryKitten]

Sounds like it is, as soon as you are zero throttle without air mode, you are just spinning around out of control. Give it a go, and will will hopefully fix your issues

[@aarontest7152]

Great explanation. How about doing anti gravity mode next?

[@CurryKitten]

I'll need to find a quad that loses it's attitude in some punch outs first. Mine all seem to be well behaved... or I'm correcting anything that happens without thinking about it. Good idea though, I'll have a test and see

[@MrGarywells]

When i arm motors should the motors spin up in zero throttle? (Acro mode) thanku

[@CurryKitten]

Like many questions, the answer is: it depends. Spinning props on arming (which I personally don't like and so don't do) means you either have to have air mode on, or motor stop off. I have motor stop on and air mode on a switch

[@djwilson48625]

Yes, airmode causes the spinup on the bench. It also causes going burzerk if you bounce land.

[@Rich-TeaFPV]

Useful information Wayne thanks 👍 I always fly airmode as it makes life so much easier when flying, also I thought airmode gives you a bit extra throttle even when the stick is at 0% to help you complete the move your doing, which is what makes landings at bit tricky

[@CurryKitten]

It shouldn't be enough throttle to make landing difficult. If it does, you might think about lowering your idle percentage. Weirdness can happen if you are getting motor osciallations which can make airmode increase all the motors trying to balance things out, but you'll fly off on full throttle there (with your actual throttle on zero) so you'd definitely notice that !

[@glowworm3345]

I have air mode permanently enabled but it doesn't seem to be working. I assume my idle rate isn’t high enough?

[@frobinson2413]

Nice video.😀

[@RCinginSC]

Good tutorial!

[@shrinerleek9458]

good thinking

[@jamescherrill5736]

What do you think about idleup vrs airmode?

[@CurryKitten]

It should essentially work the same, idleup was the "old way" of doing things before airmode was introduced. I've heard talk about air mode being the "right" way of doing things in betaflight, as the pid loop is designed to work with it, but I haven't seen anyone tell me in exactly what way it would work better. Generally, anything that spins your props and keeps the PID loop active will work

[@parzi7334]

Hi I recently bought my first 5 inch quad it is the iflight cidora sl5-e if I enable air mode permanently on which I like to fly the thing wants the fly to the moon the motor seems to get faster and faster and faster even when I throttle down they don't stop why is this can you help

[@jordannovek2911]

Hi Currykitten, So if I put air mode on a switch and turn it off when landing hard will it go crazy like it does when " Permanently activated " Thank you

[@CurryKitten]

No - that jittery landing is one of the reasons I don't like landing in Air mode. I always turn airmode off as I'm coming into land and then as soon as I kill the throttle, the props stop dead, so the quad just stops

[@deant6627]

Hi CurryKitten, soon im building a drone from scratch, it will be the first one i have ever built. My question is if you know about voltage? The AIO FC i am using is rated for 3s-8s and has two 9v regulators built into the board, one for the VTX & one for the cam. Just wondering if it will still be able to run on 3s or would 3s not not supply enough voltage to the regulators? Also the VTX and camera are both advertised to run between 5v-40v. Cheers.

[@CurryKitten]

3S should be fine for supplying 9v of voltage. You should never be below 9.9v on 3s as the absolute minimum.

[@ChrisQuadFPV]

8s wow that would be kick butt , maybe 😲

[@BmorefigureFPV]

hello my name is james wondering if you could help ? i have build two five inch quads and when air mode is enabled permenitly i have desyncs but when i enable aie mode only at the bottom of throttle they both fly fine is this normal?

[@BmorefigureFPV]

both on the latest bluejay

[@CurryKitten]

Slightly confused - airmode is either on or off. Either by a switch or by putting it permanatly on. There isn't a setting where you have it only on the bottom of the throttle. What are you setting on/off exactly?

[@BmorefigureFPV]

@@CurryKitten when I have airmode permanently switched on both my quads desync or stall I switch off and both quads fly fine . So I copied my throttle input in mixer tab so airmode activates at low throttle and they both fly fine like that . I have asked this question more than a few times and nobody can answer I keep getting that it don't make sense

[@BmorefigureFPV]

I even asked Bardwell and he just told me he had airmode permanently activated on all his quads . Thanks again for any info and your time

[@CurryKitten]

Exactly how are you activating airmode at low throttle. Can you talk me through it so I understand

[@djwilson48625]

I remember flying without fancy betaflight magicianry lol. (Kk2.0) Air mode is great besides landing.

[@CurryKitten]

Luxury, I started with the original KK, you had to alter the gains with a screwdriver :D

[@beebeemw]

Where abouts in the uk do you fly, im struggling to find good places?

[@CurryKitten]

I'm down near Southampton. I just look around for any places I can see - forestry commision stuff, fields where there's nobody around. Just places away from people - but i do have to go on a bit of a walk to find places

[@beebeemw]

CurryKitten oh cool I live in Lee on solent so not far. I've been flying at the local park but will need to find somewhere a bit more open

[@CurryKitten]

I wondered about the beach way out to the left (what I mean by that is face the beach and keep turn left and keep walking) eventually you come to a sort of half beach / half wasteland that I think is/was MOD. There's actually a flying club very close to it, but it looked very open and not busy with people

[@beebeemw]

CurryKitten yeah I know where you mean but it's all fenced off and only members can get in. Don't think the club flies drones though. There is a bigger park in Gosport so may try there

[@HampshireFlagCompanyHFC]

I fly near Fareham at a race club. Look up ‘neo fpv racing’ on Facebook. You’d be welcome to come along.

[@wensim408]

@ 4:23 why does your Taranis ask "Do you hate God?"

[@CurryKitten]

:D It's actually saying "Dual-rate calm" although it's actually just turning air mode on (or possibly off I can't remember)

[@wensim408]

@@CurryKitten yea, but I know what your going to hear every time in the future forevermore, good work keep it up!

[@jpofficialyoutubechannel]

How are you related to Darren McStay? The way you talk is very similar.

[@Oxizee]

So Airmode is for beginners? Stablizer?

[@CurryKitten]

No - air mode keeps the props spinning and the pid loop running, so when you go down to zero throttle you still have control of your quad

[@mutantthegreat7963]

I understand air mode now

[@CurryKitten]

Great - that's the idea :)

[@JB-cq2wo]

Can I use air mode when I'm in Horizon Mode ? Or only acro mode ? hmmmm

[@CurryKitten]

As demonstrated, you can use air mode in angle or horizon as well.. but try and fly in acro if you can, your quad will fly so much better :)

[@JB-cq2wo]

thank you so much for you help and I love your channel. keep it up my friend.

[@mike216ism]

Air mode is a must. It's so much more responsive

[@davidwatkin1484]

1.10 "bad wind noise" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 We call that a fart. 🌪🌪

[@CurryKitten]

Didn't come from me, must have been a deer running past and letting one off :)

[@anandalaila8618]

mantap

[@CurryKitten]

That's a new phrase to me, what is it ?

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

Once you get used to air mode there is no going back

[@djsavada7033]

Just let airmode always on...thats the point

[@CurryKitten]

I don't like having airmode on all the time, I need to be in full control of the props for landing. Airmode can make things bouncy on touchdown. Other people like it, but it comes down to personal taste as well as the type of landing area you have available

[@djsavada7033]

@@CurryKitten i cutoff the motors just before i touch the ground. But yes, maybe for a beginner its more easy to land with aim off. But i think also its good to cut all little helpers off as soon as possible and you learn more fast. And you cant forget to turn it on.

[@CurryKitten]

For me it's an extra step, I want to be able to just drop the throttle and have it stop. That said when I crash, I obviously just hit disarm quickly. I don't think there is a right/wrong way - ultimately it needs to feel right to the pilot.