FT Explorer | Powered by RadioLink Crossflight FC | Maiden and Build Overview

[@ayitsyaboi]

Such a rad build. I'm planning on doing one as my first scratch build this weekend and I couldn't be more nervous lol. Been watching other people fly for 15 years and now I'm finally jumping in. Absolutely destroyed my $200 Super Cub foamie already. The transition from mini quads to fixed wing is nowhere near as easy as I thought it could be.

[@LiftVector]

Thank you! It is a good craft for novice flyers, too. Easy to land and can fly slow. Good luck!

[@richarddaggett]

FT Explorer is a fun plane to fly, I built a couple of them. They float in the sky. I just started with ardupilot, can't wait until next video.

[@LiftVector]

It is a graceful plane! Thanks so much, Richard.

[@Antoniotomei1]

💯 Great video!

[@T-Dog860]

Great build, thanks! for the review. Wish you were still here buddy, hope all is well with you!

[@LiftVector]

Thanks for checking out the latest vid, Tom! Keep me posted on your next mission. Take care!

[@ARGON023]

BRAVOoooooooooooo! BRAWOOOoooooooooo! Thank you for this recording and test! I have this Radiolink CrossFlight Flight Controller, but I'm afraid to use it so as not to destroy the wing and the 1400 model airplane. I've read various reviews and on Amazon and some of them were not favorable. Can you trust CrossFlight to crash models? Best regards.

[@LiftVector]

Thanks for checking out the vid! I have flown many more flights now with this craft and crossflight (probably close to 5 hours of flight time) It has been performing amazing! And I'm not just saying that because they gave me the FC and GPS for free for review. I hit my personal record longest flight time of 35 minutes with the FT Explorer and the crossflight. Waypoint missions work flawlessly, RTH is precise. I am constantly flipping through modes during flight with no issues. I will say that setup took me a very long time because it was my first Ardupilot/Mission planner plane. But after much testing on the bench and double checks, she flies amazing. It was a satisfying craft build victory for me. Good luck with the build and the flights! I still just manually launch and land, mostly in FWBA mode. Flies like a dream.

[@birdmantelly007]

Mission Planner is a huge package and it is often hard to understand but it is so worth it when you persist. I have just ordered my Cross flight fro Ali Express. It should arrive later in September. Have you thought of offering a print copy of that model. It looks like an ideal workhorse to test a new system. So the first flight ended unexpectedly but the video showed a very stable defensive glide landing. Top stuff on a day when you were under some pressure. IOnce I know that the prop is spinning in the push (or pull) direction I put heat shrink tube over the plugs. Once the model is as familiar as the palm of my hand I solder them an resleeve. Saving weight never ends

[@LiftVector]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you watched the flight. Good idea for the weight savings. I'll have to keep at it and unlock the potential of MP. Here are some helpful links, good luck! Flite Test Explorer plans and build: www.flitetest.com/articles/ft-explorer-build Here are my STLs I designed for the plane if you 3d print: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o9UgJ40k2D4BPOLEuJa-0uRDAVb45yA6?usp=drive_link

[@visaoveticalfpv]

Muito obrigado pelo seu video. Conheci agora sei canal estou entusiasmado com esta controladora. Comecei o estudos sobre ela agora agora espero ter mais videos dela aqui com vc. Abraço até mais ver

[@TrupaVisatori]

Hello! I can't stop watching your Explorer. Your paint job is beautiful!!! Can you tell me please, how was done? I will build my Explorer in the next weeks but I can't finish it without a paint like yours🤯 many thanks

[@LiftVector]

Thank you! I painted the plane in my garage on a warm summer day. Start off with a very light coat so the paper doesn't soak up too much paint and bubble/warp. Wait about 5-10 min between coats. Keep adding light layers/coats of paint until the full color looks nice. I used Rust-o-leum 2x paint/primer all in one. The black and white sections are vinyl tape I bought from Amazon. The windows are silver vinyl tape from Hobby Lobby. Hope this helps. Always start with ultra light sprays and build up slowly! Use tape for smaller details.

[@TrupaVisatori]

Thank you very much, great tips!!! Yeah, now I know why my last plane had a curved wing. (too much paint from layer 1🤦‍♂️) Sorry for my late reply. If I will have issues with my Explorer, I will come back to you straight away. Looking forward for your next videos!🧐

[@jhejhobbies5850]

Great looking build man! I have built several Explorers of diferent sizes, such a great plane, and and great non wing FPV platform. Im assuming the landing skids and wing brace are 3D printed, do you share files for those? I thought i was done building the Explorer but with added protection like that i may have to build one more.

[@LiftVector]

I appreciate that, thanks! Yes, they are 3d prints I designed in Blender. I'm planning on sharing the STLs in another video. Give me a few days and I'll send you a link because you asked. I need to organize the files and upload to Gdrive. Stay tuned!

[@LiftVector]

Here is the full STL package I installed for the plane. Have fun and good luck with the prints! Gdrive link: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o9UgJ40k2D4BPOLEuJa-0uRDAVb45yA6?usp=drive_link

[@jhejhobbies5850]

@LiftVector thank you so much, just sent off a few things to get printed. One of these days I'll get a 3d printer and learn how to do this all myself.

[@mdsysltd5573]

Nice video man. I also got the crossflight for my drone. So far so good. Although im also a bit confused on how to wire the OSD. could you give me your wiring diagram? I already had a VTX and a camera. Thankss

[@LiftVector]

Thank you for watching. Good luck on your build. Check out the part at 8:40 in the wiring, I mention the OSD wiring for analog. hope this helps!

[@EmmanuelGodblessRC-dq2hi]

You tried bro❤❤

[@LiftVector]

I've got all the bugs worked out. She's flying great now! Thanks for watching.

[@mrz2528]

Hello ...You test crius aio pro,, It's practically the same process ...Use software megapirate and mission planner ...and the picture navigation and the menus is same ....I used crius in hexa with 930 KV motor and gps and OSD ....but I still haven't been able to configure the motors because I have to adjust the PIDs and that's where I get lost... I could configure some to compare and help ...thank you

[@LiftVector]

I have flown this plane a few times now. It is setup really well! RTH, Loiter, FBWA and missions work perfectly. Thanks for watching.

[@mrz2528]

OK i understand but my question is if you test crius aio module with megapirate from multirotor

[@LiftVector]

Oh, sorry I didn't understand. No I haven't tried that. This is my 1st Arduplane I've built and I only used the Radiolink firmware and Mission planner from Radiolink. No quadcopters built for this yet.@@mrz2528

[@cosmogaming6705]

I build a same plane but its doing down loop don't know why😐

[@LiftVector]

What size battery are you using? Is your CG correct? Mine is slightly nose-heavy, just barely.

[@cosmogaming6705]

@@LiftVector yes i checked the cg its correct but when motor rotate it pushed the plane down side.

[@LiftVector]

@@cosmogaming6705That leads me to suspect your motor thrust angle is off. If possible, remove the motor pod and watch the flitetest build video to make sure you mounted it at the proper angle.

[@cosmogaming6705]

@@LiftVector Ok👍

[@M-H433]

Where is the wing?...is it ok

[@LiftVector]

The wing is definitely over-do for a flight or mission. She is fine, I've been way too busy! It's on my to shoot list.

[@M-H433]

Good luck with Ardupilot, I'm Inav for life,looking forward to your next video now🙂

[@LiftVector]

Thanks man!@@M-H433

[@k1ortia]

i would stay well away from this Radiolink crap, Massive Legal disputes between Ardupilot due to Radoilink not paying the Licence fees, And its not even officially supported by them and they have no intentions to either. Just saying.

[@LiftVector]

I haven't done any research on this topic myself. But I have been seeing comments on other videos with this FC saying exactly what you said, it's too bad. I did not know about this until about 3/4 of the way through the build. Thanks for the heads up and being honest.

[@k1ortia]

@@LiftVector That's no worries at all mate. It's because i was watching a video of the new Radiolink system here in the UK, last night and was speaking with numerous people, who had told me. Basically it will work, but not to it's full potential as Ardupilot want nothing to do with Radiolink as they have avoided or withheld paying Licence fees. So your better off with something like the New Speedy Bee F405 Wing flight controller, which is amazing and is full endorsed by both i-nav and Ardupilot. Then i came across your video and thought I'd just give you a heads up before you go any further and start pulling your hair out with frustration. Great video anyway. Do you have a build of that Ft Explorer? Cheers

[@LiftVector]

I'm hoping to do another video on this plane, not much build footage for it. Too busy on the build I suppose. I prefer INAV quite a bit more for setup reasons. This was a good way to learn Mission Planner, at least. @@k1ortia

[@k1ortia]

@@LiftVector No worries. Iv never used mission planner or Ardupilot. As iv always used i-nav. But I would like to give it a go and learn at least.