Testing Inspire1 floats for water take off and landings

[lake_flyer]

My son was a kind of shaky with the smartphone camera. And it was getting dark quickly after the beach finally got deserted by the sunbathers. But it gives a good idea of how it floats and flies. Quite good. But honestly, I would want a slightly wider diameter float for more buoyancy, when the waves are higher. Not sure if they are available in a different diameter.

 

[lake_flyer]

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

You really grabbed onto that pool noodle thing! It looks great. How about a detail of how you fastened it? Most of my flying is over water and I wouldn't mind the extra bit of "salvage insurance" if it ditched.

 

[lake_flyer]

You really grabbed onto that pool noodle thing! It looks great. How about a detail of how you fastened it? Most of my flying is over water and I wouldn't mind the extra bit of "salvage insurance" if it ditched.

just velcro straps all around and through the legs.

 

[Pescatoral Pursuit]

just velcro straps all around and through the legs.

No small pvc pipes through the noodles to add rigidity between landing gear? Think that would help?

 

[lake_flyer]

No small pvc pipes through the noodles to add rigidity between landing gear? Think that would help?

Interesting idea. No, I cut some notches in the noodles to sink the feet in for half an inch. The velcro holds it firmly in place.
These noodles are not hollow, i know there are also hollow ones that could be stuffed with a pipe. But I could only get these.

 

[InspiredOne]

Here's a previous thread on this same topic...

Aircraft floats for the DJI Inspire

 

[lake_flyer]

Here's a previous thread on this same topic...

Aircraft floats for the DJI Inspire

I have followed that thread, forgotten all about it.

 

[InspiredOne]

I have followed that thread, forgotten all about it.

Yeah, my wife says I never remember the important stuff.

 

[lake_flyer]

Yeah, my wife says I never remember the important stuff.

your wife sounds like my wife

 

[HollyFlier]

Nice work! The onboard video of the water landing made me pucker...

 

[BRENT HABBESHAW]

You mentioned "Beach" as in salt water? Does not the prop wash of salt water spray pose a threat to shorting out/ rusting metal and electronic components? Just curious!

 

[shaun666]

Well done I hope you have achieved what you set out to do now please stop making me change my underwear & stay away from the water unless its an emergency, as you know what happens the more something is done the greater the risk. Great work simple design & no safety or performance problems apart from a little extra weight evenly distributed that wont move.
I will be saving this design & will let you know if I ever need to implement it.

 

[djhefner]

My son was a kind of shaky with the smartphone camera. And it was getting dark quickly after the beach finally got deserted by the sunbathers. But it gives a good idea of how it floats and flies. Quite good. But honestly, I would want a slightly wider diameter float for more buoyancy, when the waves are higher. Not sure if they are available in a different diameter.

I used a 4.5 inch pool noodle purchased from a local Walmart. They're lightweight, rigid, and only sit about 1/3 of the way into the water. iPhone video is not the best, but it shows how it sits in the water.

 

[lake_flyer]

You mentioned "Beach" as in salt water? Does not the prop wash of salt water spray pose a threat to shorting out/ rusting metal and electronic components? Just curious!

I would not recommend to land on salt water. I use it on the lake and other freshwater bodies hence my name 'lake_flyer'. However, if I need to fly over salt water it is still good to know that my I1 will not sink when it would auto land on water or even fall out of the sky. The salt will damage a lot though.

 

[lake_flyer]

I used a 4.5 inch pool noodle purchased from a local Walmart. They're lightweight, rigid, and only sit about 1/3 of the way into the water. iPhone video is not the best, but it shows how it sits in the water.

Cool indeed. I can't get these over here, only the 3 inch version.

But I changed the design a bit and now it floats really high.
2016-08-27 21.55.40.jpg

 

[lake_flyer]

I decided I wanted to have at least twice the buoyancy needed. Even if one of the floats would become detached in a crash on the water, the other one is able to keep the I1 afloat (it will be submerged totally though, hanging on to the one float) until it's salvaged. Total buoyancy is now around 6.5Kg, more than enough for an I1/X3. The added weight is minimal.

I tried it in 7m/s wind and it still was flyable and felt safe enough to be usable. Only in fast panning I sometimes got a part of the floats in the image.Top speed is impacted of course.

 

[InspiredOne]

I have yet to read any explanation as to why one "needs" to land an Inspire 1 on water.

 

[Charles.mabry]

I have yet to read any explanation as to why one "needs" to land an Inspire 1 on water.

I don't believe they're intended to land on water but more of a added precaution incase you're forced to land while over water

 

[lake_flyer]

I don't believe they're intended to land on water but more of a added precaution incase you're forced to land while over water

correct