Operating and maintenance manuals
✅ Pre-flight checklist
□ Battery charged and firmly secured
□ Props undamaged, tight, and facing the right way
□ No loose screws, no cracks in the frame
□ Antennas intact and secured
□ Control and video links stable
□ GPS: 8+ satellite lock before take-off (long range)
□ Failsafe tested · flight area clear and permitted
🎯 Calibration
Accelerometer: on a genuinely level surface, from the app or Betaflight.
Compass: away from metal, with a full rotation on each axis.
Sticks: calibrate endpoints to 1000–2000µs.
Camera / gimbal: level the horizon before every filming session.
🔧 Routine maintenance
After every flight: check props and motors for heat and unusual noise.
Weekly: retighten screws, blow out the motors with compressed air.
Monthly: inspect batteries for swelling and check solder joints.
Storage: batteries at 3.8V per cell, somewhere cool.
🛠️ Common faults
Jello in the video: damaged prop or a bent motor shaft.
Drift: recalibrate the accelerometer.
Motor running very hot: wrong KV/prop pairing, or weak filtering.
Won't arm: check the arming-prevention flags in Betaflight OSD or CLI (status).
Signal loss: inspect the antenna, reduce obstructions, review the ELRS frequency.
Frequently asked questions
What belongs on a pre-flight checklist?
Battery charged and firmly secured, props undamaged and tightened in the correct rotation, no loose screws or frame cracks, antennas intact, control and video links stable, GPS lock on 8 or more satellites before take-off for range work, failsafe tested, and the flight area clear and permitted.
When should I calibrate the accelerometer and compass?
Recalibrate the accelerometer on a genuinely level surface whenever you notice drift in hover. Recalibrate the compass away from metal with a full rotation on each axis, particularly after moving to a distant new flying site.
How should LiPo packs be stored?
At storage voltage of 3.8V per cell in a cool place — neither fully charged nor empty. Inspect monthly for swelling and check solder joints; swelling is an immediate end-of-service signal, not a warning.
A motor runs very hot after a flight — why?
Usually a KV and prop combination that does not match the setup, or weak filtering in the flight controller making the motor chase vibration. Check prop size against KV and cell count before changing any software setting.
What is the core maintenance safety rule?
Disconnect the battery before any work on the aircraft and never approach spinning props. A 5 inch prop at 30,000 RPM is a genuine cutting tool, not a figure of speech.
