Elevation impact on IRIS+ flight times.

Posted by Justin H. on July 13, 2015 at 9:26am

Just a reminder that flying at high elevation can have a HUGE impact on flight times and can result in sudden failure. I flew at 9,600' this past weekend and my loaded IRIS+ (gopro, tarot 2d gimbal, secondary GPS) got to about 5:45 before the battery could not maintain enough thrust to keep it airborne and started dropping quickly. No warning, of course, since plenty of charge remained. Fortunately I was not flying past the cliff edge or the IRIS would have been unrecoverable; as it was, I suffered a hard landing that broke a leg off and took part of the motor housing with it. The more you know!

I normally get about 12:30 flight times from the same craft at 3,500'.

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Replies

    • Erik Graham > DavidFolts July 13, 2015 at 6:44pm

      Need a smart math guy to model the tradeoffs on this one

      Its pretty well laid out here.  High altitude flying is as simple as 10x47 props and a few adapters.

      https://www.cloud-surfer.net/2014/10/10/improving-lift-on-iris-with...

      Cloud-Surfer
    • DavidFolts > Erik Graham July 13, 2015 at 8:51pm

      I'd expand his single test case into multiple Iris configs at various altitudes and temps and wind speeds, and then compile the tam readings.

      Also, might want to add another dimension by testing various motor configs, altho if I read this right, he was using the Iris+ motor db. 

    • Erik Graham > DavidFolts July 14, 2015 at 7:52am
      Well that would certainly be ideal, but I doubt anyone is going to bother. Anyway, the 10 inch props worked for me in the Alps a couple weeks back. And I know other folks who've flown in the Rockies. Other than the hassle putting the props on and taking them off, I don't see a reason to go back to stock, even at low altitudes.
    • DavidFolts > Erik Graham July 14, 2015 at 9:07am
      I'd bother if I was working at the altitudes Todd is talking about. My issue is the opposite, thick hot and humid air in the Houston area where the specialized quad copter prop 3dr supplies (note the upturned tips) work well...I have not had duration nor control problems. And like Todd...I have the tablet squawking or I fly tablet primary.
  • Justin H. July 13, 2015 at 11:45am

    I had to head back down the mountain to make repairs.

    3702046571?profile=originalNever underestimate a coat hanger, zip ties, and duct tape. The IRIS+ and Tarot gimbal were incredibly durable, that I was able to fly it for the final day of my road trip got me this...don't forget vibration dampening for emergency repairs like this, I neglected it and paid the jello price.

  • Paul Meier July 13, 2015 at 11:19am

    I would try some 10 x 6 props

  • Jimmy Oliver July 13, 2015 at 11:01am

    9600 feet? Why, may I ask, do you want to go high? (besides just wanting to get high) 

    • Chris Hanson > Jimmy Oliver July 14, 2015 at 2:16pm

      That's where the building was that I wanted to fly. And I really wanted to film this:
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_Veil_Falls_(Telluride)

      at 10,200'.

    • Gregg > Jimmy Oliver July 13, 2015 at 8:59pm

      we are all high here in Colorado!!!

    • Justin H. > Jimmy Oliver July 13, 2015 at 11:35am

      9,600' was the base altitude for the flight near the summit of Steens Mountain, Oregon.

This reply was deleted.