Litchi success but have a few questions

cinclodes · Feb 3, 2018

I did my first four Litchi flights today. It worked great, but I have a few (no doubt naive) questions:

1. Is it possible to get the camera view to show in the iPad like it does in GO? I'm sending it out beyond the range of the controller, but it would be very helpful to be able to see the camera view in order to adjust the camera elevation before starting a mission.

2. While setting up missions at home before today, the homepoint did not appear in the window. Now it does. This is annoying when I try to set up missions from a location miles from the site. It makes it appear that the mission will be 56 minutes, but it will only be about 12 minutes from the site.

ehrlgeo · Feb 17, 2018

Litchi has camera view just like Go.
BTW, you are aware that going beyond the range of the controller (beyond line of sight) is illegal, right?

cinclodes · Feb 18, 2018

I wasn't aware of that. It appears that many others are also unaware of it. There are many posts here about long distance flights far beyond the range of the controller. In fact, reading such discussions here is where I got the idea to use Litchi for my application.

ehrlgeo · Feb 18, 2018

Youre absolutely right, there are many people doing it. Enforcement is very up to speed yet, but the main point is, if it falls out of the sky and hurts someone, then they would likely start looking for you.
To fly under the Special Rule for Model Aircraft you must:

Fly for hobby or recreation ONLY
Register your model aircraft
Fly within visual line-of-sight
Follow community-based safety guidelines and fly within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization
Fly a drone under 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization
Never fly near other aircraft
Notify the airport and air traffic control tower prior to flying within 5 miles of an airport*
Never fly near emergency response efforts

For more information about what you can do with a model aircraft, please read FAA Advisory Circular 91-57A (PDF) or read the Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (PDF).