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📋 Flight Preparation
Requested by: | Comp Team |
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Requested Date | |
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Location and Time | CED Alma, QC |
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Summary & Goals | Test Icarus as a quad |
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Approved? | Yes ✅ |
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👥 Required Persons During Test
Name | Phone # | Role | Reason |
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Anthony Luo | | Pilot in Command | |
Megan Spee | | Secondary Pilot & mech | |
Aidan Bowers | | Flight Engineer | |
Nathan Green | | Flightline personnel | |
Conall Kingshott | | Mech | |
Ethan Abraham | | Electrical | |
Morning of // arrival
- Start battery charging:
- all 6s
- 5s for video tower
- controller batteries
- groundstation laptop battery
- goggle batteries
- Walkie Talkie batteries
- Telemetry / Video towers assembled
- Populate flight test box:
- extension cables for laptop
- wrenches
- allen keys (M5 & M3)
- pliers
- knives
- tape
- velcro/zip ties
- Battery harness
- 6s batteries
- USB-C cable
- spare M5 wingspar bolts
- Walkie Talkies
- Battery tester
- DMM
- Check airframe wiring
- Flight Modes
- Back Right ESC Cap
1-hr before flight window
- Mission briefing (roles, responsibilities, goals, etc). @9
- Flight test box populated & batteries all fully charged
- Check sensor health
- CG Check with batteries
- Props on.
- Motor / prop direction check
- Control rods/horns intact
- Landing gear healthy
- Flight line equipment
- flight test box
- controller box
- video box
- annis hardcase
- telem / video towers
- wings (plugs in place temporarily)
- Water
- WALK OUT TO FLIGHTLINE WITH EVERYTHING GG
-
Pre-Flight checklist
- Antenna towers setup & wired, weighted down if necessary
- Batteries
- Inspect to ensure there is no signs of swelling, external leaking or other defects
- Battery wiring and connectors from the battery are connected securely
- Batteries (and spares) are adequately charged
- Wires are not pinched
- check GPS receiving signal(s)
- Wings:
- secured
- leading/trailing edges
- top/bottom surfaces
- Read of wing and all flight control surfaces for freedom of movement, security and any skin damage
- Inspect top and bottom of air frame arms for cracks, loose parts, or signs of damage
- Propellers / Rotors
- Ensure propeller is secured
- Check for nicks, chips or cracks
- Ensure prop direction is correct
Flight Window checklist
- Autopilot orientation correct
- Check control surface response in FBW_(blank)_
- VTX Transmit power set
- RFD900 Telem Cable connected
- Control Station / Receivers / Transmitter
- The battery and spare batteries if required are adequately charged
- Control Station device and cables are properly connected and functioning
- video receive clear
- link quality good
- All flight interfaces are functioning normally
- Flight modes & Controller mappings
- Control surfaces
- Ensure Elevator moves correctly
- Ensure Ailerons move correctly
- Ensure Rudder moves correctly
- Controller channels function as expected.
- check trainer settings.
- Safety
- Good visibility and safe wind speed
- Surrounding is free of obstacles
- Crew far from drone
- General Site Survey
- Are there other people on the property?
- Are there other aircraft.
Day Before Checklist
- On-site kit together
-
- Ground station / Laptop
- Antenna / Receivers
- Transmitter
- Extra Water
- Power cords / Extension cables
- Wrenches
- Allen keys
- Knives
- Tape
- Rope/string
- Zip/Velcro ties
- Radios
- Safety goggles
- Fire extinguisher
- Spare foam
- hot glue gun w/ hot glue stick
- harnesses
- Airfame assembled
- ESCs/flight controller wired
- Radio equipment tested
- Channel mappings
- Flight modes
- Motors tested
- Wiring secured (Harnessing)
- End-to-end test (neglecting props)
- Check the center of gravity
- All components not on the airframe that are required should be in the flight box (e.g. props & prop nuts)
- Airframe payload
- Spare parts
- Props
- Airframe components (landing struts, arms, etc)
- wings nuts
- prop nuts
- any detached components such as angle mount
- props for other aircrafts such as Houston
- Hardware to assemble these components
- Electronics
- ESCs
- Motors
- Flight controllers
- Receiver
- Flight Code Flashed
- Ground station Software updated
↪️ Pre-Departure Checklist
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Take the WREST RC entrance card
- Grab Pre-departure Items
- Battery charger and associated cables(30tx to 60tx)
- Check battery status
- Charge if required, otherwise place into flight box
- Systems test
- Check flight controller orientation
- Check motor spin & rotation direction
- Check transmitter mappings
- Verify communication links (VTX/RX, Controller, Groundstation)
- Verify the mission planner is logging data
- Only attach props directly before flight (keep off at all other times)
- Get snacks
- Mission Briefing
- Read the flight plan to the team (that was made a week ago)
- Purpose of flight
- Plan of action
- Success criteria
- Delegate and brief on flight line roles
- Safety Briefing
- Key flight characteristics to observe
- Key system characteristics to observe
- Measurements to be made
🚩 Pre-flight Safety Checklist
Pre-Flight Inspection
- Air Frame
- Check all antennas, ensuring they are secure and in good condition
- Check the battery emplacement and secure attachment and ensure there are no cracks
- Check that all lights are operating normally
- Check that all sensors are secured and clear of any obstructions
- Check that the GPS is receiving satellites and providing a navigation solution
- For fixed wing aircraft, Check:
- Wings, ensuring they are securely attached to fuselage
- Wing leading edge surfaces
- Top and bottom of wing surfaces
- Wing tip surfaces
- Read of wing and all flight control surfaces for freedom of movement, security and any skin damage
- For rotary aircraft:
- Inspect top and bottom of air frame arms for cracks, loose parts, or signs of damage
- Check fluid levels and ensure no leaks if applicable
- Control Surfaces
- Ensure Elevator moves correctly
- Ensure Ailerons move correctly
- Ensure Rudder moves correctly
- Landing Gear
- Check landing gear is secure
- Inspect skids or wheels, especially attachment points
- Power plant
- Cowling or motor casing
- Security of engine mounts
- Presence of any cracks
- All wiring and connectors, ensure no cracks, loose connectors, or chaffing
- Propellers / Rotors
- Ensure propeller is secured
- Check for nicks, chips or cracks
- Ensure prop direction is correct
- Batteries
- Inspect to ensure there is no signs of swelling, external leaking or other defects
- Battery wiring and connectors from the battery are connected securely
- Batteries (and spares) are adequately charged
- Wires are not pinched
- Control Station / Receivers / Transmitter
- The battery and spare batteries if required are adequately charged
- Control Station device and cables are properly connected and functioning
- All flight interfaces are functioning normally
- Safety
- Good visibility and safe wind speed
- Surrounding is free of obstacles
- Crew far from drone
- General Site Survey
- Are there other people on the property
- Ground Recording / drone footage on
- Autopilot
- Control surfaces respond to autopilot in the correct manner
- Transitions between flight modes have expected effect
- Return-to-home systems, if present, have been configured
😎 Post-Flight Checklist
Item | Owner |
|---|
- Use Flight-Post Mortem to Debrief
| ALL MEMBERS PRESENT |
- Discard of damaged batteries
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- Discharge used batteries for better longevity
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Flight Test Post Mortem
RCA for Red Items
Create a RCA and keep it as a child page.
Action Items
Other Resources
Booking WRESTRC Field
How to Book the Flight Grounds