Z51 Predator Drone (MQ-9 Reaper) Flight Test Review

Pros
- Flying model of a military drone. If you send it up high enough, you might actually fool someone.
- Comes with transmitter.
- 2 channel gyro stabilized. Very easy to fly. Great learn to fly RC plane.
- 3.7 V 450mah battery can fly this drone for close to 20 minutes.
- Although it's a DIY, it's very easy to build in about 15 minutes. No glue needed. 5 screws hold it together.

Cons
- One of my wheels fell off after landing. I found it in the dirt after searching, but it did fall off rather easily.
- The motors need to keep running for the gyros to work. If you cut off the motors to glide, you may notice some instabilities such as phugoid oscillations. However this can be corrected by simply balancing the drone's center of gravity (a little putty weight on the tail should clear up phugoids).

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MUSIC LICENSE
"Awel" by stefsax
is licensed under a Creative Commons license:
music was shortened to fit length of video.

[Snarky_Radio]

8 months later, I am still flying it. It is still in one piece. Had a breezy day which was a challenge. I spent the entire flight fighting the wind, forgot about that I could change the rates as you mentioned. That would have helped.

[Snarky_Radio]

Mine arrived Saturday and I had a brief flight yesterday. It was a tad bit windy (very light plane ). But you are right, it loves to fly! Easy to put together and very nice for the price. Good looking plane. It's a keeper. Somebody asked if that would make a good toy for a kid.. and yes.. for a teen it would be fine. it flies great. As you pointed out... No gliding because stearing is controlled by the differential control of the motors. So.. if have no motors, no control. I try to keep that in mind. No aileron or rudder.. No Dead stick landing, if you lose power.. no control. Keep that in mind. lol.

[JD_]

Its amazing how far they come with the toy grade planes. Flies a whole lot better now and smoother. Great Video!

[TuberBA]

Stick a small coin or putty just in front of the wings and it will be able to fight off wind and glide better. Also, when the battery runs out you are left with "glide control" meaning you can still turn it with the motors but you cannot use the throttle anymore. Therefore I fly it quite high when I approach 10 minutes of flying, so when it dies I am still able to point it towards a landing spot. Love it btw. :)

[twillison]

I ordered one today. Had the C-17 for years and battered the heck out of it. I swear it had half a roll of packing tape holding it together but she still flew. My son put it way up in a tree.

[box]

I used to build the back wings of the Predator UAV drone they're completely made out of carbon fiber there about 14 ft long we made them here in Wichita Kansas at a place called fiber Dynamics. It's quite a lengthy process to build them and they cost about $60, 000 each

[telephony]

You never did find out if it could lift off from packed dirt/sand vs. tarmac; nor did you tell us if it could lift off with the runcam affixed to its fuselage. May I safely presume that you're going to try them in a follow-up video?

I do like the way it flies, and appreciate the time you took to make this video!!! :-D

[JoseA-Divergent]

Es el Mejor de 2 Canales Iniciación por su *Relacción Calidad/Precio* The Best!

[Frisky]

Great video You sold another one. I appreciate your honesty

[dronexfun]

To change the battery connectors only requires a sharp pointy object to pry up the tabs. No solder needed.

[locouk]

The porpoising will be the death of lots of these, if that was fixed it’d be a good little bird. Saying that, 3 channels with ailerons could make this a real bit of fun.

[Joe....._]

Nice video
Thanks
Just got 2
Joe
Navy veteran 🇺🇸

[FeWolf]

I own the 5 ft version of this plane, going to pick this up today, can mod it to my needs.

[Joe-zy]

I have just our one from aliexpress only £26 hope it's good

[MikeJones-rwet]

Nice video good job, I'm a little new to flying planes been flying drones for a while so maybe this one will do the job, will try I just bought it I hope it helps me out to learn the planes a little bit better Thank You God bless...

[kevinmmottershead]

My 7 year old loves flying these beginner planes, but this one we cleaner get to fly. It won’t take off from the ground, and of hand held it just does a nose dive. Any suggestions? We’ve tried being mindful of when and where we power it on so the gyroscope is properly set. Just can’t figure it out

[nor]

Loved it, not a bad price either, I not much for wing craft but if I was this would be it

[michaelgardner]

Link for your favorite all in one camera?

[jorgehobby]

It's pretty cool and cheap ^^ gonna get one

[TuahAkhbar-bkex]

just make my 1st flight today. it's cool man not until the right motor burn. oooohhhh man. need to find the spare parts but don't know where. any link to get the new motor? very appreciate for that.