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

The plane has sufficient lift to easily accommodate an All-In-One (AIO) FPV camera with built-in transmitter. Very easy to mod.
Simply tape it, velcro it, rubber band it, or any other way that you can think of to attach the camera to the plane. But make sure to maintain the current center of gravity position. Battery placement can be used to do such.

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

[didactylosdiddy]

I'm amazed it took off from the ground after the hand launches. Excellent work Quadcopter 101. _Having watched your work for this long I really shouldn't have doubted you_

[GroundControlRC]

I'm pretty impressed that little 2 channel brushed plane could carry a Micro FPV System and a separate battery to power it ;-) Well done and Happy Flying!

[ouymtsd]

I appreciate the video, nice to see a simple setup with a reasonable budget. It looks like a fun setup!

[DeadlyDiddly]

This must be my favourite Q101 video yet! 🤣👍🏼👍🏼
With a laugh like that Mrs. Q101 is a star in the making! 😁
Best quote ever: what have we learned today?" 😁😂🤣😆

[mr.doggoman]

I love your videos, you've even given me inspiration! I'm going to get this and test it just like you do!

[andbarton]

I've got one of these on I'll fit my Crazepony to it. Can't wait !

[mxracer]

thanks Quadcopter 101....your my inspiration! if not having watched your videos...i could have not learned this hobby..more power and more test reviews!

[andbarton]

Received my Predator. Please note though - the battery connector is different from the usual type of connector you get on those small li-po batteries. I searched through my entire collection of batteries (and chargers) and couldn't find a single connector that matched. So I ended up unsoldering the plug and its lead from the board and replacing it with the usual type. I can now use all my batteries on this plane.

[andbarton]

Today I removed the dummy camera pod from my Predator to replace it with my FPV Camera, and made a cool discovery. Two ball bearings glued inside the pod, weighing a total of 11 grams ! - I've binned these. So now I can carry an extra payload. Of course, I'll need to move my battery forward a bit more to offset the balance of those ball bearings, plus a bit more to give me a better C.G. (nose down). I've cut off the bulge on the top of the fuselage (The bulge above the nosewheel) and hollowed out the foam there to create a compartment large enough to take the camera li-po battery. Also hollowed out the underside of the removed bulge. I've bored through the fuselage and routed the camera power lead up into this new compartment. The top of the bulge can be fitted back on, retained by three tiny magnets embedded on the lower part, and three steel nail heads embedded in the top. So there's now no wires or battery visible. The tiny FPV camera replaces the original dummy camera pod and apart from that, the plane looks completely untouched. Next job is to convert a game joystick into the controller with all the original buttons reproduced on the joystick grip.I'm probably going to use a Black Widow joystick. It has a lot of buttons on the grip.

[FarrellMcGovern]

That looks like a lot of fun!! And getting a AIO camera with telemetry, like an artificial horizon and such would be classic!

[DatDangBangz]

This looks like Las Vegas I’d love to come fly here I have one of these thanks to you !

[RifaOnGaming]

cool, I try attach Xiaomi Yi Discovery and can't lift off

[chetwise]

Love the shirt!

I wonder if you could move the camera to the very front, maybe inserted into the plane somehow, Offset that weight with good placement of the battery, and making a cutout for the battery to get it inside the body would probably increase flight efficiency. Given those modifications, it would be a pretty bad ass cheap little FPV vehicle.

[keitha.]

I'll be doing the same fpv on the same Reaper drone and see what happens on mine. Hope the camera will be light enough as well to lift off the ground

[pea]

Quadcopter 101 is an AMAZING guy!! Thanks to his channel (and a handful of others), i got hooked into drones and recently got my 1st drone (Hubsan H216A). Thank you so much!!

ive recently added a couple of videos and id love feedback from anyone on how to improve.

thanks again!!

[pixelpeter]

Just wondering if it would be possible to move that AIO more forwards (and the battery more backwards) to get a better view? Will probably set off the COG too much.

[ItsAWasteOfTime]

Lol ... luv that take-off and that landing lol :D Good video mate.

[HuyNguyen-cccs]

Great job. which camera did you use? and which software do you use to view it on your smart phone?

[djericanthony]

So does your recording take place on your headset?

[Snarky_Radio]

Nice video, I may try that. Hey, I flew my Predator again today, and it's quickly becoming my favorite plane (not that I have a bunch). Flies so nice. It was bit breezy and and had to fight the wind to keep it from flying away. The plane worked hard just to fly into the wind. I probably need to learn how to fly cross-ways into the wind. Do you have a recommendation for a little bit more larger motors and props? or is that a bad idea? Thanks for the review on it.