Session 1 · Ground Handling & GCS

Aim: the trainee can safely handle, inspect, assemble and power the aircraft, set up the GCS, plan and upload a mission, and complete the pre-flight sequence — all on the ground, before any flight.

Reference: Ops Manual §4 GCS, §6 Flight Operations (pre-flight, powering, arming), §5 Battery.

1.1 Aircraft handling & inspection

Identify the major assemblies (PCU, wing, X-tail/landing gear, TVC vanes, propeller, battery bay, avionics). Practise the stowed-configuration inspection and the pre-flight inspection; reject a “planted” defect. EP250: inspect and assemble from the transport tube (spider cap, wing spar, GPS/mag cables, R-clips, CG + fiducial checks). EP450: note the open prop arc.

1.2 Assembly & transport

Assemble from the transport tube (fit wing, confirm attachments/fold latches), and disassemble/repack.

1.3 GCS setup

Set up the GCS, erect antennas, connect the RC transmitter, confirm switch positions and DISARMED. Learn the HUD scan (attitude, airspeed, altitude, battery, EKF, GPS, link) — see Ops Manual §4.

1.4 Mission planning

Build a simple mission in QGC (take-off → transition → cruise legs → land), review every altitude, upload and read back to verify. Understand relative-to-home altitude and home-point setting.

1.5 Powering & pre-flight sequence

Power the aircraft (anti-spark first), connect, confirm 3D fix / EKF white / stable attitude, run the flight-mode check and control-surface check, and the arming sequence (in hover mode, zero throttle) without taking off.

Outcome: trainee independently completes ground handling, GCS setup, mission upload/verify, and the full pre-flight-to-armed sequence. No flight this session.