Session 2 · Tail-Sitter Hover

Aim: the trainee is comfortable with the aircraft’s unique hover characteristics (nose-up, looking at the underside) and can take off, hold position, manoeuvre in a small box, apply full control inputs, and land — without instructor input.

Tail-sitter hover reminders (see Platform Overview): in hover the nose points up and you look at the aircraft’s underside; hover yaw authority is lower than cruise; rearward authority is limited — plan forward and lateral; wind affects hover more than a multirotor. EP450: weak single-motor yaw — start pointed at the intended bearing.

2.1 Stable hover (position hold)

Instructor take-off, handover at 10–15 m; trainee holds position for 2 min; handover; instructor land.

Task	Duration	Height
Trainer take-off	—	0 m
Handover	—	10–15 m
Hold position	2 min	10–15 m
Trainer land	—	0 m

2.2 Box manoeuvres — horizontal plane

Manoeuvre within a ~5 m box in the horizontal plane at hover altitude.

Do not attempt sustained backward translation — tail-sitters have limited rearward authority.

2.3 Box manoeuvres — vertical plane

Climb/descend within a 10–25 m AGL band, holding lateral position.

2.4 Full-stick inputs (roll, pitch, yaw)

Apply and recover from full-deflection inputs on each axis. Apply gradually and ease off gradually — do not let the stick spring back to centre.

Input	Duration	Height
Roll (max tilt 35° — PX4 MPC_MAN_TILT_MAX default)	1 min	10–15 m
Pitch (max tilt 35° — PX4 MPC_MAN_TILT_MAX default)	1 min	10–15 m
Yaw (90° / 180° / 90°)	1 min	10–15 m

2.5 Take-off & landing

Trainee performs a full vertical take-off, hover, and vertical landing without instructor input.

2.6 Hover competency assessment

Demonstrate full hover competency before progressing to forward flight.

Outcome: trainee holds a stable hover, manoeuvres in a box, handles full inputs, and takes off and lands unaided.