APM 3.1 Maiden on TBS Caipirinha FPV mini wing
Channel: rotary65
Date: 06/09/2014

I got a bit more excitement than I bargained for during my first maiden with a mini-APM flight controller running APM Plane 3.1. I'd flown the TBS Caipirinha mini wing many times before, but this was the first time with a flight controller in it.

The winds were strong and gusty (35-55 km/h) which I've learned is a great time to tune PIDs because you get to see the controller really work hard. I was trying out FBWB mode which maintains level, altitude and course. It worked really well until I started the turn at the river on my third circuit at which point it started fighting me by flipping in and out of circle mode and turning in the opposite direction. When I got it under god control, it was half way out over the wide river - then the battery low alarm started going off! I got it back over the bank an then it started oscillating in the strong crosswind. It was still flyable but I flipped it into manual and flew it back. I approached to slowly and it got pushed into the tall crash just short of the runway. No damage at all.  I was happy that I got it back!