Inspire 1 Pilot Training Guide

Indiana University Communications

Visual and Audio Services

November 16, 2015
This product is not suitable for people under the age of 18. Please carefully read the “Quick Start 

Guide”, “User Manual”, “Disclaimer”, and fully watch the manufacturer’s tutorial videos before 

using the Inspire 1. Users should make every effort to fly regularly in order to improve their 

flight skills as an advanced level pilot. Please fly safely and responsibly. 

Please follow these guidelines prior to flying your Inspire 1:

1. Always turn on the Remote Controller prior to turning on the Inspire 1.

2. Be sure there are no distractions when you’re flying.

3. When starting your training, be sure you are in a very large open area. Be 

aware of your surroundings. Always fly in areas void of obstacles and away 

from traffic and people.

4. Before actually taking off, be sure you have calibrated the compass and you 

have full GPS satellite reception. (Slow Continuous Green Flashing LED).

5. Never fly higher than 400 feet.

6. During training, stay behind your imaginary barrier and never fly behind 

yourself.

7. When in doubt, gently pull down on the throttle and land.

8. DO NOT PANIC.

The aircraft nose should face AWAY from the pilot before takeoff. 

DO NOT fly the Inspire 1 within a radius of 2 meters from your position.

DO NOT touch the propellers after the Inspire 1 motors has been started.

CAUTION
Basic Flight Maneuvers

1. Take off and land with battery facing you.

2. Hover in one spot keeping battery facing you, make sure to control 

Left/Right/Forward/Back movement

3. Rotate left, rotate right, each time returning the battery to a position 

pointed at yourself.

4. Slowly fly forward/back/left/right with back of Inspire 1 pointed at 

yourself.

5. Fly forward to a spot 20-30 feet away. Then fly back keeping the battery 

pointed at yourself.

6. Mark a spot on the ground 10ft away from the Inspire’s take-off point. 

Hover, fly toward, then land at your spot. Then return to a hover and 

bring the Inspire back to its original position and land again.

7. Fly left 10ft away from your take-off point, then fly right 10ft from your 

take-off point all the while keeping battery pointed at yourself.

8. While keeping the aircraft nose pointed forward, fly a 4 point square 

box formation going clockwise. Be sure to be in control and stop and 

hover in place at each point before proceeding to the next point.

9. Do the same as above but fly the 4 point box formation counter-clockwise. Be sure to be in control and stop and hover in place at each point 

before proceeding to the next point.

BASIC FLIGHT MANEUVERS
Skilled Flight Maneuvers

1. In a hover, starting with the battery pointed at yourself, rotate 360 degrees clockwise.

2. In a hover, starting with the battery pointed at yourself, rotate 360 degrees counter-clockwise.

3. Starting with the battery pointed at yourself, go into a hover. Then rotate the Inspire 1 90 

degrees facing left, and fly a 4 point square formation going clockwise. Be sure to be in control 

and stop and hover in place at each point before proceeding to the next point. 

4. Starting with the battery pointed at yourself, go into a hover. Then rotate the Inspire 1 90 degrees facing right, and fly a 4 point square formation going counter-clockwise. Be sure to be in 

control and stop and hover in place at each point before proceeding to the next point. 

5. With the battery pointed at yourself, fly a circle. Try to keep the altitude and also the circle as 

uniform as possible. Fly both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. 

6. Hover with the aircraft nose pointed at yourself and try to keep the Inspire 1 in one place.

1. Fly a circle and keep the aircraft nose pointed towards you. Be sure to keep the altitude the 

same and the circle as uniform as possible. 

2. Fly a 4 point square box clockwise while keeping the aircraft nose facing in your direction.

3. Fly a 4 point square box counter-clockwise while keeping the aircraft nose facing in your direction. 

4. Fly a 4 point square box clockwise and rotate the Inspire 1 in the direction of travel. 

5. Fly a circle counter-clockwise and keep the aircraft nose pointed in the direction of travel. Be 

sure to the keep the altitude the same and the circle as uniform as possible. 

6. Fly a circle counter-clockwise and keep the aircraft nose pointed at the center of the circle. Be 

sure to the keep the altitude the same and the circle as uniform as possible. 

7. Fly a figure-8 without rotating the Inspire 1. Be sure to the keep the altitude the same and the 

circle as uniform as possible. 

8. Fly a figure-8 with the aircraft nose pointed in the direction of travel. Be sure to the keep the 

altitude the same and the circle as uniform as possible. 

9. Fly figure-8 patterns while experimenting with different orientations. For example, aircraft nose 

always pointed in a given direction or opposite/left/right the direction of travel. Be sure to the 

keep the altitude the same and the circle as uniform as possible. 

SKILLED FLIGHT MANEUVERS

ADVANCED FLIGHT MANEUVERS
Return Home & Land Mode

Be sure you are in a large open area. Before you take off, make sure you have a good GPS lock 

by ensuring your LED indicators are flashing green. Fly the Inspire 1 at least 50ft away from 

your take off point. Turn off the remote controller. The Inspire 1 will enter its failsafe “Returnto-home” mode. Let the Inspire 1 finish its routine and land itself within 2 meters of the take off 

point. 

Intercepting Return to Home & Land Mode

Be sure you are in a large open area. Before you take off, make sure you have a good GPS lock 

by ensuring your LED indicators are flashing green. Fly the Inspire 1 at least 50ft away from 

your take off point. Turn off the remote controller. The Inspire 1 will enter its failsafe “Returnto-home” mode. When the Inspire 1 is returning home, you can intercept the RTH mode by 

switching the S1 switch from the Program position to the middle or lower position, then continue flying the Inspire 1. 

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS