Flite Fest 2025 General Discussion Thread

[Merv]

...will I be able to set up my popup tent on the flight line?...

Yes, in the past people were allowed to setup a pop up near the flight line. My first year or two of FF I brought a pop up for the flight line, but I've not brough one for several years now.

... what do people do to establish a "base of operations" while they're there?...

They have 2 huge build tents full of tables. One of the first things I do is claim my spot in the build tent. The first day or two are not too bad but as the weekend approaches, the tents will fill up. There is plenty of electricity in the build tents, but plug ins are in short supply. I highly recommend you to bring a power strip and a short extension cord, 15-20 feet or so. I leave my stuff in the build tent over night, I've never had anything go missing. I generally cover my build area with a tarp, just to keep stuff dry from the morning dew. No power provided for the pop up tents, but some will bring their own gas generators or solar setups. The build tents are always full of interesting projects. I will check both of them out several times a day just to see what others are doing. I always come away with new ideas and have met many new friends.

Here is a video a friend on mine did from FF2018 that you may find useful.

The FliteFest East 2018 Experience

These are random interviews of people I met attending the 2018 FliteFest East.

www.youtube.com

 

[balsa basher]

So I’ve been there many times, and you’re right - there is not a great amount of room for flight line pop-ups. Most set up in the build tents, there are outlets running down the center so make sure to bring an extension cord. In my opinion the build tents are what makes flitefest so much fun!

 

[LitterBug]

Make sure you do not leave any batteries charging unattended. Batteries left charging unattended will be unplugged.

 

[Mr Man]

Make sure you do not leave any batteries charging unattended. Batteries left charging unattended will be unplugged.

For safety reasons of course.👍

 

[FishbonesAir]

This will be my fifth FF tent camping and I have volunteered every time. It's only a short 2.5 hour trip for me.

I am in envy of the short trip. But not of the humidity. I like my dry Colorado climate, thank you very much, where the paper stays attached to the foam, lol.

I shall be flying in, arriving Weds night, G-d willing.
Dave aka Capt Fishbones

 

[FishbonesAir]

Just an FYI, If you plan to fly FPV at Flite Fest, There is a designated FPV area where Frequencies/channels are managed. Do Not Power Up ANY FPV Transmitters outside this area. Maximum Power is 25mw, and channel use must be coordinated. I unhook the power to all of my VTXes so there is no chance of powering up by accident and stomping on someone in the air.

Are you allowed to use FPV in Combat? Asking for a Friend...

 

[LitterBug]

Are you allowed to use FPV in Combat? Asking for a Friend...

No.... Not enough channels for that to work.

FPV has been coordinated at a designated area in the past to prevent people from powering up and knocking someone else out of the air. Not sure how the coordination will be handled this year.

That said, there have been people who coordinated with the FPV area to get footage during combat, but not for flying as an active participant.

 

[FishbonesAir]

No.... Not enough channels for that to work.

FPV has been coordinated at a designated area in the past to prevent people from powering up and knocking someone else out of the air. Not sure how the coordination will be handled this year.

That said, there have been people who coordinated with the FPV area to get footage during combat, but not for flying as an active participant.

Dang... gonna be even harder to line up a shot for my air-to-air missiles without FPV. Hmmm... Not sure how to make this work. 🤔

 

[FishbonesAir]

In Other News... Anyone see the latest edition of Model Aviation? 06/2025? Page 16, RC Carrier Deck! Now that got me to thinking about Flitefest... While the hook they did was kinda specific to that one airplane, if we rigged up a section of runway as a carrier deck, tail hooks are really easy to make.

What could Possibly go wrong?!?

 

[LitterBug]

Dang... gonna be even harder to line up a shot for my air-to-air missiles without FPV. Hmmm... Not sure how to make this work. 🤔

I propose you put a GPS transponder in the targets you want to hit. Then use "Follow Me" mode on a flight controller!

 

[Mr Man]

Yes I did read bout’ that, It would be cool to do a carrier!

 

[Mr Man]

Yes I did read bout’ that, It would be cool to do a carrier!

 

[Houndpup Rc]

I propose you put a GPS transponder in the targets you want to hit. Then use "Follow Me" mode on a flight controller!

Can you actually do that? Adruopiloit?

 

[LitterBug]

INAV, Adupilot, etc.... Due to lag, manual intervention will be necissary for a burst of speed to hit the target.

 

[FishbonesAir]

Interesting... But too much with the little time remaining (and next to zero budget). 2026 Flitefest perhaps.
Come Pinky, we must plan for Tonight!

 

[FishbonesAir]

Yes I did read bout’ that, It would be cool to do a carrier!

I could commit to bringing the mesh tube

 

[Houndpup Rc]

INAV, Adupilot, etc.... Due to lag, manual intervention will be necissary for a burst of speed to hit the target.

Betaflight 4.6 is looking awesome!

 

[LitterBug]

Betaflight 4.6 is looking awesome!

Meh. Not a fan.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Yes I did read bout’ that, It would be cool to do a carrier!

But what if what happened to my drone happened to your plane?!

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Meh. Not a fan.

It has a of of cool settings like position hold and alt hold ect ect ect! I flashed it on my drone and its working pretty good so far.