Parrot Disco Wing

[wgt40w]

Looks like a step forward in flight electronics.

! No longer available


See also:

https://www.parrot.com/us/drones/parrot-disco-fpv#-parrot-disco-fpv

[FPVSteve]

No, it looks like a toy for people with too much cash and very little interest in actually flying.

[iwan_canobi]

I tend to agree, although the claimed flight time and the stabilised footage looks quite impressive for a wing. But yeah, ridiculous price! I guess it's effectively the Phantom of the fixed wing world.

[Loopdreams]

Was going to say the price wasn't too bad with goggles too but then I noticed that the goggles are just a bit of plastic that you put your phone in. 

[BlueFlyer]

$1299 bloody hell...

And the range is only less than 2 miles?

Ok, so it's RTF but that kind of money would easy buy a decent "proper" fpv wing, electronics, flight controller, tx, uhf system and ground station.

[Jake Bullit]

That expensive camera won't last long positioned like that.

[wgt40w]

Sorry, but I think most of you are missing the point -

Yes, all of your comments re price, fragility are perfectly correct, look at DJI prices as a similar example. But this craft contains an integrated single electronic unit that combines a 3 axis camera gimbal, flight stabilisation, auto take off & land, RTH, 2 mile range vtx.

This should be welcomed by us as a new product that sooner or later will be 'copied' by the Chinese and so be available to us at a much cheaper price.

[FPVSteve]

I see where you're coming from, but I think the general consensus about Phantoms is that while they're fantastic pieces of kit, they haven't exactly blessed the FPV community with loving feelings from all quarters, primarily because they can be flown by someone who couldn't otherwise find their own arse with both hands.

This thing allows the same people (if they have deep pockets, presuming they can find them :D ) to now fly a much faster aircraft. It probably won't be as popular as a Phantom IMO because it is another level of difficulty upwards but in terms of FPV as a hobby it adds very little to what we already have as DIYers.

For instance the MTD does auto launch.

[Coyote]

Pretty much agree, look at all the damage that DJI has done to the hobby with the Phantoms. And now Parrot have brought out the fixed wing equivalent that can potentially cause a lot more damage per hapless morons misadventures.

Oh goody

[iwan_canobi]

Sorry, but I think most of you are missing the point -

Yes, all of your comments re price, fragility are perfectly correct, look at DJI prices as a similar example. But this craft contains an integrated single electronic unit that combines a 3 axis camera gimbal, flight stabilisation, auto take off & land, RTH, 2 mile range vtx.

This should be welcomed by us as a new product that sooner or later will be 'copied' by the Chinese and so be available to us at a much cheaper price.

The problem is though that its a proprietary, closed source unit. So whilst other people can tear it down and figure out what components are used, it doesn't really help further the tech. The Phantom has many features that haven't made it to a much cheaper price units or even available to buy standalone, and like others have said have massively damaged the image of the hobby.

[wgt40w]

So, it would seem the consensus is that any new technology of interest to us should be in a format that is "moron proof" - i.e. not purchasable as RTF.

To fulfill these views, may I suggest that all new improved, compact electronic flight controller units should only be sold only packaged as -

1) Come in a box containing numerous unmarked bags of components.
2) Each bag should have at least 2 components missing.
3) Each bag should have at least 3 components faulty.
4) Chinglish Manual included - for a totally different product.

A degree at least - in electronics - would therefore be needed to try and assemble said unit.

Problems in assembly, due to the 4 specs above, would keep online Forums busy and well supported, through numerous and repeated build questions.

There - everyone happy with this ??    :laugh:

[BlueFlyer]

I think the reaction to this thing is valid. This is a fpv forum, that is not for fpvers.

It's for general public who want a quick easy way to have what we have.

I say let them spend all that money, get bored of it, then let it sit in the garage for the rest of time because they had a rough landing once and don't know how to fix it

[wgt40w]

I think the reaction to this thing is valid. This is a fpv forum, that is not for fpvers.

It's for general public who want a quick easy way to have what we have.

I say let them spend all that money, get bored of it, then let it sit in the garage for the rest of time because they had a rough landing once and don't know how to fix it

As per the first Post of this Thread, I still think this craft includes a step forward in integrated flight electronics, which one day may (electronics only) be available to us. That is what this Thread was supposed to discuss.

I never made any comment - good or bad - on the overall craft itself.

- Now I will:-

I wonder how many Users on this Forum have had at sometime, a Phantom, Hubsan Spyhawk or other similar RTF craft with a camera and vtx. Would you also say to those members "This is a fpv forum, (they are) not for fpvers."

If I, who can fly LOS; have passed Part I BNUC-S Ground Instruction Course; am aware of current safety concerns and am knowledgeable in building fixed wings, decide I want something that is reliable and simple to fly for occasional use (not that I can afford one) - are you suggesting then that I shouldn't be able to have one or be allowed to be on this Forum?

It's stopping or training the "morons" that's needed - not stopping anyone from having an RTF craft.

(I would still rather than get me ranting, discuss the integrated electronic package and it's future availability)

[electrotor]

So, it would seem the consensus is that any new technology of interest to us should be in a format that is "moron proof" - i.e. not purchasable as RTF.

To fulfill these views, may I suggest that all new improved, compact electronic flight controller units should only be sold only packaged as -

1) Come in a box containing numerous unmarked bags of components.
2) Each bag should have at least 2 components missing.
3) Each bag should have at least 3 components faulty.
4) Chinglish Manual included - for a totally different product.

A degree at least - in electronics - would therefore be needed to try and assemble said unit.

Problems in assembly, due to the 4 specs above, would keep online Forums busy and well supported, through numerous and repeated build questions.

There - everyone happy with this ??    :laugh:

I find myself very much in agreement with you wgt40w. Whilst I really enjoy building and getting things to work there is also a perfectly good place for RTF.
I am one of these dreadful people who bought a Phantom, well three now.
Phantom 1 I took to bits, replaced the main board and added a VTX. Pretty poor quality video signal at times but i loved it.
Phantom 2 I took to bits, added an OSD internally and VTX externally. Again not a great video signal but I had fun.
Phantom 3 Pro and all I have done is add a CPL filter and learn how to use all the added facilities and controls. The video signal is fantastic.
I have no interest in distance or height records, FPV racing, spying on my neighbours or bombing Downing Street. What I do have is an interest in getting the view from up there and taking pretty pictures.
Any time I am approached by interested parties wanting to know where to get this invention of the devil I use the opportunity to explain that there are lots of dos and donts about model flying simply to keep people safe. I advise them to join a club and seek advice and training and if that fails I advise them to take a bin bag with them on their first outing to collect all the bits.
When not bringing the hobby into disrepute by Phantom flying I build and fly mostly non FPV fixed wing, although I have been seen with FPV fixed wing and quadcopters other than a Phantom. So I am not all bad, I hope.

[FPVSteve]

All valid points - the one you've missed however (which is the one where people have a problem) is that things like this, while brilliant for a knowledgeable person such as yourself, can be misused in the hands of someone less capable or someone who doesn't give a monkeys what happens with it.

Unfortunately that then reflects badly on us - hence the reference to Phantoms. Brilliant kit, but very easy to be misused (even by accident or through ignorance).

This is no different - brilliant kit, but easy to be abused. And adds very little to what the hobbyist users on here already have.

In fact, it has a flaw that even the Phantom doesn't have. It won't stop and hover if you get into trouble...