| Spaßfaktor | |
| Flugverhalten | |
| Materialqualität | |
| Aufnahmequalität | |
| Preis-Leistung | |
| Average 0/5 |
In the following drone test report, we will briefly introduce the small flying drone and explain what you should look out for.
Before you buy, decide whether you want the classic Smartplane Pro or Smartplane Pro FPV. The FPV version of course comes with virtual reality goggles.
Since the classic Pro version has no camera built into the stunt aircraft, you can’t just buy the FPV glasses and connect them to the drone. Both devices differ in price in that the FPV variant costs almost twice as much. This aircraft belongs to the category of entry level drones.
Delivery and quality
The small plane is packed in a big box. Inside is the Smartplane Pro, a control unit for the Smartphone, 2 spare propellers, various tools to change the propellers, battery, instructions, USB-attachment for charging the battery.
The battery is only 185 mAh, but here you have a model aircraft which generates lift by gliding and not by direct propeller drive like a drone. Therefore the Smartplane Pro has a flight time of 12 minutes according to the manufacturer. Since the amount of charge is so small, the battery only needs to be charged for about 20 minutes via a USB port on a laptop. For this you need the included USB attachment, which is equipped with corresponding LEDs that inform you about the charge status.
It is also advantageous that you can take several batteries with you when flying. So theoretically you can achieve an infinite flight time with some intermediate landings by hanging the other batteries in the meantime on the laptop or another power source.
The tool for the propeller looks a bit unusual, but with it the propeller can be changed without any problems. One is already pre-assembled and 2 more are included as spare propellers.
The wings of the airplane are made of styrofoam, which made us a bit suspicious at the beginning, because in case of a crash they might break. However, very strong material was used here. The manufacturer says that this is not a conventional styrofoam but a proprietary development, which should survive strong crashes.
So if you don’t crash at high speed when you are nosediving down, but treat the model normally, you won’t break your wings. Especially since the Smartplane Pro weighs only 38 grams with a wingspan of 30 cm.
Flight behaviour and control
The control always takes place via Smartphone. You can use the included joystick. It can be placed on the display and operated comfortably with the right thumb.
In the app you can go through a tutorial “Learn to fly” before your first flight, which we also recommend to get familiar with the basic flight characteristics. In this tutorial, detailed videos explain how to launch and operate the Smartplane Pro.
Furthermore, the app shows the charge state of the aircraft and the connection quality. With the touch field “Launch” you can start the engine and control the speed by sliding your thumb up or down over the screen. The display always shows a percentage of the maximum speed.
By tilting the Smartphone and using the included attachment, the aircraft can then be controlled in its position and attitude. The joystick attachment can be used in “control mode”, otherwise the Smartphone and its touch panel and position sensor can be used to control the aircraft as normal. In control mode you will find the touch field for “Launch” and speed control on the left side, on the right side the field where you have to place the joystick and then control the aircraft.
In the air, the Smartplane Pro moves pretty fast and you gain altitude quite quickly. You should make sure that the radio range is about 100m, but at this distance the plane is hard to spot anyway.
You should also not underestimate the fact that the glider sinks very quickly when you steer downwards and that this can lead to crashes. But if you crash in a meadow, the Smartplane Pro doesn’t mind that at all.
Flying it is definitely a lot of fun, because it is agile and agile in the air, and at the same time very easy to control. With time you will also get a feeling for the Smartplane and it will be easier and easier for you to try out riskier manoeuvres and great flight formations.
If you have 100% thrust at full load and tilt your nose up and then counter steer too strongly, it can happen that the plane sinks very fast and crashes. Here you can find the right balance while flying.
If the Smartphone is shaken, it comes to the maximum speed boost. Furthermore, it is possible to select a specific stunt in the app and then perform it. The most spectacular is probably the classic looping. Furthermore the following flight modes are available: Hover Mode, Helicopter Mode, Cobra and many more.
Conclusion on the entry drone
All in all, you will get a very good aircraft, which is robust, agile, fast and above all a lot of fun!
The manufacturer offers a total of 3 different basic packages. First the Smartplane Pro package without glasses, then the Smartphone Pro FPV package with FPV set and the Smartphone Pro FPV + package with FPV glasses, recording function and improved signal reception by diversity antennas. Whereby the plus package is about 50€ more expensive than the normal FPV package and the plane without glasses costs only half as much as with.
It is questionable whether the double price is justified, as the same FPV glasses are also available separately for less than 50 €, but cannot be used with the normal Smartplane Pro, as no camera is installed for this. Only in the Smartplane Pro FPV and the plus variant there is a camera installed that could justify the double price in combination with the higher expenditure of transmission technology.
We recommend that you think carefully about whether you want to use the FPV mode or just fly through the air and perform wild stunts.
Our conclusion about the Smartplane Pro is very positive and find that the quality is very high for this small aircraft and is definitely worth buying. Of course this is not a professional aircraft, you should consider that, but rather a toy, but the fun factor is also given for adults.
