Altair 818 Hornet Instructional Tips & Videos

Full Walkthrough Installing Camera, Cable, App & Video Connection with an iPhone
Connecting the 818 Hornet Plus to a Pixel 2 Smartphone
Installing the Landing Gear
Installing the Camera
Connecting and Removing the Camera from the Drone
Installing Propellers
Installing the Battery and Pairing the Drone
Connecting the Remote to the Drone
Installing the Flying See App and Using Video FPV
One Button Take Off and Landing
3 Flight Skill Level Controls - Explained
3 Flight Skill Level Controls - Shown In Flight
Headless Mode and How to Use It
Using The Trim Function - Explained
Using The Trim Function - Shown In Flight
Different Ways To Land Your Drone
Aerial Footage From The AA818

Full Walkthrough Installing Camera, Cable, App & Video Connection with an iPhone

This video will walk you through from start to finish of installing the camera to your drone properly and receiving transmission from the drone to the Flying See app installed on your smartphone. In this video we will be using an iPhone with the Flying See app already installed.

After installing the camera to the camera mounts underneath the drone body, you'll need to connect the camera to the drone body with the camera connector cable included in the spare parts bag of the package. Insert one end of the cable into the drone body next to the landing gear and the other end of the cable to the back of the camera. Your camera is now connected.

Now that the camera is properly installed you can set up your smartphone to receive video from the drone. With the power to the drone and remote turned on, and the Flying See app installed on your iPhone, open the setting app on your phone. Open the WiFi settings in this app and select the "udirc-FPV" WiFi network. There will be a series of numbers/letters after the "udirc-FPV" network and these will be different from drone to drone so do not worry about them matching exactly what is in the video, just find the network that starts, "udirc-FPV" and connect to that.

Next, open the the Flying See App on your phone and press the "Remote Control Interface" button. You will now be receiving video transmission from your drone to your phone. Make sure that your memory card is installed into the drone camera and you are now able to record video and take photos!

Connecting the 818 Hornet Plus to a Pixel 2 Smartphone

This video will help you with the steps that you will need to take to connect your Pixel 2 phone with the Altair 818 Hornet Plus drone. In this video we already have the Flying See app installed on the phone and the camera connected to the drone body. To get the video transmitted from the camera to your phone, the first thing you will need to do is connect the camera to the drone body with the camera connector cable that is included in the spare parts bag of your package. Insert one end of the cable into the drone body next to the landing gear and the other end of the cable to the back of the camera. Your camera is now connected.

Now that the camera is properly installed you can set up your smartphone to receive video from the drone. With the power to the drone and remote turned on, and the Flying See app installed on the Pixel 2, open the wireless settings on your smartphone and select the "udirc-FPV" WiFi network. There will be a series of numbers/letters after the "udirc-FPV" network and these will be different from drone to drone so do not worry about them matching exactly what is in the video, just find the network that starts, "udirc-FPV" and connect to that.

You may be prompted on your phone with an alert that says, "Do you wish to stay connected? This network has no connection to the internet." Select "Yes" to connect the drone to your smartphone (you can also check the box "do not ask me this again" to connect without this step in the future).

Unboxing the AA818 Hornet Plus

Once you open the box, it is important to first check that you have all of the components to you AA818 Hornet Plus drone.

Kit contents will include:

AA818 Hornet Plus Drone with 4 Propellers Installed
Remote Control and Instruction Card
2 Batteries
USB Battery Charger
Landing Gear
4 Spare Propellers
Misc. Tools

Installing the Landing Gear

To install the landing gear on your Altair 818 Hornet Plus Drone, you will need the two landing gear pieces (with screws pre-installed) and the included screwdriver.

First, turn over the drone body so that you can install the landing gear on the underside. Next, with the screws pointing toward the drone body, angle one landing gear piece into the drone and then lay flat into position. Using the screwdriver, turn the screws clockwise to install the landing gear piece. Repeat this process for the other landing gear piece.

Installing the Camera

Before you start flying your 818 Hornet Plus, you'll want to install the included camera on the underside of the drone body.

To install the camera, look at the bottom of the drone body and find the two camera mounts. The camera will slide on from the front to the back and will be properly installed once you hear it snap into position. To connect the camera to the drone, use the camera cable and install one end of the cable to the back of the camera and the other to a spot just below the landing gear on the drone body.

Your camera is now connected and you're just about to go flying!

Connecting and Removing the Camera from the Drone

In this video we will show you how to safely attach and remove the camera from the Altair 818 Hornet Plus.

To install the camera to the drone, line up the camera with the camera notches on the drone body. With the notches lined up slide the camera into place until you hear it snap into position.

To remove the camera, hold the camera and drone firmly and with your index finger placed on the back of the camera slide the camera towards the front. Do not pull the camera away from the drone or slide the camera diagonally. The camera will disconnect from the drone body and you will be able to connect it again when ready.

Installing Propellers

Over time, it may become necessary for you to replace the propellers on the Altair 818 Hornet Plus. To do this you will need the spare propellers, spare yellow caps, and the included screwdriver.

First, to uninstall the attached propeller, unscrew the screw counterclockwise and pull up on the propeller to remove it from the drone body. Next, look at the top side of the propeller and find either the letter "A" or "B". You will want to make sure to replace the "A" propellers with spare "A" propellers and the "B" propellers with spare "B" propellers. Once you have the correct propeller, add the spare yellow cap to the top and then slide the propeller into place on the drone body. Finally, screw the propeller into place turning clockwise on the screw.

If you are changing out multiple propellers, be sure to change one at a time in order to assure that the "A" propellers and "B" propellers are installed in the correct spot.

Installing the Battery and Pairing the Drone

Now we need to install our batteries and pair the drone to our remote control. The remote control requires 4 AA batteries (not included) and the drone will use one of the two included batteries.

Install the remote control batteries into the battery housing on the back of the control and replace the cap before use. To install the battery on your drone, look for the battery slot on the underside and back of the drone body. With the warning on your battery facing up, install the battery until you hear it click. You are now ready to power up your drone!

To begin the pairing process, first turn on the power to drone. The power button is located about the battery on the back of the drone body. Once the power is on, you will see lights turn on below each propeller. Set the drone down and be sure to keep your fingers and anything else away from the drone propellers.

Next, pick up the remote control and flip the switch on the front of the remote up, into the "ON" position. To pair the drone, move the two analog sticks down and to the center until you hear a confirmation chime and the blinking light on your remote turns solid. Pull the analog sticks down and to the center again to turn the propellers on in a neutral position. Pulling the analog sticks down once again will turn the propellers off.

The Altair 818 Hornet Plus Drone is now ready to fly!

Connecting the Remote to the Drone

With the batteries installed in the drone and remote control, turn on power to the drone first and then the remote control. Be sure to keep fingers and anything else away from the drone propellers before turning on the remote control.

To pair the drone, move the two analog sticks down and to the center until you hear a confirmation chime and the blinking light on your remote turns solid. Pull the analog sticks down and to the center again to turn the propellers on in a neutral position. Pulling the analog sticks down once again will turn the propellers off.

The Altair 818 Hornet Plus Drone is now ready to fly!

Installing the Flying See App and Using Video FPV

Connecting to the Flying See App and Using Video FPV is easy and will allow you to see what the drone sees in real time as you're flying.

First, search for the app "Flying See" and download it on your phone. With the drone powered on, go into the Wifi settings on your phone and look for the wifi connection that begins "udirc..." and click on that to connect. Close the Settings window, open the Flying See App and click "Remote Control Interface". You are now able to see what the 818 Hornet Plus Camera sees. To begin recording video, make sure the memory card is installed, and then press the video icon on your phone's screen. To take a photo, click on the camera icon. Video will be recorded on the an installed memory card, while photos will be recorded on the a memory card and on your camera.

One Button Take Off and Landing

One button take off and landing makes it very easy to safely take off and land the Altair 818 Hornet Plus drone.

With the drone on and the remote control paired, look for the button located below the right analog stick. This is the take off/landing button. Make sure that the area above the drone is clear and press the button to take off.

To land the drone safely, press the button once more and the drone will land softly before the propellers turn off.

3 Flight Skill Level Controls - Explained

There are three skill level modes that are included on the Altair 818 Hornet Plus Drone. This makes it a great drone for kids and beginners and can evolve with you as you get more experience.

To access the different skill levels first make sure the drone and remote are in the powered on position. On the back of the remote next to where your right index finger rests you will see a button that says "H/L" (this stands for High Low"). Pressing this button will indicate to you with beeps what skill level you are currently on. Press the button and listen for the beep.

1 Beep = Beginner
2 Beeps = Intermediate
3 Beeps = Advanced

We suggest starting out in the first skill level until you get more familiar with the controls and the gradually progressing as you feel more comfortable.

3 Flight Skill Level Controls - Shown In Flight

This video shows you in real-time how the Altair 818 Hornet Plus responds to the controls in each of the three different skill modes.

In the advanced mode you'll notice more speed and quick turns while the beginner mode moves more slowly and gradually turns allowing you to get used to the controls.

Headless Mode and How to Use It

Headless mode is a feature that keeps the drone and remote control oriented no matter which way the drone is facing. When headless mode is activated properly, the drone will respond to the controls in the same way no matter which way it is facing.

To activate Headless Mode, stand directly behind the drone with the drone and remote control powered on. Below the left analog stick on your remote control is the Headless Mode button. Push the Headless Mode button and you will see the drone lights begin to flash. The drone is now in Headless Mode and will interact with your controls appropriately. To move the drone away from you, push up. To move the drone to the right, push right.

Using The Trim Function - Explained

The Trim Function will allow you to set your drone in the proper hovering position. This can be a big help if you are wanting to capture quality video or a nice photograph and the drone keeps moving to the left or moving forward from where you want it to be.

To use the trim function make sure the drone and remote control are turned to the on position. With the drone hovering, press the trim button which is located on the back of the remote control where your left index finger is located. Hold the trim button down and use the right analog stick to adjust the hovering position of the drone.

If your drone is floating to the right, for example, push the analog stick to the left until you hear a beep and then check the hover position again. Keep adjusting the trim until you are happy with how the drone is hovering and then release the trim button.

Using The Trim Function - Shown In Flight

This video shows you in real-time how the Trim Function adjusts the hovering position of your drone. Remember to hold down the trim button the entire time you are making your adjustments.

Different Ways To Land Your Drone

You can land the Altair 818 Hornet Plus three different ways.

One quick way to land the drone is by using the one button take off/landing button located on the front of the drone remote control.

Another way to land the drone is by pulling the left analog stick down all the way until the drone has landed and the propellers have turned off.

The Emergency Landing option should only be used in an emergency and not from a high altitude. To land the drone in an emergency, hold down the one button take off/landing button for a few seconds. This will power down the drone in mid air and it will fall to the ground. This would be a good option if you felt the drone was about to crash or any other emergency situation that you run into.