Quadcopter Drone Flying Tutorial 2: Hover

If possible, take your quadcopter drone to an open grassy field for your first flight.  Your local park or sports field will be perfect.  Do so early in the morning or near sunset when the wind is at a minimum.  Make sure to minimize all distractions so that you can focus on your flying.

Initialize, and bind your quadcopter as shown in the previous chapter. Stand a few feet directly BEHIND your quadcopter to minimize disorientation.  Now slowly increase the throttle until it starts to rise.   Wait until it's a few feet off the ground, and then consider using your trim buttons to minimize any drifting that you notice.   Now slowly reduce throttle until you're back on the ground.   You did it!   Your first flight.  For all follow-on flights, remember to remain behind your quadcopter to minimize disorientation until you feel more confident.

I was planning to produce my own video tutorial for hover flight. But I found a YouTube video that would be hard to beat.  The following video provides an excellent tutorial for learning how to hover.  I recommend following it closely, with the exception of "nose-in" hover.  Nose-in hover is very difficult for beginners and intermediate flyers.  It should NOT be attempted by beginners until they feel confident in their hovering abilities.

Here's another excellent video tutorial on hovering.  The demonstrations are made with a RC helicopter, but the lessons equally apply for a quadcopter. He stresses the importance of also practicing with a simulator program. I would agree if you own a heavier high-end quadcopter (say a DJI Phantom) which can be costly if damaged. BUT if you own a lightweight, low-end toy quadcopter (say a $40 WLToys V212), then consider that quadcopter as you're simulator. These small quadcopters are very lightweight, and as such quite resistant to crashes, and are absolutely perfect for learning to fly.  Here's his video. Listen up, he knows his stuff.