Pilots Peep – Stratos
In this instalment of Pilots Peep, Total Rotor checked out Team Stratos, one of the most prolific FPV teams in Singapore. Formed in 2015 with only 3 members, Derrick Tan, Md Zacky and Hasemi, the team now boasts seven competent pilots that includes Le Hong Phuc, Ryan Tan, Xu Zhuohua and Jen Hosoya. Managed by Derrick Tan from Sky Hobbies, Stratos had competed in FPV drones races around the region, from home here in Singapore to countries such as South Korea, gaining enough of a reputation to attract brand names in the likes of HQ Props, Cobra Motors, Astro, Xbee and Vector.
From our conversation, it would appears that most good pilots share certain traits â they display discipline, knows what they want, work hard to achieve them and is fully aware that talent alone does not guarantee success.
Our impression of them (we spoke with 4 members of the team):
Md Zacky aka Flying Zacky â father of two daughters, Zacky is one of the pioneers of FPV drone racing in Singapore. Affectionately named the âRSMâ by the team, Zacky ensures the teamâs training is focused and structured, the word regimented training cropped up several times during the chat. Seeing him fly, you will agree that âZapâ is a more appropriate name for him than Zacky, his quad literally zaps around the track.
Hasemi aka Chase â a founding member of Stratos, Chase is a graphic designer by trade and a family man, we named him âThe Artistâ. The freestyle specialist of the team, he speaks of artistry in flight, flow and composition just like an artist would – the surrounding is his canvas and the racing quad his brush.
Ryan Tan â one of the younger member of the team, he started FPV flying in 2016, his looks belies his racing skills, the name âTom Cruiseâ keeps coming into my mind. From his flight video we can see the smoothness of his stick control. Though young both in age and the sport, he shows dedication and seems to know what he wants out of it. Would he be the Joseph Schooling of drone racing to Singapore?
Le Hong Phuc aka Phuc â probably the youngest member of Stratos. Born in Vietnam, but currently studying in Singapore, word has it that he is a natural âAâ student. I would call him âThe Mechanicâ for all the tech he talks – PIDs, build strategies, tuning, and set up. Phuc is by no means a nerd flyer, instead has a pretty aggressive flying style and can hold his own with most.
Hereâs what they said about themselves:
Total Rotor : How did you guys get into FPV drone flying or quadcopter as Chase would rather it be called?
Flying Zacky : Started with heli in 2012 but soon lose interest but after watching some Youtube videos, particularly those of Charpu, I got into FPV drone flying, started with freestyle but now I do more racing.
Chase : I was into RC flying but glider instead of heli, I chanced upon some YouTube videos of aerial photography and was inspired by the scenery shots but soon I felt the need for speed hence got into quadcopter flying which provides the adrenaline rush. That was about 2 years ago
Ryan : Started flying in April 2016 with a toy drone, like Zacky I was intrigued by Charpuâs video
Phuc : Flying mainly big rigs in Vietnam with my uncles, downsized to a TBS discovery and eventually to mini quadcopters when I came over to Singapore and just like Zacky and Ryan, Charpuâs videos was also what got me into mini quads
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Total Rotor : Â Zacky and Chase, since you both have kids, are your families supportive of your hobby and do you get them involved?
Chase : Â Yes I believe my wife is supportive, this hobby is after all better than me spending time outside on, possibly, âundesirableâ activities and I let my kid be involved. She decides the colour of my props!
Flying Zacky : Definitely, I even bought a toy drone for my daughter. But of course there is still a need to balance family time with my hobby.
Total Rotor : Do you guys generally prefer building or flying?
Phuc : I enjoy both parts of the hobby. I feel good when I fly a well-built quad, nicely laid out and âcrash-proofedâ and I take pride in that.
Ryan : Honestly I prefer the flying, naturally, thatâs why we are in this hobby. But I think building it yourself is important, it is a key part of the hobby, that way you will know if something goes wrong or the quad doesnât feel right.
Flying Zacky : I actually enjoy the building part. I will very often stripped down a perfectly working quad and rebuild it. Knowing my quad will fly without technical issues gives me confidence when I fly.
Total Rotor: Â What are your hopes or vision, be it as an individual, as a team or for the sport of drone racing as a whole?
Ryan : I do long for the day, hopefully within the next three years, the sport will be officially recognised and with Singapore having a national drone racing team. For that to happen, Governmentâs support is needed and the flying community has a large part to play to get there.
Flying Zacky : Do hope to have better public awareness of what the sport is all about and to have more young people picking up this hobby. Unfortunately one of the biggest stumbling block is the lack of flying locations in Singapore. As a team, Stratos aim to gain better recognition internationally, starting with South East Asia and turning professional within the next three years, we are working towards that. As a community, I do hope the various groups in Singapore will become more cohesive and work towards the common goal of promoting the sport of drone racing
Chase : the possibility of turning professional does appeal, but being more of a freestyle flyer and not racing may make a difference.
Phuc : For the moment, I want to hone my skills further, Â become a better and all-rounded pilot.
Total Rotor : While most of you are disciplined enough to get as much stick time as you can on your own and burning as many as 20 packs each session. How often do you train as a team and is there a training program or structure?
Flying Zacky :, We typically train together on Saturdays, with individual members taking turn to design the track. We review flight footages, especially those from the races we participated in and look for areas to improve, like manoeuvres, racing lines etc. In other words, we set specific training objectives and not just fly randomly. We will also support each other in the technical areas of the sport, such as PID tuning, setup etc. The younger members of the team are important and I am dedicated to help groom them. All these are part of our effort as a team to focus on improving our performance at races, we let the results speaks for itself. As a whole I think the team is quite committed. On another note, we are constantly on the lookout for pilots who are not only good flyers but also good representation of the sport and community as a whole.
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Total Rotor : You guys mentioned that you are focusing on better race performance, besides the flying what other aspects do you think will enhance your performance or is important?
Flying Zacky : The ability to manage the mental stress is key, structured training and having a strategy for each race can help.
Ryan : Good sleep the night before race and a proper diet will help
Phuc : Having a well prepared quad that you had practiced with is as important, avoid changing setup a few days before the race
Chase : Mutual support during the race, especially with repairs and the likes, while I donât race I try to be there to help in any way I can and itâs the same for the rest of the team mates
Total Rotor : In conclusion, what advice would you guys give new pilots or people looking at getting into the hobby?
Chase : start flying from the onset, a ready-to-fly kit or even a toy drone will do
Ryan : Firstly, learn with a flight simulator. Secondly, get to know and fly with people in the hobby. Thirdly, when buying equipment, get advice from experienced pilots. Equipment doesnât have to be expensive but cheap can be expensive, buy right from the start.
Phuc : Yes, get flying first but do learn to build your own quad, it is a key and important part of the hobby
Flying Zacky : Agree, get flying first, will be easier with a ready to fly kit or a toy drone. From there work on specific basic skills before proceeding to advance stuff.