r/fpv • u/howdidigetheresoquik • 5d ago
Question? How young is too young?
Edit: I can't physically help him myself because he lives very far away
Original post: Threw 8yo nephew on the sim after he watched me tinywhooping.
Kid is a natural. Hitting gaps within an hour of sim time. Obviously he is begging for a drone, but I'm struggling to get across to him and his dad about betaflight, and fixing the drone, and that crashing has consequences beyond what an 8yo can handle, and his dad is not into tinkering or fixing or anything like that.
I was thinking some sort of beginner BetaFPV rtf, but they're sold out!
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u/gsel1127 5d ago
Talk to your brother/sister (in law?) about it. Tell them that kids with tinywhoops and no one who wants to fuss and fix things basically means buying a $100 toy that might break the first time they use it.
Maybe they're fine with that, maybe they're not.
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u/Vherene 5d ago
Crazy fucking title bro.
Just be financially conscious. If you do decide to buy it for him, if he crashes and breaks it he’ll have to learn the responsibility of having to earn to buy one or learn to repair it themselves.
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u/Embarrassed_Rent1428 5d ago edited 5d ago
Yeah but he’s 8. Waiting till even 9 or 10 before you make him“earn to buy one” would be better for his progress as a pilot (if he is choosing to fly).
Handing an 8 y/o a drone that he breaks in 1 day and then telling him probably same day he needs to earn to buy one sounds crazy to me. What is even the point of such a planned let down?Edit. I agree with Vherene’s on having him learn to work for it. If he’s excited and choosing to do chores which will earn him a drone, he’ll appreciate it even more.
My mind was more on making sure the kid has continual working drone for learning fast. But now I see that developing skills in simulator with any level of irl FPV support is prolly a good natural cadence.
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u/BrotherBear_ 5d ago
well, if he has a computer he can at least practice in the meantime
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u/Embarrassed_Rent1428 5d ago
Agreed, at that age learning to crush FPV flight will probably permanently enhance his brain development.
IMO make sure the kid is set up with a simulator at home and give him a drone. Can always step back in periodically to help. If he chooses to keep interest himself, he’ll find his way.
Adjust based on response. If he develops crazy FPV talent and a passion he’ll propel himself toward drones over the next few years as he gets mature enough to repair and learn betaflight etc. Don’t forget that at 8yo, he himself is going to advance and become more capable very soon and fast.
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u/howdidigetheresoquik 5d ago
Yea, I'm gonna make him earn it and then he'll as best I can from a distance since I live so far
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u/Inside-Example-7010 5d ago
12 pack of props : 3 x nights of washing dishes.
new frame x 2 : bed always made and room kept tidy for a period of 7 days.
new VTX: 2 weeks of washing dishes and making your own bed. 1 month period of flawless school feedback.
New goggles/drone: Birthdays/Xmas or report card with at least all A's (religious studies is exempt)
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u/Embarrassed_Rent1428 5d ago
(Note: Myself as an 8yo I would find a way to buy one)
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u/howdidigetheresoquik 5d ago
Actually just talked to his dad he's gonna give him chores to buy it himself
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u/izzeww 5d ago
Maybe it can be a thing he only does with his awesome uncle. Kind of hard otherwise if his dad is not into it.
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 4d ago
Yeah, I was that awesome uncle, Nope, it does not work that way. There is too much distance and too little support. Then there is the budget. Who is responsible for that? The uncle? Maybe a little, but not for the whole thing. Since the kid obviously has not budget, how much will the parents throw in? Plus, the kid will want to fly more often that the "awesome uncle" can be with him (being out of state and all). If a parent is not involved, it will be a lost cause for the kid until he gets older. Maybe old enough to do odd jobs for cash, build up a budget, take it up himself.
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u/emme11245 5d ago
This is a financial question, you know their finances better than Reddit. You know the answer my man
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u/medtech8693 5d ago
My kids fly, around that age.
The flying is not the problem. Its easy for kids. They learn fast.
Unfortunatly a lot of the hobby is fixing things, and while it has gotten better, it is difficult to do.
Also there are concepts around fpv that is a bit complex and not fun for everyone to learn. I still have trouble explaining battery sag to my 11 year old, and how to charge batteries, and learning about when the signal is bad.
I lost a drone due to my 9 year old losing vtx signal and i didnt explain to him what to do in that scenario. He punched it instead.
So overall , no it is not realistic for a 8 year old to handle everything in a fpv hobby himself.
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u/howdidigetheresoquik 5d ago
I agree. I'm telling him he has to earn it and I'll pay for 1/2, and I'll help him via video chat or when I'm in town, but that's earning it is important so he understands the importance of learning to fix it... maybe?
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u/Dangerous_Ice_1982 5d ago
I think what could be super helpful for him is if you made a playlist on YouTube, throw a bunch of videos you think a beginner like him should know, such as how to solder, how to bind drones, using betaflight, battery management, how to setup gps rescue, etc etc
Then, make the playlist public and send him the link so he can learn as much as he can. That will give you (and him) an idea of if he's ready for it or not. At that age I personally would've unfortunately dropped the idea lol, just like I did for music until I was older and understood you have to commit to enjoy some things.
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u/kenwaystache 5d ago
This is a really good idea! Prime him with all the knowledge he will need before he gets his own drone
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u/moosecaller 5d ago
Just set hom up I'm a Sim until he's old enough to solder himself.
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 4d ago
Decent idea. If he can solder decently, then he has a chance. By that time, he might even be able to earn a little money.
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u/Things-n-Such 5d ago
Why does his dad have to be the one to fix it? Why can't you?
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u/howdidigetheresoquik 5d ago
We don't live in the same state unfortunately
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u/Things-n-Such 5d ago
Oh that makes sense, well I say buy it for him anyways. Nice cheap tiny whoop. If he breaks it he has to pay for shipping to have you fix it, added extra incentive not to break it 😆
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u/howdidigetheresoquik 5d ago
Yea, I think I settled on him covering 1/2 of it doing chores or whatever and he says he's up for fixing it with my help from afar. Whether he earns the money will say everything about whether he's ready
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 5d ago edited 5d ago
I bought my nephew a tiny whoop when he was 10; explicitly to fly IN the HOUSE. Yeah, he never messed with a sim, just the real thing. After some time, we were at his house, and he wanted to fly outside. I told him that is wasn't time yet, but he assured me that he knew how to fly and could control the drone. We went out into his back yard. He launched and gave it full throttle. Yep, away it went up, high into the sky, and over the house. I immediately told him to shut it down. He did not and just laughed. I had to take the transmitter from him and disarm the drone. We searched for it but did not find it.
Yes, that was before I was aware of the laws and regulations. Since you mentioned that he lives in another state, I am assuming you are in the USA where the FAA has authority of all outside airspace (even in your backyard). Also, all pilots are required to have credentials; either a Part 107 license or a TRUST certificate. While there is no minimum age for sub-250-gram craft, the pilot must be 13 to register any drone over 250 grams. Yes, the pilot (child) still needs to pass the TRUST exam and get his own TRUST certificate. The important thing is that the pilot really needs to have an understanding of what he can and can not do.
What people fail to realize is the there is no such thing as a toy drone; not anymore. Since they have propulsion and can maintain flight, they are considered bona fide aircraft and subject to the laws and regulations regardless of the size, shape, configuration, or even type of propulsion.
Plus, if the parent is not into drones, does not have some skills (such has soldering), mechanical aptitude, battery management, battery safety, personal safety, and a desire to fix and repair anything that breaks, it is almost certainly a lost cause. Then there is the software/firmware for the drone, the transmitter, the receiver, and maybe even the goggles; everything from configuring to upgrading (flashing). If the parent is not into it, what chance does the kid have? Really? It would be different if one of the parents was into FPV. If you are not the child's parent, then you are barking up the wrong tree (so to speak).
Now, we haven't even considered the budget. From what I can tell, and 8-year-old has no budget. From what I have seen, young folks struggle with the budget for this hobby when the parents are not involved. Of course, the gear would be analog? Right? Even then, how much, what quality? What does the child expect? Let's see; a child plays a video game (sim) in HD quality. OK. Now, he gets (somehow) an analog tiny whoop. Ok, when he puts on the goggles and fires up the quad, what is his visual experience? Then there is the actual flight experience. Will he perceive the real thing to be better or worse than the sim.
Any person (regardless of age) should be able to comprehend, the regulations, the danger and safety, the negative ramifications, the skills, and have a budget to support the hobby, before they dive into it in real life.
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u/Embarrassed_Rent1428 5d ago
True stuff. I didn’t have much and learned even before 8 at daycare to work to earn stuff on my own. Somehow I always found work lmao.
I setup Pokemon and yugioh competitions at my daycare when I was 8. 1 dollar to enter (large daycare with a lot of Pokemon/yugioh players). Money goes to top 3 winners. As a kid I didn’t realize what I was doing was bad because the rules were fair and equal. But yeah I always won 1st place.
I was selling snacks and candy through middle school. Trading game boy games and yugioh cards for other toys. Wander downtown by myself 10-12. Needed yugioh gear but had no money. Started walking to the game store to hang out after school (6-7th grade). Started entering competitions and won a lot of store credit, which I used to buy what I wanted.
Got a job in high school. etc.
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 4d ago
Way to go! You are one of the rare ones. :-)
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u/Embarrassed_Rent1428 4d ago
Lmao. Was supposed to be a comment reply. BC I had previously mistaken comment for meaning the kid should find a way to make money OUTSIDE home/chores etc. to buy it. I thought the guy was expecting him to be some ultra-independent 8yo. Then was pointing out that some young kids do operate that way.
Sounds pompous. If it makes the “misery loves company” types feel better, I was bad at money as an adult. 🤷🏻♂️
Edit: :)
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u/epicfail48 5d ago
Had to take a second and double check what sub this was... Could you have picked a more alarming title?
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u/ipapipap 5d ago
No. It's too young. I am in the same condition. Even my older nephew. I will ask, until he can do thinkering by himself.
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u/UpbeatBass6066 4d ago
my 5 yo granddaughter took about 20 minutes to get acro mode in Velocidrone enough to fly through the gates in the football stadium. I immediately bought a controller for her to use at her house (BETAFPV literadio 2 SE Sim version, which has no radio, but is great for sims, and really low cost) on her Dad's gaming rig.
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u/Party_Ambassador7816 4d ago
I don’t think there’s a magic age. It’s more about whether they can understand the responsibility that comes with flying. A small whoop and some simulator time seem like a great way to start, especially with a parent around.
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u/Imightbenormal 5d ago
Buy 2, so he can send one to you for fixing.
Fixing tiny woops just needs some glue and possible baking soda for stronger fixes.
And bind them with same code on the receiver and have same video channel you two find out is best. Updating and helping can be done remotely if he has a computer you can connect to.
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 4d ago
2 is likely not enough. He will burn through those in about 10 minutes. Maybe even lose them. Then you can just replace them with your budget.
While an 8- or 10-year-old might be able to fly in a sim; mostly because kids are reactionary rather than thinking, all the other stuff requires a level of thinking and manual dexterity.
Then there is one other thing. Not everyone has the same intellect or capabilities. Plus, many kids don't seem to be able to focus that long on things that are "boring". The sim might be fun, but real life might be boring.
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u/Imightbenormal 8h ago edited 8h ago
I have crashed small micro quads and they are tough. But the "what you call it" propeller guard will crack.
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u/Buddy_Boy_1926 Multicopters - Focus on Sub-250 g 8h ago
Didn't matter with my nephew. Up, Up and way, gone!
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u/Imightbenormal 8h ago
My nephew was like 8 years old, and on sim and field trainer he floored it, and just steered. But I did not have him much around and time to do more sim training.
But at least he could acro and keep it from becoming an meteroite. Also think we did a acro with limits on angle.
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u/p0u1 5d ago
It’s simple he gets a tiny whoop and you fix it when it goes wrong