RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Procyon Commentary Bart, I would normally never participate in this unprofessional behaviour, but I will not allow you to make untrue statements, and post quotations that are completely out of context. And your comment reminded me of the major cause of the delay. This was so long ago now I had forgetten. Since we're just going to post quotes, allow me:
January 31st:
"Those specifications are still correct. Though the weight will fluctuate slightly. Your machine will be the first made with fully CNC cut parts, intending to reduce weight, I don't have a final weight yet. I've been making a few other changes too. The testing with the magnetometer showed that for that application, the main ESC and tail motor should be upsized, it uses more power than I planned for to pull that thing around. Do you also want the larger ESC and tail motor? It's your option. The larger ESC weighs 150g more and 50g on the tail motor. I think that your application will be OK with the smaller ones. But it's up to you, no cost. The benefit of the larger system is more operational overhead."
"I would like the bigger ESC’s if you have them. You never know what else I’m going to fly with the Procyon."
At the end of January, you clearly elected to make a major change to the system, and without any new promise date offered or requested. This increased the payload from 2.5kg to 4 kg. Did that change take longer than I had thought? Absolutely. Shipping at the end of February, given this major change to the powertrain of the helicopter, that you elected to take, is not unreasonable. You also received a machine built to a higher standard that that which you had viewed prior to contract inception. All done without an increase in price.
On January 23rd: "I will start some investigation for transporting the system to Europe. I can take it with me on the plane but will get issues getting it past customs. So a transport company handling the import stuff might be better."
So who was it that was supposed to handle transportation?
At the same time, you indicated you wanted a custom made aluminum transportation case. And also: "Well I’m not really in a time crunch but I’m anxious for marketing. "
It first flew on February 22nd. The case arrived on the 24th.
February 26th:
"Hi Bart, Do you need me to run some wires from the Aux RC outputs or the SBUS up front to the payload area to hook up your gimbal?"
"That would be great Robert, thanx"
However, I didn't install your 868MHz European market telemetry radio until I intended to ship because this frequency is illegal for use in Canada. That's when I discovered the problem with a 3rd-party component.
For anybody else following, this is the complexity of building custom drones.
"I understand but please please please ship today. I will work with you to fix it if the problem still exist."
You made final payment on March 1st, and I shipped on the 2nd. After a long and complicated shipping time due to the battery shipping problem, and customs problems in Ireland, on March 9th, we have:
"All arrived in good order. System looks good. Case is really fabulous. Looking very professional. I'm very happy with it."
Then another minor issue popped up. Was it my fault for shipping the Futaba transmitter with a US voltage charger? Yes absolutely. I overlooked it. I recommended you pick up a travel voltage converter, or a European spec Futaba charger. Instead, you purchased some other charger. This charger voltage was too high, and literally melted the Futaba transmitter.
Then we have the servo that mysteriously stopped working. I have been flying UAV helicopters for 10 years and never had this happen. The most likely cause I can think of is if the battery was plugged in while the rotor blades were in transport position. Then it was knocked off a table...
"Can you have a look if you can make a bracket for it?
If you can send me some drawings in PDF and DXF that would be great"
If it was so trivial, why didn't you just do it yourself?
And Bart, just because the CATSA inspector didn't know what he was looking at, does not make it legal. It was absolutely illegal to transport those large lithium ion batteries, in the cargo hold, of a trans-Atlantic flight. Each of those 4 batteries were 488 Wh, and you are not allowed to transport anything over 160, and even smaller batteries must be transported as checked baggage. This regulation is clear. And I told you that, and told you not to do it. You endangered the lives of everybody on that flight. (and as a side-bar, damaged my confidence in our airport security!)
As can be clearly seen, this was a complex, evolving business transaction. My communications and support to the customer was weekly, daily in many cases, and sometimes hourly. And this doesn't include the frequent dicussion back and forth working with you as you sought opportunities to resell the system. Was I a few weeks later than I thought? Yes. But there were plenty of mistakes made on both sides. This is definitely not as one-sided as suggested.
And now we come to it. You somehow acquired another Procyon from NOVAerial. And it crashed and was destroyed on it's 3rd flight. I have offered to investigate, or have investigated by a 3rd party, the cause of that crash. It appears you will decline that offer. I already know what the NOVAerial engineer found as the cause of the crash, recorded in the flight log data. You are so far silent on the matter. However my offer still stands, if you want a second opinion.