Freefly Alta 8 Pro User manual

ALTA 8 Pro
Overview
Introduction
ALTA Pro is a professional multi-rotor aircraft designed for demanding cinematic,
professional, and industrial, applications. In under five minutes, ALTA Pro can unfold from its
carrying case to flying some of the most capable cinema cameras and industrial payloads on
either the top or bottom of the aircraft. ALTA Pro runs the PX4 stack and has been
customized for both cinema and commercial use, yielding precise yet smooth control.

This Aircraft Flight Manual describes the complete operation of airframe and flight control
systems, and the normal maintenance of those items. Do not operate ALTA Pro without
reading and understanding this manual.
This manual is not a substitute for adequate flight training. Training requirements can vary
when operating in different countries or under different flight conditions. Always consult
local regulations before flying ALTA Pro. In areas where there are no flight training
requirements, it is the sole determination of the pilot-in-command as to whether he or she
has the appropriate level of training or experience for a given flight. Always set and adhere
to personal minimums and fly within your own capabilities.
Throughout the manual, warnings, cautions and notes are used to highlight various
important procedures. These are defined as follows:
Warnings are used to highlight procedures which, if not strictly observed, may result in
personal injury.
Cautions are used to highlight procedures which, if not strictly observed, may cause damage
to equipment.

Notes are used to highlight specific operating conditions, usability tips and tricks or steps of
a procedure.
Specifications
Included Items
1. Case
2.

ALTA Pro
3. Long Range Radio Modem
a. Aerial portion mounted to ALTA
4. Isolator Cartridges
a. (6) Teal (Installed)
b. (6) Black
c. (6) Red
5. Inverted Landing Gear
6. Quick Release Battery Tray
7. ALTA Product Spares
8. USB-Futaba Power Cable
9. FPV Cables
a. Skyzone/BOSCAM
b. BOSCAM, small connector
c. ImmersionRC/Fat Shark
d. Ready Made RC
10. 5.5mm Wrench

11. Hex Drivers (1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm)
12. Electronic Luggage Scale
13. Documentation
Additional Required Components (Not Included in Base
Package)
Radio Controller
ALTA Pro supports a variety of radio controllers as outlined in the Flight Controller
Specifications. A minimum of five (5) channels are required, with four (4) used for flight
control, and the remaining one (1) used for mode selection.
A radio controller with between six to ten channels is highly recommended to
make use of Return-to-Land (RTH) and ALTA Pro’s other functions. It is
recommended to use a radio controller with a three-way switch for Mode
selection and a two-way switch for the Return-to-Land function.
Flight Battery
ALTA Pro can accommodate a variety of Lithium Polymer (LiPo) flight battery packs.
Battery packs must be 6S, having a nominal voltage of 22.2 V. Only run ALTA Pro using two
packs at a time. Each pack must have a continuous discharge rating of 250 amps or greater,
and a peak discharge rating of 500 amps or greater. For additional information on expected
flight durations, refer to the Performance Section of this manual.

The use of flight packs which do not meet the voltage and discharge rating
above (22.2V nominal, 250a continuous discharge, and 500a peak discharge)
can cause damage to the ALTA and the batteries.
Dimensions
Item Dimension
Unfolded Diameter
(does not include Props)
1325 mm - ALTA Pro
Folded Diameter
(does not include Props)
660 mm - ALTA Pro
Height to base of Toad In The Hole (TITH) 263 mm - ALTA Pro

Powerplant
Item Specification
Number of Motors 8 - ALTA Pro 8
Motor Type Direct Drive 3-Phase PMAC Outrunner
Motor Make and Model Freefly F45
Motor Max Continuous Power Output 350 W
Motor Max Instantaneous Peak Power Output 950 W
Maximum RPM (flat rated) 6300 RPM
Equivalent Kv 384
Electronic Speed Controller Freefly Silent-Drive Sine Wave ESC
Propellers
Item Spec
Make and Model Freefly ALTA Propeller
Material Carbon fiber with balsa core
Propeller Orientation (4) CW and (4) CCW Props - ALTA Pro 8
Propeller Type 18 × 6 Folding
Battery
Item Spec
Nominal Battery Voltage 6S / 22.2V
Maximum Battery Size (GroundView) 240 × 175 × 80 mm
Maximum Battery Size (SkyView) 220 x 156 x 64 mm
Maximum Battery Quantity 2 Battery Packs (Parallel)
Minimum Battery Quantity 2 Battery Packs (Parallel)

Item Spec
Battery Connectors 2× EC5 (Parallel)
Required Minimum Battery Discharge Rating (Per Pack) 250A / 500A Peak
Weight
Item Spec
Maximum Gross for Takeoff 18.1 kg (40.0 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Useful Load 12.0 kg (26.4 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Payload 9.1 kg (20.0 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Typical Standard Empty Weight 6.2 kg (13.6 lbs) - ALTA Pro 8
Specific Loadings
Item Spec
Typical Specific Power 145 W/kg
Thrust Ratio at MTOW1 1.85 : 1
Flight Controller
Item Spec
Autopilot Name PX4
Flight Modes Manual, Height Mode, Position Mode , Return-to-Land
(RTH), Autoland, Waypoint Mission mode
Supported Inputs: DSMX, DSM2, S.Bus, S.Bus2
Supported Radios Futaba S.Bus & S.Bus2, DSMX, DSM2 (Spektrum/JR)
Supported Radio Controller
Telemetry Systems Futaba w/ built-in voltage sense port
Minimum Radio Controller
Channels Required 5

Item Spec
Supported GNSS GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Supported Satellite-based
Augmentation System QZSS, WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS
First-Person View System Video
Formats NTSC, PAL
Supported First-Person View
Transmitters Skyzone, BOSCAM, ImmersionRC, Fat Shark
Supported First-Person View
Cameras
Ready Made RC
RMRC-700XVN (Recommended), Runcam Eagle 2 Pro,
or similar
First-Person View OSD Telemetry User Configurable
Installed Transceivers
RFD900/868X Long Range Telemetry System
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz b/g/n
Default Data Logging Rate 25Hz
Lighting and Indication
Item Spec
Status Light 1 Watt Red, 1 Watt White LED
Orientation Lights 3-Watt RGB LED
Orientation Light Color Options Off, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Cyan, Purple, White
FPV Ability FPV SD with OSD overlay
Isolation Systems
Item Spec

Vibration Isolation System O-Rings
Option 1: Soft / Light Payloads Red O-Rings
Option 2: Medium / Medium Payloads Teal O-Rings
Option 3: Stiff / Heavy Payloads Black O-Rings
External Systems Mounting
Item Spec
Mounting Locations
FPV Transmitter Mount
GPS Mount
Telemetry Radio Mount
Mounting System
Freefly Toad In The Hole (TITH) Quick Release
Dimensions / Drawing
FPV Camera Mount Between Booms 1 & 8 - ALTA Pro 8
FPV Transmitter Mount Boom 2 - ALTA Pro 8
GPS Mount Boom 7 - ALTA Pro 8
Telemetry Radio Mount Boom 3 - ALTA Pro 8
Expansion Port Pin-outs

UART Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 TX (Out) +3.3V
3 RX (In) +3.3V
4 CTS (In) +3.3V
5 RTS (Out) +3.3V
6 GND GND
GPS2 Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 TX (Out) +3.3V
3 RX (In) +3.3V
4 I2C1 SCL +3.3V
5 I2C1 SDA +3.3V

Pin Signal Voltage (V)
6 GND GND
CAN Ports
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 CAN_H +5V
3 CAN_L +5V
4 GND GND
I2C Port
Pin Signal Voltage (V)
1 VCC +5V
2 I2C1 SCL +3.3V (1.5K pull-up)
3 I2C1 SDA +3.3V (1.5K pull-up)
4 GND GND
Limitations
Limitations
These limitations are advisory in nature and do not extend or restrict
limitations provided by governing aviation authorities.
Powerplant Limitations
Item Spec
Maximum RPM 6300 RPM

Item Spec
Maximum Battery Voltage 25.2 Volts
Minimum Average Battery Voltage 19.2 Volts
Environmental Limitations
Do not fly ALTA Pro in temperatures exceeding 45ºC (113ºF) or below -20ºC(-4ºF).
Flight Controller Limits
Item Spec
Maximum Pitch/Roll Angle 45°
Maximum Yaw Rate 150° / second
Weight Limits
Item Spec
Maximum Payload 9.1 kg (20.0 lbs)- ALTA Pro 8
Maximum Takeoff Weight See following tables
ALTA 8 Pro Max Allowable Gross Weight

Abbreviations and Terminology
Meteorological Terminology
Term Definition

ISA
International Standard Atmosphere in which:
The air is a dry, perfect gas;
The temperature at sea level is 15° Celsius (59° Fahrenheit);
The pressure at sea level is 1013.2 mbar (29.92 inches Hg);
The temperature gradient from sea level to the altitude at which the
temperature is -56.5°C (-69.7°F) is -0.00198°C (-0.003564°F) per foot and
zero above that altitude
MSL Mean Sea Level is the average height above the surface of the sea for all
stages of tide
AGL Above Ground Level is the height of the aircraft above the ground
OAT Outside Air Temperature is the free air static temperature surrounding the
aircraft
Pressure
Altitude
Altitude measured from standard sea level pressure (1013.2 mbar, 29.92 in.
Hg) by a pressure or barometric altimeter
It is the indicated pressure altitude corrected for position and instrument
error. In this Manual, altimeter instrument errors are assumed to be zero
Power Terminology
Term Definition
Maximum Continuous Power
Output
The maximum typical power output of a motor
averaged over the entire flight
Maximum Instantaneous Peak
Power Output
The maximum power output of a motor during any
phase of flight, such as when maneuvering

Flight and Powerplant Control
Term Definition
Throttle Stick
The radio controller stick responsible for throttle control. For Mode 2
controllers, this is the vertical movement of the left control stick. For
Mode 1 controllers, this is the vertical movement of the right control stick
Yaw Stick
The radio controller stick responsible for yaw (also called pan) control
For Mode 2 and Mode 1 controllers, this is the lateral movement of the
left control stick
Pitch Stick
The radio controller stick responsible for pitch control. For Mode 2
controllers, this is the vertical movement of the right stick
For Mode 1 controllers, this is the vertical movement of the left stick
Roll Stick The radio controller stick responsible for roll control. For Mode 2 and
Mode 1 controllers, this is the lateral movement of the right control stick
Pitch/Roll Stick or
Cyclic Stick
The radio control stick responsible for both pitch and roll control
For Mode 2 controllers, this is the right stick
Weight and Balance
Term Definition
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) Maximum allowable weight at liftoff
Standard Empty Weight Weight of a standard aircraft
Basic Empty Weight Standard empty weight plus optional equipment
Useful Load Difference between take off weight and basic empty
weight

Term Definition
Payload Useful load less battery weight
General Terminology
Term Definition
LOS Loss of Signal
RTH Return-to-Land
sUAS
Small Unmanned Aircraft System includes all components of the system required
for the flight of an unmanned aircraft, including the radio controller, data link and
other related support equipment
Systems Diagrams
Overview