Force1 U49C Red Heron: The Popular U818A Gets a Facelift

The Force1 U49C Red Heron is an excellent drone for a beginner. It has an impressive 15 minute flight time and boasts a 720p HD camera. The Red Heron also has nice features like altitude hold, one key take-off and landing and headless mode. The Red Heron was built for Force1 by the reputable RC company UDI. Both U49 models are upgraded and updated versions of the popular UDI U818A. Force1 also offers the upgraded FPV Blue Heron.

Flight Test of U49C & U49W

We’ve taken both versions of the U49 out for a test flight. If you want to see them in action click below. We’ve also done a full review of the UDI Discovery2. Check that out.

U49C Red Heron Flight Time

The 15 minute flight time really is impressive. Most drones this size and in this price range can’t make it 10 minutes. On top of that Force1 includes a second battery, so you get a solid half hour of flying. They also included an SD card and some extra motors as well.

Red Heron Camera

The 720p HD camera on the Red Heron is better than most drones in this price range. No, it won’t compete with the DJI Phantom, but it does take nice pictures and videos. You’ll have to keep the drone stable and fly slowly to get the best videos.

The U49C Red Heron does not have FPV, but the U49W Blue Heron does. It is a nearly identical drone, but you’ll get the advantage of being able to see exactly what your camera is recording in real time. So if you want FPV and a few more features then check out the Blue Heron.

Red Heron Features

The Red Heron utilizes altitude hold so you can easily maintain a consistent altitude. The headless mode will help beginner pilots with orientation if they choose. Automatic takeoff is a nice touch as well. The Red Heron has three speeds. We recommend flying in high mode as it makes the drone the most responsive. It certainly isn’t a speed demon in any mode.

Red Heron Design

The Red Heron was designed with the beginner pilot in mind. The fixed propeller guards are large and do a decent job of protecting the spinning blades from trees, walls, fingers, etc. They act as a large bumper. The disadvantage is they also catch the wind. The Red Heron isn’t well suited for windy days as the propeller guards seem to turn the drone into a kite.

The Red Heron was designed to be an entry level aerial photography drone. It isn’t a fast flyer and it doesn’t have FPV. There isn’t a dedicated flip button like there is on a lot of similar drones.

Potential Improvements

We’d like the Red Heron to be a little faster and more powerful. That would most likely cut into its impressive 15 minute flight time, but we think that would be worth it. If they did they could easily add a flip mode. Maybe these are nitpicky for a drone that was built to fly stable and smooth. FPV video transmission would be nice, but if you want that you’ll have to get the Blue Heron.

Should I get a Red Heron?

If you are looking for a durable and stable drone then we would recommend the Force1 Red Heron. It is a well-built quadcopter and is an excellent choice for a beginner.

Buy a Red Heron

 

Buy a Blue Heron

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