i have a picture similar to flossy's, but at a higher alt.
it's at home so i can't post it now, but basic thing is i have NEVER lost a drone to takeoff in the past 6+ months.
i dont know what you all are doing different, but i can always make them form up nicely, within a few minutes after takeoff.
i full throttle auto takeoff, unless above 6k runway i retract flaps at the begining of the roll.
let plane get 100-200 AGL then nudge stick and manually take the plane, level it and chop throttle to 2/3.
turn on auto level, at 2/3 to 1/2 full MAN, and the drones are right on me in a few seconds.
full throttle up, hit auto speed to climb.
it only gets tricky when there is a hill in the way, then i use rudder turns, with opposing stick to maintain alt and angle, and the drones follow.
i never move the stick before the drones "pop out" of their auto takeoff. once the bank to form up (watch using F3) then do the manuevers listed above.
i did however have a real odd thing happen landing the other day. B24,s perfect straight approach, 3/4 flaps, gear down they both lined up behind me, their gear down, but never went below 300+ AGL. i touched down right in the skid marks on the runway, broke to a stop, they kept flying right above the runway until they blew up.
