Onboard flight video

[Gerryy]

Hey, I took some onboard flight video with my Hangar 9 1/4-scale Piper Cub and posted the tape on my new blog page. Check it out at:
http://blogs-modelairplanenews.com/profile_blogs/Gerry_Yarrish/&action=view&id=746

The video was taped using the new Headplay personal heads-up display visor. And it is amazing! I will also be doing a review of the whole setup in the November 2008 MAN issue
Check it out.

more info check: www.headplay.com
for onboard camera system info: www.getinthecockpit.com

[tandemairbike]

Aaaaawwesoooooooome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gerryy]

Glad you like it! If all works out, I plan to have the camera mounted in my Fokker Triplane at the upcoming Rhinebeck Jamboree event in September. Will do some dogfighting and video tape the guncamera action!
GY

[tandemairbike]

Are you going to install rear view mirrors so you will know when Snoopy is on your six?

Tandy:D

[Gerryy]

sounds like a good idea! A rear view would be cool! I have the camera on a servo so it could be installed backwards for a while to see the tail view of the chase!

[tandemairbike]

How about a 180 degree retract servo. You could pan from front to rear although be it in only one direction and you would lose one side view.
If you are going to dogfight you need to be able to manuver and look back to know what moves to make to evade pursuit from the rear.
Watcha think?

Tandy

[tandemairbike]

Now that this has been posted you've got to figure the other guy is reading this and he's going to do it!!!

[Gerryy]

I am planning to make the camera setup portable and removable so can install in a second plane to get a different angle for "editing" the new RC version of the Blue Max!!! :^)

"go out there and show them some real flying Stachel!!!"

GY

[Gerryy]

Here's a photo of the visor used with the equipment for the Headplay PCS video system!
GY

[tandemairbike]

So you're wearing the visor and viewing and controling the airplane from the cockpit but can not look up and see the airplane as you normally would when flying. Obviously ,judging from your video, this is not a problem.

Does the blonde come with the system?

Tandy;)

[Gerryy]

I wish! She is a very nice accessory, but I think is not part of the basic package! Too expensive for us RCers! :^)

Actually, in my review coming in the November 2008 issue of MAN, I do warn against flying "alone" with the visor on. It is best to give you friends and buddies "rides" while you fly your model in a normal mode. If you want to try to takeoff, fly and land while wearing the visor, you should have a safety pilot on hand with a buddy box attached, just in case. Very narrow field of vision limits your ability to see normally!
But it is a real trip to hook it up to a flight sim or to watch movies... optics are very good and super sharp! you can adjust focus and the pupil width easily

GY

[Gerryy]

Here are a few pix of the new installation of the Headplay video camera system

Here's the basic video camera equiment taken from my 1/4-scale Piper Cub.

I simply made a new mounting base plate to attach to the floor of the Fokker's cockpit.

[Gerryy]

To allow cable wraps to be used to help secure the battery and transmitter in place, I made two raised trays to support them. The holes allow airflow around the base of the transmitter which gets very warm while running

[Gerryy]

Finished installation.

The camera can pan left and right as well as look straight ahead! I also plan to install the entire assembly backward so I can shoot some chase plane footage looking aft!

[Gerryy]

Here's a shot of my triplane that I'll fly at the Rhinebeck Jamboree next weekend

[tandemairbike]

I have been pondering a camera mount that would allow selective rear view. the camera would be mounted similar to the method used to mount servos for flaperons prior to the advent of channel mixing, using one servo to operate the camera normaly ,mounted to a 180 retract servo that would turn the whole business front to rear without losing either side view.
I'm sure you have been around the hobby to know the flaperon system I refer to.

Trying weird stuff is what has brought this hobby where it is today.

Tandy

[Gerryy]

Yes there are all sorts of easy ways to mount the servo and camera. I have even thought of building a scale-ish UAV specifically designed to take the camera aloft! Something like the ones that were used by the Navy to guide their big 16 inch guns when they were shelling Iraq.

Anyway, attaching the camera to a hinge would allow up and down motion, (with a small servo moving a plywood plate) that's hinged to a second plywood turntable, that would pan the camera left and right, so two channels needed to operate.

I would think it fun to bring to warbird events and take people on "rides" to see the action from the air. They could control the camera with a "ground frequency radio setup or a totally seperate 2.4GHz system.

The you do the flying while they do the spying (and video recording!)
All we need is time to build all the things that pop into our little minds!
GY

[tandemairbike]

Ah yes. So many ideas struggling to get out of our poor brains but "Tempus Fugit" which, by the way, is not a dirty word. LOL.

Tandy