Need Advice on the "best money can buy" Camcorder

Chris Soucy · September 30th, 2008, 05:58 PM

Your tests notwithstanding, those height limits you mentioned - 1000 feet urban and 500 feet country, do they hold for all aircraft or just fixed wing?

What's the go for choppers in both regions?

Auto Gyro's?

Not that I'm predicting failure with your fixed wing effort (well, yeah, I guess I am) I'm just trying to nut out viable alternatives which exclude your chopper fleet (seems an utterly bizarre policy, I must say).

The reason I mentioned Auto Gyro's (I don't know how much you know about them) is that they are incredibly agile little beasties and have a couple of tricks up their sleeve even a chopper can't match.

The most important one is that in the event of power loss they don't fall out of the sky like a lead brick, simply gyro groundwards at a sedate speed and land on a dime without breaking a sweat.

Add to that the incredibly slow air speed required for lift off and hover (they will even fly backwards if the wind speed is faster than that required to maintain lift) and a host of other good stuff, a two man gyro would seem to be the perfect machine for the job.

Given their "no lead brick" ability, you MAY be able to get FAA dispensation on minimum operating heights that would make aerial surveying viable.

Wouldn't hurt to see if there's a machine available for a test flight somewhere near and give it a go.

Just a thought.

CS

Andy Nguyen · September 30th, 2008, 06:57 PM

Excellent recommendation Chris...I will look around and see if there's one around here although I have never actually seen one.

Thanks Jon for the link. Like I said, I don't want to mount anything outside my plane but I will contact them and see if they have anything that a camera man can shoot from inside.

Chris Soucy · September 30th, 2008, 07:08 PM

After a good deal of trawling............

YouTube - Autogyro beats Helicopter for small VTOL Missions dynmicpara

Sums it all up really.

CS

PS: Just found this as well:

YouTube - MT-03 Autogyro

Saw the MT 03 doing it's thing at the Warbirds Over Wanaka air show here in March this year. The guy flying it could make it do stuff you'd swear no aircraft, fixed wing or rotor, could do. Amazing.

PPS: The MT 03 has a minimum flying speed of 20 MPH, Max 95 MPH!

Erik Phairas · September 30th, 2008, 08:38 PM

I bet you could mount the arm from a Glidecam X10 or something bigger on the inside of the plane. It would keep everything smooth for a SLR or HD video camera. All it would need is a bracket rising from the floor of the plan that allows the vest bracket to bolt on.. the operator would just sit in the seat next to it or maybe behind it.

Unless the plane is really tiny..

September 30th, 2008, 05:58 PM	#16
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hmm, yes, I see the problem............ Your tests notwithstanding, those height limits you mentioned - 1000 feet urban and 500 feet country, do they hold for all aircraft or just fixed wing? What's the go for choppers in both regions? Auto Gyro's? Not that I'm predicting failure with your fixed wing effort (well, yeah, I guess I am) I'm just trying to nut out viable alternatives which exclude your chopper fleet (seems an utterly bizarre policy, I must say). The reason I mentioned Auto Gyro's (I don't know how much you know about them) is that they are incredibly agile little beasties and have a couple of tricks up their sleeve even a chopper can't match. The most important one is that in the event of power loss they don't fall out of the sky like a lead brick, simply gyro groundwards at a sedate speed and land on a dime without breaking a sweat. Add to that the incredibly slow air speed required for lift off and hover (they will even fly backwards if the wind speed is faster than that required to maintain lift) and a host of other good stuff, a two man gyro would seem to be the perfect machine for the job. Given their "no lead brick" ability, you MAY be able to get FAA dispensation on minimum operating heights that would make aerial surveying viable. Wouldn't hurt to see if there's a machine available for a test flight somewhere near and give it a go. Just a thought. CS

September 30th, 2008, 07:08 PM	#18
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Found this................. After a good deal of trawling............ YouTube - Autogyro beats Helicopter for small VTOL Missions dynmicpara Sums it all up really. CS PS: Just found this as well: YouTube - MT-03 Autogyro Saw the MT 03 doing it's thing at the Warbirds Over Wanaka air show here in March this year. The guy flying it could make it do stuff you'd swear no aircraft, fixed wing or rotor, could do. Amazing. PPS: The MT 03 has a minimum flying speed of 20 MPH, Max 95 MPH! Last edited by Chris Soucy; September 30th, 2008 at 07:41 PM. Reason: +

September 30th, 2008, 06:57 PM	#17
Andy Nguyen New Boot Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 7	Excellent recommendation Chris...I will look around and see if there's one around here although I have never actually seen one. Thanks Jon for the link. Like I said, I don't want to mount anything outside my plane but I will contact them and see if they have anything that a camera man can shoot from inside.

September 30th, 2008, 08:38 PM	#19
Erik Phairas Major Player Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 628	I bet you could mount the arm from a Glidecam X10 or something bigger on the inside of the plane. It would keep everything smooth for a SLR or HD video camera. All it would need is a bracket rising from the floor of the plan that allows the vest bracket to bolt on.. the operator would just sit in the seat next to it or maybe behind it. Unless the plane is really tiny..