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#1
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. Does anyone have any
suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane? Also what type of camera is good for this too? |
#2
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 26, 8:41*pm, Spam wrote:
I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane? Also what type of camera is good for this too? One pilot's solution, read this http://phoebus.vassel.com/site_page_12346/ then watch his videos. |
#3
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
Where you would like to mount it is important. For external mounts, the ideal system uses a fabricated glass cuff that is conformal to the chosen surface. The cuff is then taped to the wing and a ball camera mount mechanically fastened to the cuff. A crude but highly effective wing/horizontal stab mount can be fabricated using a block of foam, sandpaper and some high quality duct tape. The foam is contoured to the stab/wing shape, the block is taped to the surface and finally, the camera to the foam. Alternately, a plate of glass, metal, or thin wood can be taped/bonded to the foam and the camera attached typically via a 1/4-20 screw. This allows some added flexibility in pointing the camera. A ball mount can be attached to the block to allow the ultimate in aiming. Some people use a section of PVC pipe to hold the camera outside the cockpit in order to to shoot back at the aircraft and pilot(s). Many dramatic images have been captured this way but the work load in a single place ship is markedly increased, thus increasing risk. Internally, the camera can be clamped to the forward carry-through tube using commercially available mounts such as the RAM series or similar camera mounts. This allows a 3/4 forward view and is adjustable on the ground but not in the air without additional mechanisms and possibly remote viewing screens. Mechanical Safety issues related to internal mounts include: Being struck in the head with an XX kg mass traveling at XX km/h should you crash while it is installed. I have hear that 10 "G"'s is a good number for items in the cockpit. Should the camera become unattached, it must not be able to jam controls or jam /break the canopy. These issues suggest that a sturdy (10+ "G") secondary leash also be attached. Mechanical safety issues related to external mounts include: aft cg conditions, reduced aerodynamic control effectiveness, lateral instability due to the camera's mass on one wing, damage to the primary structure or controls should the camera become partially unattached from the surface and repeatedly impact the glider, and jamming of flight controls for the same reason. Hand-held video by a single pilot is the worst safety-wise as it combines the worst of all possibilities: The camera is in the field of view, potentially obstructing vision and especially binocular vision, and the camera is loose, representing a projectile in the cockpit that should (must?) be secured. Be aware that attaching an object to the exterior of the glider will likely invalidate your airworthiness cert. and thus your insurance coverage, especially if the ship is standard airworthiness. Please recognize that aerial photography is incredibly demanding of the pilot's attention and thus adds a significant workload. This is especially true if the pilot is shooting video, thermaling in proximity to other ships or terrain, and providing on-camera narration. Something is definitely going to suffer, and humans being what they are, image capture will inevitably take precedence over pilotage, terrain avoidance, and traffic scans. Based on extensive personal experience and the multitude of crashes the military has experienced doing air-to-air photography, I believe that such undertakings are inherently very dangerous and require a good plan, a briefing for normal and emergency conditions, and experienced heads-up pilots, especially if 2 single-place ships are involved, and the camera is being actively operated by the pilot. In this condition, flying the aircraft must be second nature. Unilaterally performing aerial photography of another ship without all of the above is very poor form and especially dangerous. Finally, try not to record FAR violations and poor pilotage (e.g., hand-held video showing the pilot not scanning for traffic or departing controlled flight are the wrotst I have observed to date), especially if you plan to put it up on the Web. Footage on the Web should be considered a permanent record and it will be used with maximum prejudice against those involved as well as against the greater soaring community by the FAA, the insurance carrier, the grieving widows, and the public should something go poorly in the future. Lots of this already exists and we should avoid adding more. Be Safe and get some good images - but please do it in that order! |
#4
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 26, 9:41*pm, Spam wrote:
I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane? Also what type of camera is good for this too? i mount with a tripod screw above the panel pointed out the window. you can swivel back for under the wing footage or to capture your pretty mug. Any modern video camera will do the trick - the HD is great quality the method above I've found to be simple and safe - you turn the camera on and then forget about it so you can fly the airplane. any interaction with the camera is same movements of messing with anything on your panel so natural...And the video is filming where you are aiming. I usually end up with about 2 hours of crap video out of which I'll get about 10 minutes of good stuff. |
#5
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 27, 12:29*am, " wrote:
Be aware that attaching an object to the exterior of the glider will likely invalidate your airworthiness cert. and thus your insurance coverage, especially if the ship is standard airworthiness. I found the following picture on flickr this week that I think illustrates your point quite well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83371935@N00/3852830788/ Sure, he got some great pictures with that rig, but to call it frightening would be an understatement. |
#6
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 27, 3:04*am, MP wrote:
On Aug 26, 9:41*pm, Spam wrote: I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane? Also what type of camera is good for this too? i mount with a tripod screw above the panel pointed out the window. you can swivel back for under the wing footage or to capture your pretty mug. *Any modern video camera will do the trick - the HD is great quality the method above I've found to be simple and safe - you turn the camera on and then forget about it so you can fly the airplane. *any interaction with the camera is same movements of messing with anything on your panel so natural...And the video is filming where you are aiming. I usually end up with about 2 hours of crap video out of which I'll get about 10 minutes of good stuff. I bought a set of these: http://www.stickypod.com/ Keep in mind that suction cup mounts are not designed to handle the changes in pressure associated with altitude changes so you need lot of gaffer's tape (duct tape leaves residue). The extension tube and ball joint hardware works great. Recently, I fabricated a thin steel plate with a 1/4-20 bolt through it to attach camera mounting hardware then attached thick felt to the bottom to avoid scratches. All materials are available at hardware stores. The steel is thin enough that it can conform to the surface of a wing or tail - haven't tried the nose cone yet. With more effort you can make custom cuffs shaped to the exact contour where you want to mount, but that's more work. |
#7
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 26, 7:41*pm, Spam wrote:
Subject: What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane? Sylvester Stallone's patented Gabe Walker bolt gun. |
#8
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 27, 2:41*pm, Spam wrote:
I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane? Also what type of camera is good for this too? I bought one of these http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?area=2&productid=2 But having used it a little I think the wide angle is a bit much and would have been better with the normal lens. The mounts are really good, and the camera looks indestructable. -- Philip Plane |
#9
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
Find some gaffers tape. Gaffers tape is cloth backed like duct tape,
but the glue rarely leaves a residue. Holds great, once you've used the stuff you will keep a roll around for other things as well. Good stuff. Flying and filming has killed lots of people. When you start flying with a camera take notice of the little uncommon errors you make. The little things are warnings that all is not what it appears. |
#10
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What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?
On Aug 27, 10:40*pm, "
wrote: Find some gaffers tape. *Gaffers tape is cloth backed like duct tape, but the glue rarely leaves a residue. *Holds great, once you've used the stuff you will keep a roll around for other things as well. *Good stuff. Flying and filming has killed lots of people. *When you start flying with a camera take notice of the little uncommon errors you make. *The little things are warnings that all is not what it appears. I pulled out my camcorder on tow last week. I really wish I didn't. That was the first....and the last. |
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