Thread: Interesting "little" camera

For those that don't know, my hobby is flying hang gliders. Since I fly from a location 1/2 way between Austin and Houston, we don't have any mountains to jump off of, therefore we use a powered ultralight to pull us up somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 ft where I release the tow line and start finding thermals to stay in the air.

Accessories for my sport are rather limited since weight anywhere on my aircraft affects the weight shift motion necessary to control it. The pilots over at www.ozreport.com found the following device and posted it.

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/video-camera.htm

The camera is ultra small (won't impact weight and drag), remote operated (pilot doesn't need to reach XXX to activate camera), decent camera and so forth. I am MUCH more interested in the thermal activation though... for obvious reasons.

Pictures of relative size and demo video are at the link as well.

In air camera.

3" x 1½" x ½" (camera only), 1 oz. V.2 changes include: larger resolution, LCD display, rotating lens, longer battery life, and a thermal activated motion detector. Video camera includes audio, still photos, a voice recorder, USB drive, and a Webcam. Unit is small enough to mount on just about any model airplane, small park flyers, RC cars, trains, skate boards, or even a kite.

Videos are recorded with a resolution of 640x480 for clear playback, complete with sound, and 1280x1024 pixels for still photos. Camera lens rotates 90 degrees so you can take photos or video from multiple angles. Built-in rechargeable 200 mAh Li-Ion battery that charges via the USB port on your computer in about 1 to 1½ hours.

With a 2GB SD card (not included) the video recording time is about 30 minutes. Webcam use requires the included software and USB cable.

Originally Posted by Veovis

I fly an 8lb assembly on my head (helmet + HDV + DSLR) for my hobby... see my sig link.

I've checked your link, many times. That sort of arrangement wouldn't work for my purposes I'm fairly sure. We (HG pilots that is) fly in a prone position and have to keep our head semi-upright. Think Superman as he's flying. I would think 8 lbs would get really fatiguing fast just 5 minutes into a flight.

And the extra clearance needed on top of the helmet could be disastrous when I'm coming in to land and have to rotate to an upright position. Disastrous to the equipment. I have seen the chest plates for your sport, but that wouldn't give me the clearance I need to clear the base bar while maintaining control of the aircraft. As it is, I have like 8 inches between me and the base bar.

However.... the PG (paraglider) fly in a seated position, It would work for them.... I think.

Most often, they mount stuff to the keel (main bar that goes down the central axis of the glider) or out on the wing tips. Most interesting helmet though.

I have never flown with a camera, but as I'm sure you're aware Veovis, any extra you add to the flying object (you - body, me - body + wing) increases drag. I don't know how much drag is induced so I don't know if its completely negligible. On the keel I think would be fine, the wingtips, hmmmm, increased pull (turn) on the wing with the camera.

Usually the wingtip cameras are focused back across the pilot and the pilot takes a picture as he is banked in a turn so you get the glider, pilot and landscape shots. The keel ones, pilots POV. Which for me has been great. I was downloading accident videos all over the internet to see what they did wrong, learning from THEIR mistakes.

But I am seriously tempted to get this camera anyway. Small enough to mount on an RC airplane with no ill effects? I'm tempted to go get an RC airplane just for that. One of those delta wing gliders launched via rubberband. No engines, no noise. Some of the HG pilots buy them just so they can practice ridge lift flying when the conditions are too light for us to fly in.

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