Discussions

OK, this is is my ramble. It might be better suited to a blog but I don't know what that is.

If like me you have just found this site after some wandering in the dark with a number of "What if I want to do this" type questions, then I can share my experiences with you.

Firstly, I am not the worlds best pilot but I can, with some confidence, fly a trainer aircraft and, with slightly less skill, an aerobatic plane. I don't fully understand the terms "FPV" or "UAV" or "3D" but the more I read and study the net, the less cloudy it gets.

I own a Bixler, which I chose basically because YouTube info and the info gleaned from sites like "RCPowers" and many others identified this type of AC as the best kind of general purpose trainer - or as another example the "Easy Star" or the "Sky Surfer" etc. etc. - you know how it goes. And because HobbyKing is cheap............

If as a beginner you watch enough YouTube and read enough forums you will eventually catch on.

However, as an electronics engineer of over 40 years standing (I remember valves and Germanium transistors) I have been able to sort out the obviously good information from the crap - my apologies for using that word on the net I do it again..................

I also have an Arduino for general purpose programming and fun stuff plus a mate has a quad copter based on an Adrduino which I am helping him with.

So what has this got to do with aerial photography. Well I am a photographer - hobby wise - and I wish that the tech available today had been available when my children were growing up - I would have more than memories of the events. I have also owned and used a number of video cameras over the years and now have some small enough to fit in model aircraft.

Back to the Bixler. I fitted a Graysonhobby.com aerial camera to it by cutting a hole in the canopy and flying - learning to fly - see "alanpowell328" on YouTube. That's what I have done so far.

I have purchased some HK OSD kit and a camera and pan and tilt and fitted it to a kitchen tray. So I can see the output of the OSD on my laptop when the kitchen tray is sitting on the dustbin in my garden. I know exactly where in the world my dustbin is (GPS) and if it moves. Incidentally the kitchen tray doesn't fly - no wings or motor. Neither does the dustbin.

But damn if this site doesn't sell UAV add-ons for the Bixler. Might buy some!!

I am basically idle and the more I can get technology to do for me the better. Tx on ground - UAV flies around  - me with smile on face.

I am going to fit the HK OSD to the Bixler and learn to fly FPV. The cunning plan is to eventually upgrade the OSD system (eagle tree?) until I have RTH when RSSI gets low - more jargon, impressive eh?

If your experience is similar  and even if it isn't - add to this thread.  Feel free to join in the ramble, blog or whatever. I am not an expert at anything but I intend to have fun in my hobby.

Just join in.

Cheers

Alan