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I just found my internet home!

Posted by James Harwood on November 1, 2009 at 11:00am
I can't believe the treasure of information, and people that make up this website. I am so excited to have found it. I plan to be an active member from this day forward.I am an eager beginner to all this. I have been flying RC Airplanes for only about 3 years now, and have always had my eye on the goal of using an RC airplane to get aerial photographs and video. I am completely obsessed with accomplishing this goal! :)Here is how I progressed so far in the hobby.I started with Air Hogs brand two channel planes. They were cheap and gave me the basics of flight.Here are the ones I have had or have:

Next I bought this "Fastlane Avionic", a two channel plane with rudder control for turns and throttle control for climb. It was fun, but hard to control. It didn't have throttle differential so controlling altitude was a challenge. I crashed this plane badly, and when I went online looking for parts I found out the product was discontinued. BUT - it is now sold by Megatech and is called "Cosmic Flyer". I ordered the parts I needed to fix this plane up recently and am excited to fly it! Again this was a cheap plane and it helped me get better understanding of flight. (Lost Cosmic Flyer/Avionic in a tree after the rebuild - I will miss this little airplane.)

Next I bought a Hobby Zone SuperCub.

This is an excellent 3 channel trainer. I took it to a high school football field near my house and taught myself to fly there. The plane has a "auto pilot" feature that uses two sensors to see the ground and sky. If you dive or climb, or turn too sharp it takes control and gets your plane stable again. I found it to be disasterous for my first few flights so I removed it. Now I fly pretty well...and I am ready to put a camera on this plane and get some pictures.Most recently I bought a 102" powered glider called a Super Easy Fly.


Another of the same plane but in french.It is 4 channels with full throttle, aileron, rudder and elevator control. I am interested in using this platform for my photo/video but I have been reading terrible reviews on the plane. People say the dihedral on the arelons causes the ESC to get super hot. I haven't flown mine yet. It is all put together and hanging where I can look at it, but so far I haven't been able to arrange a good day off from work to go try it out.I am still looking for the perfect platform.Lately I have seen the HawkEye system to be FANTASTIC and have been saving money to get one.I wonder if it could be set up with all the fancy autopilot stuff?Also, Mike Powers from Whispershots.com has AMAZING platforms. He has been very kind to tell me where to get his plans in kit form and I am going to be ordering very very soon!The one I like the most is the Passive system.

You can see it here http://whispershots.smugmug.com/gallery/8254126_gnHh7/1/505079989_XuKY2/MediumI have also been told by Mr. Powers that the LoRyder system is really good for flying in congested areas. Ill be looking to get as much overtime as possible at work! :)I have two teenage sons that are also interested in UAVs, We want to some day operate a small business together doing low altitude aerial photography.As I pursue the attainment of my goal, I look forward to meeting members of this community and learning from your experiences, and sharing mine, as limited as they may be. I have a massive amount of information to digest here, but this community seems to be the resource I have needed so badly.Feel free to contact me about any thing at any time.James
Tags: -, 102, aerial, auto, eye, hawk, photography, pilot, video, easy
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  • James Harwood November 4, 2009 at 10:19pm
    Got the new Super Cub replacement plane today from Hobbyzone http://secure.hobbyzone.com/catalog/HZ/hobbyzone_supercub/hobbyzone... . I put it together a little while ago and will install my cam system tomorrow sometime. I am hoping for a maiden FPV flight next weekend.

    For my FPV camera, I have this:


    I have a 2.4 wireless Cam set up called the Draganfly Eyecam.
    DF-Eyecam_1.jpg
    DF-Eyecam_2.jpg
    Specifications:
    Camera and transmitter weight: only 9 grams
    Camera and transmitter size: 15mm x 22mm x 32mm (5/8" x 7/8" x 1 1/4")
    Camera Lux: <3 @ f1.2
    Camera Auto Electronic Exposure of 1/60 to 1/15000 sec. w/ Auto Gain & White Balance
    Camera Signal to Noise Ratio:48dB
    365K (PAL) camera pixel resolution
    Wireless Transmission Range: 300M (1000'), Line-Of-Sight
    Transmitter RF Output Power: EC R&TTE Compliant
    receiver Video Input/Output: 1Vp-p/75 ohm
    See More Info Here.

    I plan to use these as my first Goggles. They are cheap but should work fine for now.

    i-glassesonline_2075_1674614

    Specifications:
    Video input format: NTSC/PAL/SECAM automatic selection
    Virtual Image Size: 50 Inches as seen from 6 ½ feet
    Resolution: 230,000 pixels per LCD
    Color Depth: 24-bit input
    Viewing Angle: 26 degrees diagonal
    Video Input: Composite AV
    Audio: Dual-channel stereo
    Power Supply: Built in 480mAH rechargeable battery
    Power Consumption: <0.45W
    Net Weight: 4.2 Oz (119g)

    More info here
  • James Harwood October 31, 2009 at 1:59pm
    I took the Avionic and SuperCub out for a flight the other day - not a good day. Avionic is gone (in a tree top - couldnt get it down - rained all night - wing and tail trashed - calling it a total loss. They are cheap and I will either order a new one (replacement plane) or find something with throttle differential and elevator control. I like the design of this plane though - it was a lot of fun.

    The Supercub has had a recuring electronics issue. I crashed it hard again (thank god I didnt put the cam on yet). The cub is back together but the electronics seem messed up (power goes in and out - servos move with no input from reciever). I ordered a new replacement plane and it should be here Monday. I cant wait. I will install the draganfly eyecam on the new plane.
  • James Harwood October 31, 2009 at 1:54pm
    yup thats it hooks. Mr. Powers is a really nice guy too but keep in mind he gets a lot of mail.
    The plans are fantastic. I am about to order several of them in the next few months.
  • Moderator
    Robert Krogh (hooks) October 27, 2009 at 10:04am
    I found it here
  • Moderator
    Robert Krogh (hooks) October 27, 2009 at 9:21am
    Where is it possible to order the platform they use at Whispershots.com
  • James Harwood October 27, 2009 at 8:31am
    I bought a little video cam from the owner of my LHS. It is called the Draganfly Eyecam. I hooked it up last night and it has a pretty good picture. Its going on the Hobbyzone Supercub this weekend. I need to get a lap top or a small power inverter and a 12 v battery so I can run my little tv for a display.
  • James Harwood October 27, 2009 at 8:27am
    Took my cosmic flyer/avionic out for a flight last night after I got the parts in from Megatech. Excellent flights! What a lot of fun! I am now seriously considering putting a brushless motor, lipo battery, and new esc/rc gear on this cheap plane and making it into a monster. I think this thing could actually make a good fpv plane.
  • James Harwood October 27, 2009 at 8:25am
    This is my latest litte purchase. I want to fly RC helicopters also, so I am starting the same way I did with airplanes. I got this little helicopter yesterday. Its similar to my little Airhogs Havoc Heli but a little better.

  • James Harwood October 14, 2009 at 6:51am
    So you think its an easy fix then Gary? I am new and so far have only flown RTF models. I havent tried to mod them. I believe I have the ability though. I just have to research and make sure I am doing the right thing.
  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer October 13, 2009 at 6:12am
    Right thats what I imagined you meant J, thats just a mechanical matter then!!
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