Skywalker FPV
03-20-2012, 06:09 PM
#26
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RE: Skywalker FPV
Hi,
I am not only new to RC flying (a little over a year) but just breaking the first ground into camera mounted flight.
I don't anticipate using a camera system for flight operations, but am beginning the works on a mounting a az and el slewing camera on a secondary receiver w/transmitter setup so that the kids (big kids too) that hang around the airfileld can control the camera system during flight....that and Id let a buddy fly my plane so I have an opportunity to look around.
I am looking at doing a underplane mount to acheive greater representation of the ground BUT am curioius about a few things.
The FPV setup you have usues the skywalker and other FPV setups iv seen use asimilarly designed aircraft. Is there a particular reason for using that style/configuration? I am hoping to simply modify an already owned aircraft, the E-Flite Apprentice (trainer), which offers an above wing design....seemingly stable flight with a great glide ratio. Iv calcuated the wing loading but there don't seem to be specs on max allowable weight for airframe or wings. Do you know of a good place to start looking or have any advice on whether or not installing a camera/transmitter assembly would be possible with that aircraft or.... just scrap the apprentice idea and build from scratch using a skywalker (or similar design).
thanks for all the links, videos, and pictures. Iv got my work cut out for me the next few weeks as I decide on how to best get a camera mounted plane zooming around.
regards,
Bill
I am not only new to RC flying (a little over a year) but just breaking the first ground into camera mounted flight.
I don't anticipate using a camera system for flight operations, but am beginning the works on a mounting a az and el slewing camera on a secondary receiver w/transmitter setup so that the kids (big kids too) that hang around the airfileld can control the camera system during flight....that and Id let a buddy fly my plane so I have an opportunity to look around.
I am looking at doing a underplane mount to acheive greater representation of the ground BUT am curioius about a few things.
The FPV setup you have usues the skywalker and other FPV setups iv seen use asimilarly designed aircraft. Is there a particular reason for using that style/configuration? I am hoping to simply modify an already owned aircraft, the E-Flite Apprentice (trainer), which offers an above wing design....seemingly stable flight with a great glide ratio. Iv calcuated the wing loading but there don't seem to be specs on max allowable weight for airframe or wings. Do you know of a good place to start looking or have any advice on whether or not installing a camera/transmitter assembly would be possible with that aircraft or.... just scrap the apprentice idea and build from scratch using a skywalker (or similar design).
thanks for all the links, videos, and pictures. Iv got my work cut out for me the next few weeks as I decide on how to best get a camera mounted plane zooming around.
regards,
Bill
03-21-2012, 03:15 PM
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
RE: Skywalker FPV
Hi Bill,
Thanks for joining RCU to ask your question.
The Skywalker is a popular choice for FPV because it basically flies like a truck or big air wagon. It can handle extra weight and still maintain good stability with a long flight time.
That being said, your E-Flite Apprentice should also be a good host for camera or FPV equipment. I did a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1041]review[/link] on the E-Flite Apprentice back in 2008 and it flew very well with light wing loading and great stability. It should handle some extra weight without issue.
Good luck!
Thanks for joining RCU to ask your question.
The Skywalker is a popular choice for FPV because it basically flies like a truck or big air wagon. It can handle extra weight and still maintain good stability with a long flight time.
That being said, your E-Flite Apprentice should also be a good host for camera or FPV equipment. I did a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1041]review[/link] on the E-Flite Apprentice back in 2008 and it flew very well with light wing loading and great stability. It should handle some extra weight without issue.
Good luck!
07-22-2012, 02:31 PM
#28
Senior Member
Thread Starter
RE: Skywalker FPV
I've been playing with my Skywalker FPV plane this summer testing the OSD and FMA Co-pilot. This is a video I took today near Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes of Upstate NY. The two planes flying below me were my buddy Lynn's 1/3 scale Cub and Jeff's Easystar with a GoPro attached.
The video is crude my most FPV standards as there is a considerable learning curve and I am just a newbie. I made a sun block from a $5 Elmers Poster Board for my LCD display. FPV flying can be an addicting aspect of our hobby!
I added a Hobbico [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDXG9&P=ML]Voltwatch[/link] to my base station case to keep an eye on the LCD monitor LiPo pack. It tells me when I need to swap battery packs.
[link=http://www.gregcovey.com/Reviews/FPV_Canandaigua1.wmv]Skywalker FPV Test Near Canandaigua Lake[/link] (25meg)
The video is crude my most FPV standards as there is a considerable learning curve and I am just a newbie. I made a sun block from a $5 Elmers Poster Board for my LCD display. FPV flying can be an addicting aspect of our hobby!
I added a Hobbico [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDXG9&P=ML]Voltwatch[/link] to my base station case to keep an eye on the LCD monitor LiPo pack. It tells me when I need to swap battery packs.
[link=http://www.gregcovey.com/Reviews/FPV_Canandaigua1.wmv]Skywalker FPV Test Near Canandaigua Lake[/link] (25meg)
12-28-2012, 10:50 PM
#29
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RE: Skywalker FPV
Hey Greg,
Thx for letting me know about your Skywalker FPV system set up.
1) Whats the minimun TX Chanell I will need to start? I have a Seven Chanel JR 783PCM with plenty of PCM RXs
2) I undertand when you extend the wires from the tails servos to the RX, you get servo gitters. Is there is a way to avoid this? Is there is something I can buy aditional to fix this?
3) Whats the best way to have a lot of range with the Skywalker and dont loose Video or TX signal? I undertand that in USA, FCC limit the output of these gadgets but is there is a way to outlaw and modified then to have more TX watts? I dont live in USA and here in my country nobody check this :-)
4) I see that your last post was in 7/22/2012. Have you change something on your SW? Any new set up that you can advise?
THX for you time and help,
Isaac
Thx for letting me know about your Skywalker FPV system set up.
1) Whats the minimun TX Chanell I will need to start? I have a Seven Chanel JR 783PCM with plenty of PCM RXs
2) I undertand when you extend the wires from the tails servos to the RX, you get servo gitters. Is there is a way to avoid this? Is there is something I can buy aditional to fix this?
3) Whats the best way to have a lot of range with the Skywalker and dont loose Video or TX signal? I undertand that in USA, FCC limit the output of these gadgets but is there is a way to outlaw and modified then to have more TX watts? I dont live in USA and here in my country nobody check this :-)
4) I see that your last post was in 7/22/2012. Have you change something on your SW? Any new set up that you can advise?
THX for you time and help,
Isaac
12-29-2012, 07:08 AM
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
RE: Skywalker FPV
Hi Isaac,
I think your 7-channel PCM system is fine. You only need more than 4 channels for pan, tilt, and maybe disabling the OSD display. It should be fine to start with.
On today's R/C systems I have not seen any jitter problems with extending the servo leads. Even on my big 42% Ultimate Biplane, the 6' extensions had no problems.
The best way to increase range for FPV is to use 72MHz for your R/C system and 900MHz for your video link. You may likely run out of battery power on a round trip of 12 miles.
After the summer months I got hit by the MRC bug so it has been quad-mania for me since.
You can see my new fleet [link=http://www.gregcovey.com/multi-rotor.htm]here[/link].
Good luck with your FPV venture! Both FPV and MRC are hot areas of R/C these days and I enjoy the technology fix I get from both.
I think your 7-channel PCM system is fine. You only need more than 4 channels for pan, tilt, and maybe disabling the OSD display. It should be fine to start with.
On today's R/C systems I have not seen any jitter problems with extending the servo leads. Even on my big 42% Ultimate Biplane, the 6' extensions had no problems.
The best way to increase range for FPV is to use 72MHz for your R/C system and 900MHz for your video link. You may likely run out of battery power on a round trip of 12 miles.
After the summer months I got hit by the MRC bug so it has been quad-mania for me since.
You can see my new fleet [link=http://www.gregcovey.com/multi-rotor.htm]here[/link].Good luck with your FPV venture! Both FPV and MRC are hot areas of R/C these days and I enjoy the technology fix I get from both.
