1st GoPro video from my RV-4

Dean Pichon · #1 01-05-2016, 05:18 PM

Santa brought me a GoPro camera for Christmas! I've never used one before, and I just created my first (very amateurish) video using GoPro Studio. The camera didn't come with much in the way of mounts, so I simply set it up under the canopy, facing aft.

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The first clip can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYld-1MubHE

I am anxious to mount it externally and shoot some footage looking forward. I'd appreciate any help - especially pireps on good external mounts. I found these using Google:

http://nflightcam.com/products/gopro...r-billet-mount
http://www.planearound.com/GPRO-VIRB...NDLE-GPBND.htm

Thanks,

Mike S · #2 01-05-2016, 05:30 PM

Sean of PlaneAround is a RV guy, member here.

He makes nice stuff.

I would suggest if you mount the camera on the wing, you go do a stall test to see if there is any effect from the disrupted airflow. Seems that I remember someone-----Scoot, maybe------had a big change in stall when he mounted a camera on top of his wing, although I believe it was on the fuel cap.

Mike S · #3 01-05-2016, 05:33 PM

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d.php?t=114130

Saville · #4 01-06-2016, 06:28 AM

Hi Dean,

Nice video!

Now that I have my -8 we need to get together.

olyolson · #5 01-06-2016, 07:08 AM

Dean,

From the video link it looks like you have a very stable mount. There are swivel mounts that you could use with your existing base to rotate to any view desired. I have several on my -4 in the same area as yours and am able to take 2 simultaneous videos in any direction- great for formation flights.

Where you have your camera mounted is also a convenient place to run an audio cord to the rear headset jack to capture cockpit intercom & radio during the flight. The key to using the power connection is to use a USB type battery pack (readily available) and not aircraft power. The way Go Pros are made will not provide adequate grounding and you will get a lot of feedback from the electrical system. Using a battery pack eliminates all that and I get crystal clear audio.

Don't forget the use prop filters if you're looking through a prop. I've had good luck with the nflightcam products- http://nflightcam.com/collections/all

Oly

http://www.miniinthebox.com/telesin-...words_shopping

http://www.bestbatt.com/GoPro-Swivel...FdU2gQody8ADlQ

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/3217246...chn=ps&lpid=82

Low Pass · #6 01-06-2016, 08:20 AM

I've mounted them all over the plane with no stability or control problems. Over wings, under wings, wingtip, mid wing, belly, upper cowling, vertical stab, canopy exterior, canopy interior. Original rig was a tripod with a rectangular enclosure for a DV camcorder. Second gen rig is a RAM tripod with GoPro. Most recent is a low-profile VIRB.

The large tripod rigs resulted in no stability or control problems. Added drag was very noticeable. New Virb mount is imperceptible.

Do your own testing. But it's not that critical in my experience.

AX-O · #7 01-06-2016, 08:32 AM

Check your operating limitations. Depending on when they were issued, you now have to perform flight test with outside mounted cameras and put the plane back in phase one if you use a different configuration than previously tested. It also has to be documented in the aircraft log book.

Dean Pichon · #8 01-07-2016, 05:28 AM

Hi All,

Thanks for all the suggestions. I look forward to making another video.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AX-O

Check your operating limitations. Depending on when they were issued, you now have to perform flight test with outside mounted cameras and put the plane back in phase one if you use a different configuration than previously tested. It also has to be documented in the aircraft log book.

Is the need to return to Phase I testing driven by the date of the original testing? If so, do you know the date? My 1st flight was August, 2001.

Oly - I found this cable: http://nflightcam.com/products/nflig...io-power-cable. This looks like what you describe and would be an excellent addition to my set up. I see that it will be easy to spend more money on accessories than the cost of the camera.

Gregg - The weather for this weekend looks crummy, but would love to meet some weekend, somewhere, for breakfast.

Thanks, all.

olyolson · #9 01-07-2016, 07:25 AM

Dean,

Yup, that's the one I use. I was able to split the audio from the intercom and run two of these cables to the two rear cameras, works just fine. All the cabling is hidden in the baggage compartment.

When taking a passenger, I have a Go Pro mounted on the rollbar facing backward and upside down to film the back seater. Change the settings in the GOPro to film upside down as right side up. This camera is fed audio by the front intercom connection and secured to the rollbar as it makes its way up to the camera.

Oly