How much potential has this got for a squadron project? Or should we just go commercial off the shelf?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/spy-hawk-2.4ghz-fpv-rc-plane-662404
Discuss…
Cool!
We were seriously considering just this not so long back; it’s definitely still on the cards. I reckon it would make a cracking project and you could make a pretty damn good UAV with off the shelf components.
There was a report about using UAVs to film things on the BBC news this morning and there were serious concerns about infringing privacy, on purpose ie paparazzi or by accident, so it might be worth looking into the potential legal ramifications before a purchase or project.
Might not be the sort of aviation related story the ATC would like to attract.
We have a long-standing squadron project building the ultimate UAV (you will see it eventually).
Our intention never was to have it with a down-looking surveillance camera, we always planned for it to be a forward pilots-eye-view.
The plan is still to ‘convert’ Cadets into being virtual Stewart Littles in the cockpit during flight (this applies the other meaning of the term VR!!).
Formal advice received has also indicated that this approach is the preferred one (ie make it as standard to look in the axis of flight, not normally down at the ground)
wilf_san
ps it won’t ever be flown non-viz over-the-horizon, but in theory it could
Never mind Sqn project…I want!!!
Dear Santa…
I would sugest this one would be better, slightly more exspensive by around £80 but well worth it. Control it by iPhone / iPad etc. Has two cameras, one facing forward and one facing downwards.
I have a feeling my son might be getting one for his Christmas :whistle:
“non-viz over-the-horizon”. Remember kids, while it is entirely possible to buy or build a very capable SUAS, you can’t actually use it as such in the UK and won’t be able to for decades at least.
A lovely project to research, develop and build though…
BPR.
Put a wireless camera in a Kite?
Santa bought me one of these instead!!!
Not live feed video but it is still great fun, and very good video and pictures.
The law does allow for a ‘simulated’ version though - the pilot doesn’t have to be in view of the aircraft so long as they have an adjacent observer who is.
What this means is that you could get the feel and experience of OTH flight by sensory deprivation of the pilot (ie putting him in a 12x12) whilst the instructor stands outside to ensure that he doesn’t hit anything.