Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

[Rick Hadley]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Great videos Dan! Were those shot at Cuba or up at Vichy? I remember seeing DC3's on the ground there.

[Dan Michaels]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

I can just image that the camera mount was certified on the type certificate! hahaha Just kidding, good videos:tup::yahoo:!

At best it is a minor altercation that requires nothing more than a log book entry.

Dan

[Dan Michaels]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Pretty landings Chris, the wheel landings are nice and smooth.

Great idea on the R/C camera setup... DJ are you listening, gonna do that with your stuff too???

You can take most of that float (and all of the extra distance) out of the landing by keeping the airplane in a forward slip all the way through the roundout and flare and then some, just letting it out of the slip only about 2 seconds before you touch down. This takes a little practice and please creep up on it from the conservative side... but the Taylorcraft has a very well known trick of speeding right back up in ground effect when you straighten it out.

Get it ALL the way through the descent and slowing down process while it is still in a high drag (slip) mode, and then all the way into the high drag pre-stall mode, before you let it out of the slip. You will be rewarded with several hundred feet reduction in overall landing distance.

I cannot wait to try it in the Taylorcraft, that is how I learned to land in the 172 (mostly crosswinds) The DE said "You know you can keep the nose straight don't you" I calmly said "Yeh anyone can land like that".:yahoo: I'd kick it out 1 to 2 sec before wheels hit.

Dan

[VictorBravo]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Pretty landings Chris, the wheel landings are nice and smooth.

Great idea on the R/C camera setup... DJ are you listening, gonna do that with your stuff too???

You can take most of that float (and all of the extra distance) out of the landing by keeping the airplane in a forward slip all the way through the roundout and flare and then some, just letting it out of the slip only about 2 seconds before you touch down. This takes a little practice and please creep up on it from the conservative side... but the Taylorcraft has a very well known trick of speeding right back up in ground effect when you straighten it out.

Get it ALL the way through the descent and slowing down process while it is still in a high drag (slip) mode, and then all the way into the high drag pre-stall mode, before you let it out of the slip. You will be rewarded with several hundred feet reduction in overall landing distance.

[PT13Pilot]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Yes the camera was only added after a long and expensive field approval process!
I left my digital camera at the hangar. I'll take a picture of the setup. With the extra battery, reciever, camera, and inspection cover, it weighs 6.9 ounces. I used an old, heavier, flat inspection plate with 2 tabs. I filmed more on the way back to the owners hangar, but it was overcast then and gettting dark. I'll definately be playing with it in the future. If you look on my Youtube page the same camera was used on the model airplane videos I made on an airplane that weighs about a pound.
The DC-3's are ex-freighters that were phased out for Caravans in 1990. The 4 you can see got hit by a tornado this spring. Pushed them sideways so hard it tore engines off some, and snapped the gears off of most. They are sad to see. There is another on the ramp that flew as recent as 5 years ago, it could fly again with some work. The owners don't care any more and have made their millions. They have everything in their hangars, T-6's, T-28, P-51, Goose, Widgeon, Beaver, you name it.
CJ

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Those are GREAT! You need to take some pictures of your cover mod so we can do some too.
Hank

[M Jones]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

Good job Chris. Do you ever touch down on that last landing?? :beerchug:

I haven't flow into Rolla yet. Looks like someone is collecting DC3s that are parked on the closed runway huh?

[astjp2]

Re: Made an interesting video in the Tcraft today

I can just image that the camera mount was certified on the type certificate! hahaha Just kidding, good videos:tup::yahoo:!

[PT13Pilot]

Hey guys,
Got the annual done and went to fly around a little. This has been the only flyable day in over a week. Worked all weekend to get it done for the owner as he wants to fly it while his family is in town. And its supposed to be crappy here again till Christmas day.
Had a brainstorm last night at the hangar and gave this a shot. I have a tiny camera I use on my RC models, even small electrics weighing less than a pound. Thought about tie wrapping it to a strut or tailwheel spring. Then dug out a spare inspection cover, drilled a few holes and tie wrapped it to that. It also has the ability to be triggered from my transmitter, so I added a micro reciever, and a small battery pack (4 AA). With a 2 GB card in the camera it will record video for about 45 minutes, but the internal battery won't last more than 15 or so. Anyway, I installed it in the left wing and triggered it from my transmitter in the cockpit. WORKED GREAT! The camera itself is about the size of a zippo lighter and weighs 39 grams. Can't wait to try it on the real stuff some more. I liked the perspective! It was 14 when I took off, so a 1000 feet by the end of the 5000 foot runway was easy!
I need to edit the video more, but I'm tired, it's been a long week, and you can fast forward. Thought you guys might enjoy it. I sure enjoyed the flying today! The Youtube link is below, it make take a few minutes till it shows up, I just uploaded it.
Happy Holidays,
CJ

Taxi & Takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAB3st27gSs

3 Landings (and good ones at that!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBdcaRv209w