setting up a cockpit camera to record flights

[helicopterflyer]

Has anybody got any experience and recommendations for setting up a camera in the cockpit of an R22 or R44, ideally so that it comes on automatically as soon as the battery is turned on and records (without the pilot having to press buttons or switches on the camera)??

Specifically so I can record the flights (including the audio) and then copy onto DVD.

Any recommendations?

Thanks
HelicopterFlyer

[hooley01]

I've got one of these: Kodak PlaySport Zx5 Full HD 1080P, Waterproof: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics (http://tinyurl.com/7khj4xr)
and one of these: http://tinyurl.com/79tx4wd

haven't tried the stand in an r22 but its very sturdy if you can find somewhere to mount it. Have some HD footage taken with the kodak by a passenger in the r22 if you want to check out the video/sound quality?

[Savoia]

Check out the accessories page (for mounting options) of what is probably the world's best sports camera (http://gopro.com/) and don't forget to watch their enjoyable promo video (below) and which also appears at the top of their home page:

GUEZCxBcM78&feature=pyv&feature=pyv&ad=13272259819&kw=%2Bgopro

For some examples of rotorcraft which have used this cam, click here (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gopro+helicopter&sa=X&spell=1&search=Search&oi=spell).

Enjoy!

[JTobias]

I use the Contour nFlight Cam. Single button operation and has a cable (optional extra) to record the audio from the radio.

Joel :ok:

[SimFlightTest]

The GoPros are great cameras. I've used them during flight testing several times. Just apply power and they start recording in full HD for around 4 hours on a 32 GB card.

If you want it to get power from the ship then you'll have to be a little savy with electronics and use the high-density connector in the back (unless GoPro has come out with an accessory to do this for you).

There are even several different kinds of lenses you can choose from if you don't want the standard GoPro fisheye lens.

We put 7 of these little guys all over an S76 last summer and collected over 2 TB of video with them.

[MikeNYC]

GoPros can receive power via their USB plug. Just pick up a cigarette lighter to USB adapter and you're set if you have 12v in your ship.

[g-mady]

for a self contained unit you cant beat the "POV HD"

Brilliant bit of kit!

MADY

[Urshtnme]

2 x GoPro's work a treat!!

Rotorvation Helicopters - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/Rotorvation)

[SimFlightTest]

MikeNYC,

I forgot about the USB plug. For flight testing we wanted not only to power the camera but also record headset audio and display a realtime video preview to the engineer in the back seat. Doing all these things simultaneously required us to us the high-density connector.

I guess if all you want is power then the USB plug is the way to go.

[Dream Land]

Go Pro HD, Sports edition. :ok:

[helicopterflyer]

Thanks all for the brilliant advice!

Urshtnme: Just been watching a few of your videos - they're brilliant. Tell me, do those 2 cameras come on automatically when you switch on the battery master switch or do you have to lean over and press a button on each camera as part of the startup routine?

Are they recording onto a hard drive (such as a box under a seat) or onto 2 seperate SD cards? Just curious how you get the footage from the cameras?

Thanks

[MikeNYC]

I forgot about the USB plug. For flight testing we wanted not only to power the camera but also record headset audio and display a realtime video preview to the engineer in the back seat. Doing all these things simultaneously required us to us the high-density connector.

With the new GoPro HD Hero2 cameras, you can do this all without touching that high density connector. In the version released in the past year, the camera has audio input as well as video output (HDMI and composite) during record. Nice upgrade from the original version.

helicopterflyer: the GoPro cameras can be programmed to start recording as soon as they're powered on, no need to manually trigger.

[SimFlightTest]

One thing I really liked about the GoPro is how light it is when the battery is removed. The light weight made it practically impervious to vibration when properly mounted. We were able to obtain rock-solid images.

[Mungo5]

for a self contained unit you cant beat the "POV HD"

Brilliant bit of kit!

+1 to that.. POV HD wipes the floor with GoPro. The tethered camera head makes it far more flexible and unobtrusive, and the remote is super handy too.

[Urshtnme]

The cameras are't set up into the helicopter power, they are always just a sole device. There's 2 hours of battery and a 16GB card gives you 2 hours of video. From there I upload it onto my Mac and into iMovie then create the movie with some editing and enhancements. From there it's directly uploaded or if a customer wants a copy, I can burn it onto a DVD. The process is long but I love doing it, just another skill to have as well as flying the machine.

[Rotordent]

What is in your opinion the best place to attach the Gopro camera on a (R44) helicopter.