Media Student doing documentary on Flying
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Media Student doing documentary on Flying
Hi all
First-time poster, fair time reader.
I'm currently a media student at Uni from country NSW, majoring in the field of television production. Alot of our coursework is borrowing one of the Uni's cameras and going out to make a short documentary on a topic of interest.
I've always had a long knack for aviation interests, and also in the desire to one day get a pilot's licence. However, have been just too busy with many things to juggle both with Uni, work and other commitments.
I'm on holidays at the moment visiting Family for a few weeks in Sydney. Having visited Hoxton Park for a look (Live nearby), and also Bankstown (Friend lives nearby), I was enticed to take up a "Trial Instructional Flight" with one school at Bankstown.
Having thought about it, I decided I will definately give this a go (Not yet decided which school though), and also use this experience as a basis for my fourthcoming assignment this semester, as I feel this subject/topic would be of great interest for submission. So here goes:
*At Bankstown, is there anyone on here from any flying school who could entice me to go for a TIF with their school, and be able to accommodate a friend of mine who'll be filming the experience? (I.e. Sitting in the back seat with the camera)
*As I understand it, it gets abit noisy aboard the aircraft in flight, and the folks aboard communicate through their headset intercoms? If this is the case, I would like to record Audio seperately on a MiniDisc unit I use for audio recordings for video, which uses a normal headphone jack.
I'm curious, is there a unit/transition plug of some form I could plug into the aircraft's intercom/radio unit to the MD recorder/player, and record the dialogue between the instructor and I, and also converstions with Air Traffic Control?
*What aircraft would be able to accommodate such a show? Assuming it's a 4-seater.
*And finally, what price would I be expected to pay for this TIF?
I appreciate any help and advice given to assist with this, and happy to share the results if this goes ahead. Regardless if this makes it on assignment or not, I still will be eager to fly, before I head back to Uni for the semester.
Please be abit easy on me, as I'm not familiar with the specifics in Aviation, but want to learn.
Thanks!
First-time poster, fair time reader.
I'm currently a media student at Uni from country NSW, majoring in the field of television production. Alot of our coursework is borrowing one of the Uni's cameras and going out to make a short documentary on a topic of interest.
I've always had a long knack for aviation interests, and also in the desire to one day get a pilot's licence. However, have been just too busy with many things to juggle both with Uni, work and other commitments.
I'm on holidays at the moment visiting Family for a few weeks in Sydney. Having visited Hoxton Park for a look (Live nearby), and also Bankstown (Friend lives nearby), I was enticed to take up a "Trial Instructional Flight" with one school at Bankstown.
Having thought about it, I decided I will definately give this a go (Not yet decided which school though), and also use this experience as a basis for my fourthcoming assignment this semester, as I feel this subject/topic would be of great interest for submission. So here goes:
*At Bankstown, is there anyone on here from any flying school who could entice me to go for a TIF with their school, and be able to accommodate a friend of mine who'll be filming the experience? (I.e. Sitting in the back seat with the camera)
*As I understand it, it gets abit noisy aboard the aircraft in flight, and the folks aboard communicate through their headset intercoms? If this is the case, I would like to record Audio seperately on a MiniDisc unit I use for audio recordings for video, which uses a normal headphone jack.
I'm curious, is there a unit/transition plug of some form I could plug into the aircraft's intercom/radio unit to the MD recorder/player, and record the dialogue between the instructor and I, and also converstions with Air Traffic Control?
*What aircraft would be able to accommodate such a show? Assuming it's a 4-seater.
*And finally, what price would I be expected to pay for this TIF?
I appreciate any help and advice given to assist with this, and happy to share the results if this goes ahead. Regardless if this makes it on assignment or not, I still will be eager to fly, before I head back to Uni for the semester.
Please be abit easy on me, as I'm not familiar with the specifics in Aviation, but want to learn.
Thanks!
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Welcome MVL,
I can answer a few of your questions, although I am not a Bankstown person.
With regard to the audio recording, a standard intercom has 1/4" (6.3mm) jacks for the output (ie headphones), so you will need a 1/4" -> 1/8" converted for your audio recorder (pick one up from any electronics shop). Both conversation with your instructor and Air Traffic Control communication will go through the intercom, so as far as I can imagine just plug it in and press record. Also, most headset microphones are quite good at cancelling background noise, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Aircraft wise, a Piper Warrior (PA28) or Cessna 172 would be a typical aircraft for a TIF, both of which are 4 seaters. Best to talk to the instructor to work out whether they are happy to take a back seat passenger. Most companies should do a TIF for less than $100.
Good luck
I can answer a few of your questions, although I am not a Bankstown person.
With regard to the audio recording, a standard intercom has 1/4" (6.3mm) jacks for the output (ie headphones), so you will need a 1/4" -> 1/8" converted for your audio recorder (pick one up from any electronics shop). Both conversation with your instructor and Air Traffic Control communication will go through the intercom, so as far as I can imagine just plug it in and press record. Also, most headset microphones are quite good at cancelling background noise, so that shouldn't be a problem.
Aircraft wise, a Piper Warrior (PA28) or Cessna 172 would be a typical aircraft for a TIF, both of which are 4 seaters. Best to talk to the instructor to work out whether they are happy to take a back seat passenger. Most companies should do a TIF for less than $100.
Good luck
Moderator
Check the impedance coupling. I have a feeling the aircraft intercom is high impedance whereas your equipment is usually low impedance - 8 ohms? You may need a coupling transformer.
I've see those miniature microphones work well inside a noise canceling head set, and no impedance coupling problems.
I've see those miniature microphones work well inside a noise canceling head set, and no impedance coupling problems.
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Hi VH-MVL
As far as I know, technically no passengers can be carried on a training flight until the student has passed the GFPT, but as jetstar1 suggests, best discuss it with the flying school/instructor, they may be able to get around it some how....Good luck with it
As far as I know, technically no passengers can be carried on a training flight until the student has passed the GFPT, but as jetstar1 suggests, best discuss it with the flying school/instructor, they may be able to get around it some how....Good luck with it
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Good final simplification point from tailwheel if you are just turning up to fly and don't want to play the matching impedence game.
Ever since the Sony Walkman Pro their internal clocking has been so good that running the MD sound wild to match in the editing suite later will work fine.
Rob
Ever since the Sony Walkman Pro their internal clocking has been so good that running the MD sound wild to match in the editing suite later will work fine.
Rob
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We used to get pretty good recording results (cassette - shows how long ago it was) using the earpiece as a microphone and putting it in the earcup of the headset.
As far as I know, technically no passengers can be carried on a training flight until the student has passed the GFPT, but as jetstar1 suggests, best discuss it with the flying school/instructor, they may be able to get around it some how....
Would a tripod strapped in the back work?
Also, you could ask the instructor to do a bit of filming once you're up there and things have settled down. I know a few instructors that are more than happy to do this or take a few photos.
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Hi guys
Thanks for all the help and advice given, and for those who contacted me offline. I will keep you posted how it goes, and hopefully with the proper clearence, can post up my work for you to view when complete!
Cheers!
'MVL
Thanks for all the help and advice given, and for those who contacted me offline. I will keep you posted how it goes, and hopefully with the proper clearence, can post up my work for you to view when complete!
Cheers!
'MVL
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Would a tripod strapped in the back work?......
I use a suction cup which cost $25. Sticks to glass and perspex well, but not paint or metal surfaces so well.
G clamps holding the above as a back up, or holding some kind of a bracket ( I made a couple of "L"shaped ones to bolt the camera to) work well.
I use a suction cup which cost $25. Sticks to glass and perspex well, but not paint or metal surfaces so well.
G clamps holding the above as a back up, or holding some kind of a bracket ( I made a couple of "L"shaped ones to bolt the camera to) work well.
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Hi,
Good luck with your project.
If you are interested here are some results of a simple home made splitter lead pugged into the headset jack and straight into my Sony Handy cam.
You need an 1/4 male and female and split the female to an 1/8th male.
It's 9 Meg FYI.
Cheers
Wombat35
http://www.citabria.co.nz/PAS/Videos/Web%20Clip.wmv
Good luck with your project.
If you are interested here are some results of a simple home made splitter lead pugged into the headset jack and straight into my Sony Handy cam.
You need an 1/4 male and female and split the female to an 1/8th male.
It's 9 Meg FYI.
Cheers
Wombat35
http://www.citabria.co.nz/PAS/Videos/Web%20Clip.wmv
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Hi all!
Just thought I'd follow up my experiences here. Firstly,thanks to those who replied here and PMed me offline with advice on the questions I asked, particularly about connecting a recorder to the aircraft's Audio.
Through word-of-mouth mainly, I decided to give Whitworth Aviation at Bankstown Airport a call, and immediately, they were very willing and helpful from the start, right through to production, looked after us well.
I got to fly a Piper Cherokee, VH-LMY for 30minutes out to Prospect Reservoir and back. Was very enjoyable experience, and it might look as though I may periodically return to Sydney to pursue a license here.
Give me a week or so, and I'll have the video posted up here for viewing!
My thanks go to Bill Whitworth and to my instructor Fernando for their assistance throughout the whole production, and for looking after us throughout.
Just thought I'd follow up my experiences here. Firstly,thanks to those who replied here and PMed me offline with advice on the questions I asked, particularly about connecting a recorder to the aircraft's Audio.
Through word-of-mouth mainly, I decided to give Whitworth Aviation at Bankstown Airport a call, and immediately, they were very willing and helpful from the start, right through to production, looked after us well.
I got to fly a Piper Cherokee, VH-LMY for 30minutes out to Prospect Reservoir and back. Was very enjoyable experience, and it might look as though I may periodically return to Sydney to pursue a license here.
Give me a week or so, and I'll have the video posted up here for viewing!
My thanks go to Bill Whitworth and to my instructor Fernando for their assistance throughout the whole production, and for looking after us throughout.
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DVD
Last year I saw a DVD made by a certain pilot now working for a Perth company showing very dangerous and stupid move over a part of WA in twin aircraft. Maybe you should try to get a copy of that and use it and call it What not to do when flying in the bush.
