RunRyder - Is there anything that people don't like about the AirFoil mounts?

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Aerial Photography and Video > Is there anything that people don't like about the AirFoil mounts?

Dave Barbera
Heliman
Location: Hubbardston, MA U.S.A.

Hi Folks,

I am new to this forum and I've read all 24 pages (I am beat), I have to say there is a lot of good information in here.

So I've read a lot of good things about John's AirFoil system. I am interested in the M1 carbon professional mount. What I am wondering is there anyone that has one of these mounts that doesn't like something about? I am basically looking for any negative points about the system.

My one complaint is that they are only designed to carry around 4-5lbs. I was hoping in the future to maybe carry a Canon XL1s (which I believe is around 6 1/2 pounds).

I would also like to hear if anyone is carrying a camera this size with an Airfoil mount or any kind of mount.

Best Regards,
-Dave

11-13-2003 Over year old.

Smithprod
Veteran
Location: Oklahoma

Hi Dave,

I don't have anything negative to say about John's mount, I love mine. I did want to ask you why you want to carry the XL1. I own a video production business and I've had XL1's and now shoot with VX2000's and TRV-900's. I personally find the picture much nicer on the 2000 and also find the steady shot better. The XL1 does have some nice features for ground use (interchangeable lenses, nice audio controls, etc.), but I really wouldn't want to haul it on a heli.

Just my two cents.

Brad

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

HawkEye SkyCam
Heliman
Location: Iowa

Dave

I have two of airfoils systems the business and media package.
I don't have anything negative to say. They are so user-friendly just mount your camera and go.

If you are interested in video check out his gyro stabilizer at http://www.airfoilhelicam.com/pricing.html

The biggest video camera I have used is the VX 2000 and with the GS Voyager it had no problem at all

have fun be safe
Tim

11-13-2003 Over year old.

daggit
Elite Veteran
Location: Waseca MN

I've flown the heck out of my "V1" aluminum mount in the past 14 months. I wouldn't even consider a different kind for my next setup.

I suppose some might wish for 360 degree camera pan, but the only time that becomes an issue is when the wind is up over 35mph and you're stuck flying nose into the wind. Even then, the reversable Airfoil mount allows you to get about any shot.

,

11-13-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

Dave Barbera
Heliman
Location: Hubbardston, MA U.S.A.

Hi Folks,

Thanks for all the feedback!

John:
$70,000 is slightly out of my price range (you may have already guessed that)

Smithprod:
I liked the idea of having a video camera that has an interchangeable lens, that was the main reason for my interest in that camera. I don't have any experience with the Canon or the Sony. I particularly appreciated your view on the picture quality of the Canon vs. the Sony.

Bottom line, XL1s is out for helicam.

HawkEye SkyCam:
If you don't mind me asking, I assume you do this full time with those two systems you mentioned. Is this the correct assumption?
Do you have the gyro stabilizer on both systems or just on the media package? Have you shot video without the gyro stabilizer? If you have, how does it compare to video with the gyro stabilizer? And lastly, is there much demand in your area for video vs. still pictures?

Best Regards,
-Dave

11-14-2003 Over year old.

Dave Barbera
Heliman
Location: Hubbardston, MA U.S.A.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for posting your info about your copter, pretty impressive except it looks like it would put experienced R/C pilots out of work. You also have an impressive list of clients.

I also checked out the site you mentioned. That was also pretty interesting. There was a video clip of a Nissan commercial, that I am guessing most people have seen.

Best Regards,
-Dave

11-19-2003 Over year old.

HawkEye SkyCam
Heliman
Location: Iowa

John
you're blowing me away again
Mike
I have been watching your progress

These questions are for both you guys John and Mike
I am very very interested, help me with the few questions.

When will this autopilot be available and what will it actually do for me?

Can my system I have now be upgraded to this or do I have to buy a whole new system?

Do you guys think there will be regulations on exporting?

Do you guys have any idea what kind of hoops we have to jump through to operate one of these systems?

Mike
I have seen the quality of video that the airfoil's system will produce
I would really like to see some video, not from your R&D but shot from your new system and Mount with audio. This will help me to make up my mind which way to go, I am very interested, and I will buy two for now

This is a big step for my company but one I'm going to make
Have fun be safe
Tim

11-19-2003 Over year old.

AcesAreWld
Senior Heliman
Location: NJ Shore

Hey Mike,
Your system sounds SO AWEOME! I can't wait to see some demo footage. I really want one, just can't come close to affording it

I wish I could put your autopilot system on my heli because what you stated above is EXACTLY what I want. The solution I may have to use (beacuse its more affordable) is to place a second, fixed, small camera on my heli and fly it from the first person point of view. This will allow me greater distances, higher altitudes, better correction at long disatacnes, smoother flight, etc. But if only I could have your system

I wish there was something like that I could put on my camera ship to yield the same results. Either way, I look forward to seeing your demos, I'm very interested in your machine and system just like a lof of the other guys in this thread

Good luck, can't wait!
--Geoff
"Aces Are Wild"
www.rchelicam.com

11-25-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

HawkEye SkyCam
Heliman
Location: Iowa

Mike

Thanks for answering my questions, you said you would posts some video in the next two weeks. I can't wait to see it.
You said you are giving demonstrations, anywhere close to Iowa, if not I could fly in.
I would really like to see it in action. If this is possible please PM me on the details.

Have fun the safe
Tim

11-26-2003 Over year old.

[NRI] LarryK
Heliman
Location: Huntsville, AL

gyro stabilization

Hello all.

Mike must have missed one of the videos we have up. There is one that demonstrates the gyro stabilization on our gimbal. If you go to our multimedia page, click the 'next' button once and look for the title Test Flight With 3-Axis Camera Mount, that video was taken with the AutoCopter airframe, manually flown by 'Rusty', while using the gyro's.

The gyro's work pretty well because of a few things... Our gimbal is large and has a lot of mass. It is also very rigid. Because of this, and the isolation method I'm using, the tilt and roll gyros are able to be mounted directly on the gimbal, and on the respective axis. The pan gyro can go anywhere on the gimbal head or on the helicopter.

Toward the end of the video you'll see Rusty do a slow pirouette while I was photographing him. I wasn't even aware he was doing a pirouette until I saw the landing gear come into view.

As to your other questions / comments, I'm sure Mike will get back to you shortly.

As far as the AirFoil mount, we have (or had) one here at the lab. This was an older generation, made with aluminum and wood (for the camera base plate). I never really flew it because it never really met the needs of the AutoCopter. I had always been looking for something more "integrated" if you will, rather than something that straps on. From what I hear form others howecer, as is apparent here, it performs well.

I do like, very much, the newest mount from Kevin at RotaryAerials (the GimbalMount). I've been playing with his mounts for some time and they are extremely clean, very light, very professional looking and they simply work well. The isolation he provides is good, but because of our application I haven't always used his isolators (because of mounting methods). I can submit that with simple 'T' mounts from Barry Controls, I was able to get down to a 1/125th with 35mm film and a 28mm lens with no blurring. I was happy with that. Using Kevin’s isolation, I would expect the results to be similar.

[color=blue][size=small]duct tape -- the choice of professionals[/size][/color]

11-26-2003 Over year old.

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[NRI] LarryK
Heliman
Location: Huntsville, AL

John

Vibration in our mount has not been eliminated. I'm constantly working on better methods to accomplish this. At this point however, vibration is at an acceptable level which I think is demonstrated by the video we've shot and posted on our website and the tests I've conducted with film by decreasing shutter speeds.

The gyro stabilization is not perfect either, nor will it ever be in any system using 'hobby' type gyros. What I like about our mount is that the gyro's are mounted on the gimbal. In my opinion, this is the only way to get acceptable results on any gyro stabilized system (using hobby gyros) because it keeps the sensing axis of the gyro in alignment with the axis it's stabilizing. Therefore, we can use 3 gyros to stabilize all 3 axis's.

In our system we hope to make substantial progress in the near future regarding camera stabilization. We want to do this by using an existing flight hardware sensor (the AHAR's unit) to stabilize the gimbal. This will far surpass the gyro's we're using now. Basically, there won't be any large build up of errors. The camera should remain on target, with no user input at all, totally irregardless of what the airframe is doing, for quite a long time.

[color=blue][size=small]duct tape -- the choice of professionals[/size][/color]

11-26-2003 Over year old.

HOMEPAGE

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Aerial Photography and Video > Is there anything that people don't like about the AirFoil mounts?

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