AV1 Soaring Spy Plane Build & Fly

[LipoPilot]

As I advance into more interesting film making adventures. I wanted to up the performance and efficency of my aerial video planes. I love the GWS but its not the most efficent plane around as far as using wind to power my plane. I have two set ups I am working on and testing, this is my micro version designed to carry the mini gum stick style camera's. I have a larger AP platform plane I am building and testing also that totes a 35mm camera for HD video.

The AV-1 "Aerial Video One" is my soaring style video plane. The concept was to have a super lite big winged, lower powered efficent camera platform, that if need be can fly on the down low "no noise". I basically plan to fly in un wanted areas so soaring instead of brushless screaming is needed. I also wanted longer run times and better power efficency. So here is what I came up with. Built in three days and flown on the 4th of July for her maiden.

Build consist of balsa, plywood 1/16, CF square 1/4 tube 36in. The wing is a 48" damaged and repaired Fling glider wing.

Set up is the C2226 1800KV brushless outrunner from Turnigy with a 10amp ESC and 8.3 prop. I am using a 7.4 800mAh lipo. AUW is 9.50oz.

Here are some of the build process pics and set up photos.

[LipoPilot]

Here are more photos. I did as little as possible for the maiden. Not sure on flight yet i didnt want to put alot of time into the maiden model. After I learned the AV-1 was a nice flying machine, improvements and changes came next.

Before the maiden there was no landing gear, also the tail feathers were re-constructed and the pushrods went from metal to CF 1/8 rod after the maiden.

[LipoPilot]

The part everyone likes..the maiden of the AV-1. I took the AV out to my family 4th bash and flew it as one of my show off planes...I was praying it flew specially after flying two other plans and they wanted to see it fly. Thanks to my cousin for filming the AV-1 for me...not to bad for never doing it.

Here is the maiden, more to come.

AV SOARING PLANE

This plane will be used in some up and coming lipo battery test and camera test I will be doing over the next few weeks.

[CHELLIE]

Nice job Lipo, It flies great, take care, Chellie

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by CHELLIE

Nice job Lipo, It flies great, take care, Chellie

Hey thanks Chellie just trying to build up my AV fleet for some better filming.

[Larry3215]

Nice job!

Im curious though about this comment you made. It got me to wondering....

The concept was to have a super lite big winged, lower powered efficent camera platform, that if need be can fly on the down low "no noise". I basically plan to fly in un wanted areas so soaring instead of brushless screaming is needed.

What in the world are you planning to film - nudist camps or???

P.S. Congrats on winning the scratch contest!

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Nice job!

Im curious though about this comment you made. It got me to wondering....



What in the world are you planning to film - nudist camps or???

P.S. Congrats on winning the scratch contest!

Kansas nuclear missle silo's 80's war scar missle silos...tried twice already...brushless is giving me away. Oh did I win is there post? Missed that memo. Nice I will have to write my acceptance speech, I mean video, who should I thank??? LoL

[LipoPilot]

Oh forgot to add...no nude camps unless you like cows we got nude cows, this is Kansas. Good idea thou..glad you think I might be out to do just that.

[Larry3215]

Originally Posted by LipoPilot

Kansas nuclear missle silo's 80's war scar missle silos...tried twice already...brushless is giving me away. Oh did I win is there post? Missed that memo. Nice I will have to write my acceptance speech, I mean video, who should I thank??? LoL

I dont think the word is official yet...shhhh

By the way, you're not serious about the silos are you?

I know they are mostly deactivated or what ever, but the military doesn't normally have much of a sense of humor (actually, none at all) or tolerance for people who look at things they dont want you to look at or go places they want you to stay out of. Even if there is nothing at all to see.

Seriously. You could be in for a world of hurt.

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

I dont think the word is official yet...shhhh

By the way, you're not serious about the silos are you?

I know they are mostly deactivated or what ever, but the military doesn't normally have much of a sense of humor (actually, none at all) or tolerance for people who look at things they dont want you to look at or go places they want you to stay out of. Even if there is nothing at all to see.

Seriously. You could be in for a world of hurt.

They are empty I'm told but they protect it yes from fools like me trying to get shots. Been stopped once, plane was looked at, smiles were given with the dont fly here eye...well that was a month ago, been there twice since, I have learned I am allowed to fly over them and the MP is not there for protecting some hidden bunkers hes actually there for insurance purposes I learned, because they are 150ft holes in the ground with missing silo door glass. kids will party there if he is not there. The officers exact words were, you fly I dont hear you,,,see you, your ok with me. So now you know..why silent. Half the game is seeing can I spy unseen LoL.

[Larry3215]

Sounds like you found the one MP in the entire service with an IQ above 3!

Good luck

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Sounds like you found the one MP in the entire service with an IQ above 3!

Good luck

LOL!!!!!

[LipoPilot]

Today the last of the testing on the AV-1 was completed. I now feel the plane is ready for her new aerial missions. Next films will be with new flycam, no more ground shots. Here is more video of testing landing gear and reviewing the plane as I try and hit my camera guy...the landing is priceless.

AV-1 REVIEW OF PLANE

AV-1 LANDING GEAR TEST

[LipoPilot]

Well the new AV Gumstick camera arrived for testing. Here is a little silent fly from 500. This micro camera is super for filming and has amazing features. Im still testing locations and placement of the camera on the AV-1, but here is some video of the AV in action. Spy missions coming next.

AV-1 SILENT FLY ONBOARD CAMERA

[Wrench66]

I like the clarity of that camera, can't wait to see the follow up missions!

--Ray

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Wrench66

I like the clarity of that camera, can't wait to see the follow up missions!

--Ray

So far I have discovered that this camera has alot of cool features. I will be doing alot of filming this weekend with the AV Gumstick.

[Nitro Blast]

Originally Posted by LipoPilot

So far I have discovered that this camera has alot of cool features.

Yeah that date/time stamp is cool...... ONCE YOU SET IT


Great plane, you may want to consider a folding prop for added glide effeciency also.

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Nitro Blast

Yeah that date/time stamp is cool...... ONCE YOU SET IT

This was one of the first runs...was not worried about the date but its changed now

I have had this camera about 4 days. I'm doing a in depth review of this model, because I have the other gum stick models and the Flycam2.

The issue I see with the gum sticks are there is about 7 models on the web from airplane supply stores to ebay. Ranging from 60.00 to 100.00. This model is completely different then the other cameras I have seen and used. One is it carries no card or does it need one, it has 4GB storage already, although it has a slot for a card if you want 4 more GB. The fps is 30 which is higher then all the other gum sticks out there, it also carries a simple one push operation easy to read light panel. So far my days have sucked for filming as much as I like too, but this weekend will be spent making video sharing the camera more in depth. So far the video has been a real pleaser, the quality is great no jitters or motion blurs. I have flown in rain, high winds and nite time to test the cameras workings. I even found two nights ago it does really nice night time filming, the camera has no problem making out the city at 11pm from 200 feet. Does not work well in dark location, but from the air with the big city glowing it makes for a interesting video.

As most know I do adventures with my planes, aerial films are important to me and also my part of flying I love best. I'm also working on improving my adventures as this has turned out to be my real pleasure. My mission with this camera or any camera I use is to share the detail operation of the camera and what it can and cant do. I also share hows its being done such as the plane used or equipment used. My reason for this is to inform people how it works according to my testing. As I said I see gum sticks sold everywhere, but none give the details or how too's of the item. I can tell you from alot of experience, buying a non name camera is one thing, learning how it works with bad written instructions is another,,,,,very annoying. So what I hope is I inform, I offer adventure, and most of all how too with this AV-Gumstick micro camera.

To me it would be nice to purchase a camera, knowing some dummy like me took the learning curve of how to use it away...or atleast helped. Should make aerial easier for everyone wanting to try.

I will return with some more videos.

[LipoPilot]

Another video test.

AV-1 FLY BEFORE THE STORM

[Larry3215]

Which Gum cam is this LP? I bought the $25 one from e-bay and it does ok, but this one looks better. The one I got has 4 gig onboard memory but it only does 20 FPS. I think 30 FPS looks a good bit better.

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Which Gum cam is this LP? I bought the $25 one from e-bay and it does ok, but this one looks better. The one I got has 4 gig onboard memory but it only does 20 FPS. I think 30 FPS looks a good bit better.

It's called the AV-Gumstick, I have tested many of these little cameras and most of them are the same but have suddle difference this is what makes it so confusing when getting one that will work like you want. The fps "frame per second is the rate it films, the higher the better. In just afew months the gum-sticks have went from disk store to built in harddrive storing, and starting to operate more like a pc then a disk storage device. To raise the fps you have to increase the store for the film shots taken. Idea would be 60fps. Also the fps has risen from the 15fps to now 30fps in the last year. Anyhow Im alittle behind on my reviewing of this camera but working on it "weather", I'm introducing it and wish to make sure its a plane do-able gadgit, so far so good. Just follow along.

Here are the plus's

Hard metal case with stands crashes
No card needed
film time on full charge 2 hours matching the memory space
If it loses lipo power last film is not lost like flycam2
Frame per second rate is faster so no skipping
One push operation for filming start and stop
Easy to read LED light operation
Has wall and pc charger and camera update software
Has a nice storage box case.

Minus's
Lens does not move so mounting has to be done errect to film forward for plane use. Easy mount can be made.
Like all micro cameras it has a sensitive light sensor in the lens which can make the film change shades dramatically when sudden light hits the lens.
Is sensitive to vibration, films the best at no power unless camera is mounted solid.

[riverrat]

Originally Posted by LipoPilot

Another video test.

AV-1 FLY BEFORE THE STORM

NEAT!!!!!!!!!

Jimmy

[Larry3215]

oops

[Larry3215]

Oops -

[LipoPilot]

Originally Posted by Larry3215

Oops - watch out for that particular e-bay seller. His shipping is shown in GBP which is about 1.6 x US dollars so watch it.

The camera I am testing is sold by a U.S. vendor, when I complete my testing I will disclose the vendor but I wish to test it in all aspects before saying its the camera to have. Most of us are use to flashy ads then learn we bought junk. I going a different route. Anyhow another AV-1 action video recorded with the AV-Gumstick its rainy today.

AV-1 FLYING A SUPER CELL "TORNADO MAKER"