FPV Dogfight with Head-tracker in a Spitfire... a Journey to get there
- Thread starter FPVAirCombat
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FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Not yet, but you have piqued my interest. What is the typical streamer length and where do you normally get them.
Jackson T
Elite member
You should be able to find them anywhere you can get balloons and stuff like that. I think they're normally around 30ft long. Did you see the Flite Test Mig 3 release video? They did an FPV streamer dogfight in it. Your avatar is really cool, by the way!
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Practicing basic airmanship stuff like short approaches, touch & goes, turn around a point and basic aerobatics while giving joyrides to a couple of pilot friends. Verdict: why pay $200/hour for full scale plane rental when scale FPV flying is more fun - G forces not withstanding.
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FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Close formation requires constant coordination between pilots, and smoothness of lead pilot determine 90% of the outcome. Find one with patience to do gentle maneuvers over and over and it will be much easier.
This video shows a first practice flight between friends with communications at flight line to coordinate a formation flight. On station at 2:00.
And view from the lead plane looking back. Continuous shot at 1:52.
This video shows a first practice flight between friends with communications at flight line to coordinate a formation flight. On station at 2:00.
And view from the lead plane looking back. Continuous shot at 1:52.
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Jackson T,
I haven’t forgotten about the streamer combat that you mentioned months ago. Truth is I have been trying to encourage my flying friends and club members to fly scale FPV. But they have been waiting on better FPV equipment to hit the market - knowing the inherent downside of my system - bulkyness, long latency, and poor low light performance. And they were right. Since DJI released a new Digital FPV System a couple of months ago. Nearly 1/3 of all quad copter flyers in my club have converted to the new system - they used to fly with analog and Fatshark goggles. And several fixed wing guys have also gotten the system. So hopefully, we will have plenty of FPV flyers to start streamer combat fun, soon.
It would have been unfair for me to be the only one flying FPV vs guys flying LOS.
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Jackson T
Elite member
Yeah, I just watched a Rotor Riot YouTube video about the DJI system, looks pretty cool! How much is it worth? That's really good news that you'll hopefully get some FPV streamer combat in after all! I'm still just hanging in there hoping someone else will pick up the hobby near me. There's a guy on our street who said he's retiring soon, and he used to fly full scale. He said he'll probably get into R/C planes when he retires, but I doubt his old eyes will handle FPV goggles. He could use a monitor though. At least I'll have someone to fly with, and I can try and get some air-to-air footage with my FPV stuff.
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
To have a full scale pilot as a RC flying buddy would be great as he will naturally fly smoothly for formations and great subject for filming. I actually “met” a guy on RCG that has macular degeneration so his eyesight at long distance is shot. But he loves flying RC so he is getting into FPV so he can once again fly. You can lend your friend your goggles and most likely he will be hooked if it’s HD.
Here’s my friend’s goggle footage from the new DJI Digital FPV system. Compare to mine, it has no perceptible latency and shows more detail afar whereas mine becomes like water color (blobs of color) at long distance. The new one has much better sensor/camera:
And the Air Unit recording is even better at 1080P 60 frames/sec, with sound, too:
Downsides are the prop strobing looks like Venetian blinds - due to rolling shutter on camera, and it no longer includes built-in head tracker.
I am thinking of updating my system since the low light performance of my camera is very poor. But I love to fly at dusk. And the new system handles all lighting conditions much better.
Here’s a recent flight I did at dusk. You can see the resolution really degraded, and some strange lines showing up when it gets darker:
Ps. make sure you set YouTube resolution to highest when you try to compare the footages..
Jackson T
Elite member
Yeah, I'm sure he'll be a decent pilot (after he actually learns, he's never flown RC before). My goggles aren't HD, but I can pull the monitor out of the box type goggles if the goggles aren't kind to his eyes. It looks really cool, but the price is the killer. I looked it up on the DJI website, and it said $1300 AUD ($880 USD). That's a lot of money! Anyway, I'm happy with what I've got for the price I paid.
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Sorry I did not notice you are in Australia. Definitely would not recommend DJI then. You guys would get reduced power output/range which make it very limiting and not worth the price at all.
Jackson T
Elite member
I didn't know that. Does Australia have annoying FPV regulations? I'm not in the loop as I fly in a farm paddock by myself. By the way, I just got a proper FPV system with a 600mw transmitter (I was using an AIO camera previously). I'm really excited to have some fun with it, I've been inspired by you to try some scale cockpit FPV.
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Kicking it up a notch with tighter formation and flying circles (barrel rolls) around the lead plane.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Mock dogfight and formation aerobatics 
FPVAirCombat
Well-known member
Yes! Your are right. Time to give the Spitfire some love... haha.
Jackson T
Elite member
Yep, can't forget the good old Spitfires! @bracesport, have you thought about trying FPV? You should try this with your spitfire
bracesport
Legendary member
@Jackson T - that was super awesome - imagine slope FPV!
Jackson T
Elite member
Slope FPV would be pretty crazy! It might be a bit hard with the turbulence though. Do you have a motor for your Spitfire?
Mr. Gandalf
Elite member
Mock dogfight and formation aerobatics
Great flying and great video!
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