What plane? Does it have to be rear prop?

[lobstermash]

I've finally taken the dive and bought a 900MHz 200mW system with the PAL520 camera. I haven't ordered an EZcap yet, but that'll happen sometime soon. I've been keen to try FPV for quite a while and settled on this system as a starter based on a considerable amount of feedback online.

One thing I'm curious about, everyone puts FPV systems on rear/pusher prop planes like the Bixler etc., and all the specialist FPV planes are similarly configured. I'm curious if anyone's put FPV gear on a normal configuration plane. I've got a Tuff Trainer and will soon have a j3 cub that are very stable slow flyers and can carry the extra weight. I was thinking that the best camera position on these might be below the landing gear, pointed slightly down (fixed camera at this stage). Has anyone mounted FPV gear on a forward engine plane, and if so, where did you put the camera and how well did it work?

 

[Danger Mouse]

FPV Aircraft

Hi Lobstermash

The main reason people choose pusher prop aircraft is that you don't have to contend with a prop in front of your camera ruining your shot.

Cheers

DM

 

[teflyer]

You might want to look on this video/post from RC Groups
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20125527&postcount=6424
I believe his plane is a normal configuration (tractor configuration)
He has his camera below the body of the plane pointed slightly downward, I think.

Hope this helps a little

 

[Jeffrey Saelee]

And I think another reason is so you don't break a prop or bend a shaft when(not if) you crash

 

[lobstermash]

That looks fantastic teflyer. I'm wondering if that's the nav camera or a secondary recording one, but either way I reckon it'd be fine for FPV. The spot I'm thinking of doing most of my flying is over nature reserve, from a hill over the valley with a creek that I often fish running below. I know the creek really well, so can use that for bearings, and if I have any issues I can easily ditch the plane without being in anyone's proximity.

 

[colorex]

That looks fantastic teflyer. I'm wondering if that's the nav camera or a secondary recording one, but either way I reckon it'd be fine for FPV. The spot I'm thinking of doing most of my flying is over nature reserve, from a hill over the valley with a creek that I often fish running below. I know the creek really well, so can use that for bearings, and if I have any issues I can easily ditch the plane without being in anyone's proximity.

Nature is the best thing you can see through an FPV system. It allows you to explore the world in a completely different perspective. I can't wait to try it myself...

 

[ananas1301]

Gotta fully agree there! You can feel free just like a bird and imagining the perspective of a bird might sometimes be hard but FPV makes exactly that possible.

It opens up a completely new world to you waiting for you to experience it and enjoys flying around freely just like a bird or going for awesome cliff diving like an eagle would probably do to get his mouse

 

[arif]

Also a lot of the pusher prop planes come very tail heavy, allowing you to put tons of FPV equipment on the nose along with bigger batteries. With standard airplanes, you'll have to plan a little more in order to get the CG right.

 

[iceracer300]

David put a fpv on a p-51 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yqjepaX_j_4