Remote RF Module for warm winter flying...

[AnthonyRC]

This little project was too much fun not to share :)

During these cold winter months it seemed a shame to be standing in a cold field while flying by video. The warmth of the car (or even the couch) was a little too tempting.

Basically what this involved was relocating the Futaba RF module into a separate housing, which is equipped with a standard RF connector, and a socket for a link to the trainer port of the radio.
A standard magnetic 'CB radio' antenna mount is used, with a whip (piano wire) of length appropriate for the band in use.

The transmitter may then be used within the car, with antenna collapsed.

Since these RF modules may be sourced for < $30 on ebay, and CB 'Mag Mounts' may be found for a few dollars, the project didn't break the bank.

Couch-flying (assuming you live in a sparsely populated area) is something that has to be tried :D

[typicalaimster]

Haha that's a hoot! I was thinking about doing the same thing with a 900mhz system and a Spektrum radio. Just sit in my car where it's warm and fly.

[cars4fun2001]

I am sssssssoooooooooooo jealous thats sweet. Would work great where i live to nobody around 99% of the time and i know when the mail man shows up.

[VRflyer]

Anthony this is another great poduct, I want one :)

[AnthonyRC]

Hum... I didn't think about selling them, but I guess if there is enough interest, why not :)

[AndrésMtnez]

Hum... I didn't think about selling them, but I guess if there is enough interest, why not :)



WHAT??!!!! :eek:

This is the coolest idea I have ever seen, and I was already looking for the price :D

I was thinking about building a desk with some kind of resistance to warm my hands, but this is not comparable to your idea. I really really love it. If you sell it, here you will have two customers ;)


Come on guys, encourage him to do it for selling :D :D :D


Andres

[PeteSchug]

When I retire to Vermont I will have to make sure I have room to takeoff and land next to my house!

Living in NYC and not having a car can be a bit inconvenient sometimes.

When I do get to Vermont etc. how will I change the batteries in the plane? I guess I will have to have a double door to taxi through. (If the snow is not too deep.)

Pete ;)

[typicalaimster]

Couch-flying (assuming you live in a sparsely populated area) is something that has to be tried :D

Hey Antony,
Do you have an AP from your area you can share with everyone? I know I live in Northern Virginia right next to DC. Around here we're lucky we still have a flying field. I think we're all in awe about such a concept, however it doesn't seem like this is something that can be done from a suburban area!

[cars4fun2001]

i would be glad to try out couch flying for you 30 acres in the front 36 in the back and 80 to each side with just 2 houses close to me and they love for me to fly over there place because i give them pics. both gave me keys to there gates and said come over any time

[JettPilot]

Flying from your livingroom on your big screen TV, that is totally awesome :D I thought about it, but live in an area that is way to populated for me to attempt anything like that :mad: Its neat to see that someone has done it though, how about some more pictures of the living room setup in use !

JettPilot

[AnthonyRC]

So it seems that I have some work to do here :-), I really didn't expect as much interest.

typicalaimster: There are some videos of my neighborhood here:
http://www.aeropix.ch/store/index.php?main_page=page_3
The first one shows the village, with a fly-over using a camera-equipped slowstick.
There is also a video of my father's neighborhood, the 'Smooth Sailing' contest winner :-)

jettpilot: I'll put together some more pictures of it in use, including the car setup.

There was another use in mind when this was put together, something which can only be done in a very remote area... Flying from a moving car (with your spotter driving of course) is quite a rush!. With video goggles it is tough, the conflicting signals to the brain from the car movement, and the visual movement of the display, is... well... interesting!

Using an LCD display it is much more manageable!.

Of course one thing you can't use from a moving car is head-tracking... at least not unless you are driving on one of those dead-straight mid-west roads.
hum... I guess if the car had a 'head tracker', and the transmitter was fed the difference between the two headings, it would be possible...

[robmoll]

Count me in! I have your headtracker and its great!

Rob