I have a ranger friend at the Empire Mine State Park, which is
about half a mile from my house. I showed him some of the
photos I'd been taking around the area, and he was interested
in getting some aerial shots of some of the park features. These
are first attempts at getting shots of the Bourne Cottage, which
is the house that the wealthy owner (Mr. Bourne) stayed at
during his visits to the gold mine.

This first picture is from the ground, from where I'm taking off.
It's kind of a tight area, and I had the slowstick climbing about
45° to get mostly above the trees before circling around.

Fairly good shot of the cottage. After these I switched from the
Pencam to the Pencam SD, since it's easier to do landscape
orientation. Next time out I should be able to capture the whole
thing.

From a little higher. Got some vibration jagginess. I think the
prop shaft is slightly bent. New ones on order.

Quite a little "cottage" huh? You can also see some of the huge
rose garden in the back.

Another angle.

Here you can see the front lawn. I had to roll off the ground and
gain altitude inside the confines of the lawn, until I got above all
the trees. Some of those trees are 150 feet tall. The oaks have
lost all their leaves, but still have branches hanging out over the
lawn. Kind of scary to launch in there.

My ranger friend said it's actually illegal to fly R/C airplanes in
state parks, so I had to be constantly escorted since I was on
official business.

Landing involved circling to just above the trees until the plane
was at the opposite end, then dive toward the lawn and pull up
within a few feet of the ground, then float to a landing. Made
the ranger gasp everytime.

That's me and the ranger at the far end of the lawn.

Originally posted by MX
Got some vibration jagginess. I think the
prop shaft is slightly bent. New ones on order.

Is this your Nippy Black, or a gearbox shaft? I had to balance the rotor on my 1812/100.

You sure that's not Wayne Manor or the Luthor Estate? Good piloting around the trees. I'll keep an eye out for the SD versions.

There was nothing in the rules about WI state parks forbidding RC, though any activity that might be considered unsafe could be prohibited on the spot I'm sure. I make sure to keep it safe.

Karl

This is my slowstick with EPS300C-D motor/gearbox and Aiptek
1.3 SD camera. There just wasn't enough room to fly my other
AP plane with NB 1812/100, plus, I didn't want to risk the
Pentax Optio S4 in that hostile environment. BTW, my NB was
balanced just fine out of the box.

I think the ranger was referring to California state parks
having rules against R/C airplanes. He said a few years back
some kid got hit by one in a state park, so now you can't do it.

MX

MX There may be a law against flying from a California state park ( thought I would doubt it), but not from flying over one.
Eut

Kinnicē

I am from eastern Wisconsin, could you tell me a little about any experience you have had flying in county or state parks? I have been thinking about expanding my AP beyond my home field, and am unsure of the reception I would receive. Also how do you "keep it safe"? Some times being safe and looking safe to others is not the same thing.

I've flown once, recently, in Willow River SP. I chose a parking lot where I could takeoff and land without overflying people or vehicles, and flew in such a way that I would be able to glide back to the lot at all times if necessary.

This is how I fly at any location. I also try not to fly in areas where I may be a distraction to motorists. Most often my base of operations will be the side of a seldom-traveled road. A few places where I felt I should seek seek permission beforehand, I explained that the plane weighs only 1.5 lbs, flys about 10 mph, and is virtually silent, and received the go-ahead. Landowners and businesses also look favorably on offers of aerial pictures of their property in exchange for permission.

Karl