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Yeah I broke my ankle getting a plane once, and I was very disappointed in myself. It wasn't a bad decision - who knew my ankle couldn't handle a 1 foot fall?
Why is there a fine? Is it a protected bird habitat or something? And why would gliders be allowed? |
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So far I've found the EzOSD GPS tracking to work well for finding a downed plane (iTelemetry iPhone app works superbly). As you said it sounds like you won't have a plane anytime soon, but I recommend some type of GPS tracking if possible to maximize the potential for recovery. While it adds to the cost, it can save you money in certain situations depending on how you look at it. RTH feature is also a nice bell to have. I have no experience with this yet tho. |
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Thread OP
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I'm gonna stay safe. I've done a lot of mountaineering and rock climbing before and know how to stay safe. Won't be doing it alone either. Though if you wanna send that plane then I'm all for it! :P
Actually though, Sentry from FPVLabs has already set me up with a brand new ARF EZ Star from readymaderc.com so that's pretty awesome! jasmine, RCs of any kind are banned in a lot of parks and open space. |
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I don't know why, but I am kind of obsessed with analyzing this video! Google maps was pretty disappointing, but Google Earth is downright scary! Comparing the video to the Google Earth view, I think others have pointed out the right general area. Since it obviously isn't right out in the open, I am guessing the remains are either wedged into the rock crevices or possibly in the larger tree.
Good luck! Note to self: If I ever get around to building my own plane, paint it bright orange! Edit: Damn, on closer look in Google Earth, that rocky/bushy area looks pretty nasty too! If you went straight into that at high speed, it could be almost impossible to find unless you step on it! |
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We all agree on the spot, and the spot is pretty small considering other searches I've helped on, if you can't find it on a few trips, it may not be there. Still, there might be some evidence of foam cause it didn't look like it was gliding in softly. Who knows? Oh yeah, and if you find it, you must document it's lying position, and anything that will show the area and how close we may have been on it's whereabouts. I've found that LOS guys tend to think the plane went further than it really did... hard to say on FPV. |
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Thread OP
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I've looked everywhere in that image except on top of the ledge. Not in the trees or bushes. I was there minutes after it went down and no one passed for an hour or so. I've been out there just about every day this week and have only seen a handful of people on that trail. It's not an open field either, it's a rocky slope on the side of a mesa.
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I watched the video pretty close. The rocks part down below was the last thing I seen as it rolled over and headed down. I marked the rocks Im talking about with a small hand drawn circle. The path I think the plane took, and the area that I would look in with the bigger circle.
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Take some friends with you and look just southwest of the rocky patch and in the trees.
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That's to bad Vitamin.
Do you remember what control inputs you were giving it when video signal was lost? Did you cut the throttle instantly? The radio control of the plane was probably still receiving. What are the chances that the plane leveled back out and flew on its own for awhile? Did you take your goggles off when the video cut out to be sure it didn't head west? I've also studied the film and have a couple of spots I'd like to check. I would be willing to help look on foot. When are you going out next? Send me a PM if you would like an extra man on the ground. Cheers |
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I finally watched the video last night... it was super high up when you lost it - it could be in Kansas for all we know. An aerial search does seem like a good idea.
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So planes aren't allowed in the parks? Ok. You know how to get around that? Fly from your car. It's not easy, but it can be done with proper planning. You are going to want a fairly directional antenna to eliminate the multipth interference from the car body. Also, be prepared to move the car, so having an alternative landing spot is important. You also MUST have an OSD onboard the scout plane.
You need 3 people: A pilot A spotter A co pilot The pilot and spotter are obvious. The co pilot switches between a second screen, spotting the area, and looking out for local probems. The co pilot is the coordinator. Pull off the side of the road where there is room to land the plane. Set the whole thing up on the roof of your car. When the coast is clear, launch. The pilot and copilot get back inside the car, the spotter is outside watching. The copilot's job is to search for the downed plane. The pilot's job is to fly it. Make a few passes of the area and turn home before your battery gets low. Be prepared to ditch the plane early. When flying out to the location, look for a good alternative landing site away from the road. This way you can set the scout plane down inconspicuously. If I were within 3 hours of you, I'd drive down there and we'd get your plane back. Having a 4th person on the ground near the proposed crash site (preferrably on a radio, not a cell phone) would be extremely helpful, especially if you need to make an emergency landing. -Alex |
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