| There are a multitude of reasons in this day | | | | do not have the ability to auto advance the |
| and age why people, both men and women, go | | | | film. This means that you will need to land |
| missing. And just as many reasons why they | | | | the model airplane and advance the camera |
| should be found, and quickly. Recently, there | | | | manually for each shot. While this method |
| was a startling example of how model | | | | requires more work than others, it is by far |
| airplanes, coupled with modern digital | | | | the least expensive. Upgrading to an auto |
| cameras, are benefiting society by making it | | | | advancing 35mm camera will allow you to take |
| easier, cheaper and quicker to find missing | | | | pictures without landing your RC model |
| things, whether it be people or anything | | | | airplane in between each photo. |
| else, by providing a new viewpoint on our | | | | |
| society. | | | | Digital cameras also have limitations. Unless |
| | | | you are a very experienced RC model airplane |
| In October last year, a model airplane fitted | | | | pilot, using an expensive digital camera |
| with a digital camera found a man missing | | | | might not be the best idea if you are |
| near the West Texas town of Monahans, 4 | | | | uncertain of your ability to land safely and |
| months after he went missing. During that | | | | reliably. If you decide to use a cheap |
| time search parties on foot and horseback had | | | | digital camera then a lot of them have auto |
| scoured the desert in an expensive and time | | | | shut-off timers that will shut the camera off |
| consuming search. In just 3 sorties within | | | | in 30-60 seconds. What this means is that you |
| one day the model airplane took 200 digital | | | | need to take a picture within that 30-60 |
| images and the search team rapidly found the | | | | seconds window or the camera will shut off |
| body of David Lee Pettiet. The mans white | | | | and you will need to land your model airplane |
| trainers stood out as a minute speck in one | | | | and turn the camera on again. |
| of the photographs and drew the searchers to | | | | |
| quickly locate him although he was surrounded | | | | Using any of these cameras will require you |
| by thick scrub brush. | | | | to improvise some sort of servo attachment on |
| | | | your model airplane to activate the shutter |
| Aerial photography is nothing new. But what | | | | button in response to your remote command. |
| is new is the ability to do it quickly and | | | | Double-sided sticky tape and zip-ties work |
| cheaply with model airplanes and without the | | | | very well for the servo, and rubber bands |
| massive expense of helicopters or fixed wing | | | | will suffice for attaching the camera to the |
| aircraft. The service used was provided by a | | | | fuselage. You will also need to have a RC |
| man who had simply taken his existing hobby | | | | radio that has an extra channel, such as a |
| of radio controlled (RC) model airplanes, | | | | landing gear toggle switch, to activate the |
| added the digital camera, just another piece | | | | servo. Electric power for your model airplane |
| of modern technology in his leisure arsenal, | | | | is also useful as it gives you the option to |
| and combined the two into a useful tool which | | | | turn the motor off while you take the shot in |
| is rapidly turning into a commercial | | | | order to reduce vibration. |
| business. | | | | |
| | | | A more expensive route is to use a system |
| There are many ways to enjoy the hobby of RC | | | | specifically made for the hobby of RC model |
| model airplanes. But aerial photography can | | | | airplane flying. Various wireless packages |
| be particularly rewarding as almost every RC | | | | can be found to meet your needs. Most of the |
| airplane modeller already owns the necessary | | | | packages available come with a few standard |
| equipment. Going the cheap and cheerful route | | | | parts; a camera, wireless transmitter, and |
| to explore what your birthday party looks | | | | receiver. This method requires that you have |
| like when seen from your model airplane high | | | | the ability to record video 'in field'. A |
| above - or to provide useful information on | | | | laptop computer with video inputs works very |
| development plans for your local protest | | | | well for this. Another option is to watch the |
| group by simply strapping an inexpensive | | | | video LIVE while you are flying by using a |
| disposable 35mm camera to the bottom of your | | | | set of virtual reality goggles. This |
| model aeroplane, is one way. Or embedding a | | | | certainly helps if you want to be selective |
| complete digital video system, made | | | | about the shots you take - although with |
| specifically for the job, into your model | | | | digital technology this hardly matters. But |
| airplane setup to offer a professional | | | | it does take you one step closer to every |
| service is another. Either way, the results | | | | modellers dream of being up there with his |
| can be quite remarkable, even amazing. When | | | | model airplane! |
| deciding where to start, there are a few | | | | |
| things that you need to keep in mind. | | | | Aerial photography and video using your RC |
| | | | model airplane can add more excitement to an |
| If you decide to go the cheap route just for | | | | already enjoyable hobby and even turn it into |
| fun, strapping some sort of camera to the | | | | a business. So go ahead, there are some |
| model airplane's wing or fuselage, there are | | | | useful forums and groups on the web where you |
| a couple of pitfalls you will want to avoid | | | | can do some more research - then get flying |
| if at all possible. Most disposable cameras | | | | and snapping! |