I just couldn't stand it. I still had a lot of great raw video so I thought I'd better make one more. The first was done with a Drift, this one with a GoPro, with slightly more zoom. Still doesn't fully capture the feeling, since all objects in the video are lower and closer than they appear.

Last one from me for a bit. I have to get back to work so I can buy some more av gas!



Music: Petty, "Runnin' Down a Dream"

Great video Darren!

Awesome video with some awesome footage!

Edit: You inspired me to go out and fly the river here, so just got home and now time to edit up something of my own

Amazing videos! Sure was fun flying. You did the hard part staying in the right place to capture the video.

The nearly 11 hour flight fighting headwinds from Montana back to Texas was somewhat brutal, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat, for the good times we had.

great hanging out with you guys again - awesome viddy!

That was great, I love flying rivers.

Holy Crap that kicked ass!!

Nice flying!

Were you the one filming or showing off?

BTV is the talent. I'm just the monkey with the camera strapped to his plane.

It was just a couple of buddies out flying together. Besides, he kept me in good whiskey all weekend, so slapping this little movie together was the least I could do!

Great video and flying. Thanks for putting that together guys.

Well done RP! Loved the video. Even made it on flyingmag.com.

http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/ ... try-flying

Good job keeping the other plane in frame, where did you have the camera mounted?

Thanks guys. This video getting picked up so widely is kind of ridiculous, and none of it would have ever happened without Zane putting it on the BCP Facebook page (note to self: bribe Zane every time I make a video from now on). It was just included in the AOPA eBrief today and we've had 29,000 total views so far this week. Crazy.

I shot this with a GoPro mounted on the lens cover of my landing light out on the end of my right wing. I use the little bracket doodad with the strong sticky stuff on the back and just clip my camera in to that. I then wrap a velcro band around the connection point just to stabilize the camera. Without the veIcro, I usually get a lot of jello. In terms of how well BTV stayed in frame, I mostly got lucky--my iPad was Tango Uniform so I didn't have any preview to show me what the camera was seeing. In other words, I just guesstimated. You can't really tell from the video, but most of it was shot from about 50 yards in trail. From that distance, I was able to roughly approximate where I thought the camera would be shooting. BTV's smooth flying certainly helped the process too.

We've been laughing about the number of views all week because, had we known anybody was going to watch this thing other than our friends and relatives, we would have tried to do a much better job! In any event, we're both pretty amazed so many people have enjoyed the flight along with us. It sure was fun to make.

I just got send your video by email, with the following commentary:

Hi Folks

Have a look at: http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/ ... try-flying

There are a few things to take into consideration.

1. This type of flying is illegal in New Zealand unless done in a low flying area or for landing or take off. The military follow different rules and fly low level routes that have been checked for obstructions.

2. There are many uncharted obstructions. They may be flying foxes (cables across the river from one side to the other) and power lines or telephone lines. There have been several fatal accidents here involving aircraft or helicopters flying through cables across rivers or valleys.

I once had to do a legal (JAG) investigation of an accident when a pilot of an A4 Skyhawk flew through power lines in a valley after flying low (flat hatting) over a popular reservoir. He was decapitated by a cable slicing off the cockpit. The aircraft flew for another 25 nm before crashing into a farmer's field near a big city.

So, don't succumb to the urge and, if you have reason to land in a remote area, find out all you can about approach and climb out routes into the strip.

Fly safe!

This raised a question (sorry it's a bit "niggley") - is this type of low level flying provided for by the FAA over there in the USA, or is it more a case of if nobody's around then nobody minds?
The way he wrote his message suggests it is, it always seems to be treated as a bit of a "grey area".

Edit- clarification

"This type of flying" is what this website is for and why we hang out here. And, at least for now, it's still legal and and doable in vast areas of the United States and Canada. Except for populated areas and charted exceptions for sensitive areas, the requirement is to maintain at least 500 feet from people or structures. Doesn't say one has to be above, but just 500 feet from. Out in the boonies you do what you want.

Now this isn't a license to be stupid. You still have to know your terrain and where the wires and other gotcha stuff is. And, if you buzz the wrong group of people.... Well, then you get what you deserve for being dumb.

This is in spite of the Negative Nancy's, who can't stand to see an airplane flying under anything but flight levels, in positive control of some yahoo on the ground.

Gump

Fair question. Perfectly legal in the US, as long as you're not flying within 500' of any "noun" (as I've heard it described), nor within 1,000 feet of any populated area. We damn sure weren't flying A4 Skyhawks , and we had flown the entire valley twice over the preceding two days and knew where all the wires were (just a few low power poles here and there).

I always try to be really conscientious about not flying over unwitting people, cars, houses, boats, etc. at anywhere close to minimums. One of the beauties of this valley, and of flying in the backcountry in America in general, is that there are still places where you can fly like this without disturbing, or being disturbed by, anyone.

GumpAir wrote:Except for populated areas and charted exceptions for sensitive areas, the requirement is to maintain at least 500 feet from people or structures. Doesn't say one has to be above, but just 500 feet from. Out in the boonies you do what you want.

That is awesome flexibility.
Here it is 500ft from the nearest solid object, including terra-firma, except on approach to land or take-off. There are dispensations for filming (with a permit) and for ag work, etc. But the every-man needs to stay above 500ft otherwise.

P.S.--I've been amazed at how overwhelmingly positive the comments have been. It has been the #2 most popular story on Flying's website for a couple days now and, except for a few "I wouldn't do that, and neither should anyone else" scolds, most people have enjoyed the video for what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. The last thing I would want is for some inexperienced pilot to go hurt himself, which is why I would discourage people from flying like this unless they have the training and experience to do so. On the other hand, if some kid decides to go learn how to fly because of dreams fueled by images like these and others on BCP, then I think we've done some good for GA flying in general.

Thanks for letting me know we've been held up as a bad example amongst some in New Zealand. As rowdy as you guys are down there, that's an honor I never imagined I might achieve!!!

RP, the thing I see in that great vid, is that the POV, shooting from another airplane AT another airplane, is what really makes it interesting. We don't see a whole lot of such POV's, much more engaging then a static single plane camera mount. I have become somewhat disillusioned with the "camera on a wing strut" thing, as it rarely captures the feel of the flight as well as what you did with this one. As soon as another local S-7 pilot gets his bird airborne, we plan to explore some new POV options, gimbal mounted cameras and large RC drones may be involved

RanchPilot wrote:Thanks for letting me know we've been held up as a bad example amongst some in New Zealand. As rowdy as you guys are down there, that's an honor I never imagined I might achieve!!!

I don't think it was meant that way. More a case of "here's a cool video to enjoy, but consider these points before you try this at home". That's how I read it anyway.

I took the "don't succumb to the urge" comment to be a little more critical than that, but it's ok either way. Without the right setting and experience, I wouldn't recommend that people fly like this either. Under the right circumstances though, it was a pretty cool ride.

Fortunately, New Zealand is so pretty that it remains breathtaking even at 2,000 agl!