I did a search on this subject, but I'm at sea and our internet connection is too slow so please bear with me if this subject is well documented.

Can anyone advise me as to whether I can mount an external camera on my plane (preferably the strut of my 172 Taildragger) temporarily without purchasing an STC'd mounting system? I am contemplating buying a GoPro or contour camera. Are any of you mounting these cameras outside the plane and is it legal? I'm guessing that it's not.

I have currently been using the gopro hd with the suction cup mount. I have had it stuck to the windscreen. It is a sweet suction cup set up. I had it roped off to inside the window so that if it cut loose I could quickly reel it in.

Haven't started testing other areas though I would like to. Until I get more testing I won't really put it far out of reach. I can't think of a great way of setting it on the tail/or far out on a wing and also having a backup system that is 100% assured of not interfering with flight, or smashing the camera on landing.

Mike

Try DJ Vegh at azchoppercam.com he builds really excellent camera mounts that are not permanently mounted. He may have some current info on FAA attitudes on this subject. There was a discussion on this subject over at the taylorcraft.org discussion, where I proposed a lengthy (and hopefully humorous)but effective way of convincing the FAA to allow it.

The FAA DOES have existing rules and procedures that cover external loads. Because there are apparently people up in the great white north who strap a freshly shot Kodiak bear to a Super Cub wing strut, and the Howitzer they used to kill it on the other strut, I suggest that you classify the camera as an external load rather than a camera The fact that you can trip the shutter while it is functioning as an external load is a moot point. Better classify the remote shutter release as a load too

Try these results, lots of discussion already.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=external+camera+mount+site#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=external+camera+mount+site:backcountrypilot.org&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&fp=a7672f2e5d97889a

Thanks for the replies. I can't look at the search results now as it takes about 5 min to load each page. I will look at them when I arrive in port. Then I can connect my Laptop to my blackberry and get a respectable rate of data exchange. I think I've got a handle on what mounting I would like to use. I just want to know if I will be breaking the rules and how much concern ther is about it in case of a ramp check or if I will be incriminating myself by posting vids.

electricsnail wrote:I have currently been using the gopro hd with the suction cup mount. I have had it stuck to the windscreen. It is a sweet suction cup set up. I had it roped off to inside the window so that if it cut loose I could quickly reel it in.

Haven't started testing other areas though I would like to. Until I get more testing I won't really put it far out of reach. I can't think of a great way of setting it on the tail/or far out on a wing and also having a backup system that is 100% assured of not interfering with flight, or smashing the camera on landing.

Mike

One way of mounting a ordinary palm sized camcorder I heard about was to take an inspection plate from under the wind, near the strut (Cessna) and then take a camera mount and cut the piece off that the camera screws into. From there you can weld that piece onto the inspection plate and attach the camera to it. Then run a piece of wire to the strut or tie down ring to secure the camera, in case of failure. Then you have a temporary fix to you camera problems and dont have to buy a special camera. Make a extra inspection plate from scrap sheet metal, drill a few holes. and wala!

electricsnail wrote:I have currently been using the gopro hd with the suction cup mount. I have had it stuck to the windscreen. It is a sweet suction cup set up. I had it roped off to inside the window so that if it cut loose I could quickly reel it in.

Haven't started testing other areas though I would like to. Until I get more testing I won't really put it far out of reach. I can't think of a great way of setting it on the tail/or far out on a wing and also having a backup system that is 100% assured of not interfering with flight, or smashing the camera on landing.

Mike

One way of mounting a ordinary palm sized camcorder I heard about was to take an inspection plate from under the wing, near the strut (Cessna) and then take a camera mount and cut the piece off that the camera screws into. From there you can weld that piece onto the inspection plate and attach the camera to it. Then run a piece of wire to the strut or tie down ring to secure the camera, in case of failure. Then you have a temporary fix to you camera problems and dont have to buy a special camera. Make a extra inspection plate from scrap sheet metal, drill a few holes. and wala!

Most inspection covers are made from aluminum. Welding dissimilar metals might be interesting, particularly ones as thin as inspection covers.

MTV

I just looked at the gopro at the Eatern Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, PA. Looks like a very nice set-up. Can you give us a review on it?
WW

mtv wrote:Most inspection covers are made from aluminum. Welding dissimilar metals might be interesting, particularly ones as thin as inspection covers.

MTV

MTV, This is true. However I have seen such installations before. I am not a welder, I have no idea, except for shop class in 1991..haha. It seems to me, that my little tripod device i have is made from aluminum. Given todays lightweight and sleek camcorders using SD card slot memory, it seems to me it would be ideal. I have seen pictures of such an installation.

Some of these new digital cameras are so small and cheap that I have just been using sticky back industrial Velcro. We have mounted small stills to large 35mm movie film cameras (35lbs) to our planes for years. Not with Velcro. You just have to go and do it. Find the angle that you want and fabricate. Also do a flight speed and RPM test flight before your intented "loaded" camera flight. Write down the time hack, aircraft speed, RPM. Come back in and check your "tape" for "flutter". Sometimes "mostimes" a harmonic is present on the tail or strut that the camera picks up. Note the best setting and use that for your flight. We have had so may low budget groups want to just set it up, load it and do it in one take. Getting it right takes a lot of set up or you get secounds out of an hour of tape.

WWhunter wrote:I just looked at the gopro at the Eatern Outdoors Show in Harrisburg, PA. Looks like a very nice set-up. Can you give us a review on it?
WW

Great camera. I have 2 and they work wonderfully. Very hardy and small. A new backpack and external housing will be available 3-15-11 that will mount giving the camera an LCD screen ($49.00) http://www.gpscity.com/gopro-hd-hero-lcd-backpac.html

A friend of mine just got one of the Drift HD170 cameras http://www.driftinnovation.com/for his plane. It looks more aerodynamic than the GoPro (and we all know that looks are what matter, not actual sciency stuff), you can rotate the lens to level the picture no matter what angle you've mounted the camera, and it has a wireless remote that you can start and stop the camera with from the cockpit without having to run wires. Works great. He did run tests at different engine settings to get the least amount of vibration in the video. A little vibration and you get weird shaking/rolling effects in the video. I'll post a sample of what I mean a little later when I have time. He first mounted it to the strut, but you could still see the prop in the corner of the frame. Now he has it mounted on the wing using a piece of angle aluminum attached to three of the screws for the landing light cover. Works well and it's simple.

amacbean wrote:A friend of mine just got one of the Drift HD170 cameras http://www.driftinnovation.com/for his plane. It looks more aerodynamic than the GoPro (and we all know that looks are what matter, not actual sciency stuff), you can rotate the lens to level the picture no matter what angle you've mounted the camera, and it has a wireless remote that you can start and stop the camera with from the cockpit without having to run wires. Works great. He did run tests at different engine settings to get the least amount of vibration in the video. A little vibration and you get weird shaking/rolling effects in the video. I'll post a sample of what I mean a little later when I have time. He first mounted it to the strut, but you could still see the prop in the corner of the frame. Now he has it mounted on the wing using a piece of angle aluminum attached to three of the screws for the landing light cover. Works well and it's simple.

Wow, I don't have an airplane, but this camera look like it would be an all around marvel for most anything. I hardly use my camcorder for anything but recording on the SD side, and short clips to show/post of what things I am doing such as snorkel or bike riding, etc.
Thanks for the heads up.

It has it's pros and cons.

Pros (for me): Aerodynamic looking, wireless remote, rotating lens to level the video (Very usefull!), built in lcd screen ( you can see what you're recording or playback what you've recorded - it's pretty small though), built in all-weather mic is adequate, available external mic, HD 1080p, 720p.

Cons: Not completely waterproof like the GoPro, no 60fps option on the 720p setting like the GoPro (although the newer version, the Stealth, has that option), when using the external mic the back of the unit has to be open (not a big deal unless you're in a wet/dirty environment)

I love it so far.

Here are some more choices found at aircraft spruce. Albeit pretty expensive, most are dedicated to aviation use.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/camerasystems.html

Gotta represent the home front. This is the one I use:

http://us.oregonscientific.com/cat-Outdoor-sub-Action-Cams-prod-ATC9K-HD-All-Terrain-Video-Action-Camera.html

But full disclosure: I get them for free because my fiance works there.

It's pretty damned good though. Waterproof to 65 ft, onboard LCD, 720p @60fps and 1080p @30fps. Remote is IR rather than RF, which is one of the few downsides.

http://www.vimeo.com/13694732
http://www.vimeo.com/14413213
http://www.vimeo.com/17754771

But...wasn't this thread about external mounting?

Can I get on free because your finance works there....if I post lots of cool videos of me and my plane?

I made a DIY mount for the wing strut and used the standard GoPro adhesive mount for the elevator:

http://www.vimeo.com/18855219 (see description + scroll down for pictures of the mounts)
http://www.vimeo.com/19543468

Cheers, Oliver

Those are very solid shots, Oliver.

Here is a sample video of what different amounts of vibration (rpm settings on the prop) can do to a little camera like ours.

http://www.vimeo.com/19804060