Flyaeros.co.uk
Working in association with
Bournemouth Flying Club
Delivering flight training in Wiltshire and Dorset
Aerobatics trial lesson in the Scottish Aviation Bulldog (S.A. Bulldog B120)
You could do this!
Best Trial Lesson of 2010 (this is loud!)
Already a Pilot? After a few lessons, you could be doing these on your own:
Please be aware that once you have a taste for the thrill of aerobatics, "upright" flying will seem quite mundane.
Your flight on a DVD
Flights are usually recorded using a two camera set-up. The front camera is positioned to show the student, and the view out of the window of the wing + scenery beyond. The second camera is positioned behind the front seats pointing forward giving a view of the front seat occupants, the instruments, and the scene out the front window of the aircraft. For the aerobatics sequence, the two camera views are usually combined simultaneously into a single video stream, with the view from the rear camera superimposed as a smaller picture in picture display over the video from the other camera. Several examples are available on this site, but please note that the quality of the finished DVD will be superior to the video shown here.
Audio from the aircraft intercom is recorded onto the camera audio system, so you will be able to hear the conversation between student & instructor, as well as the reception from any radio receivers that are selected in the cockpit.
The DVD has a printed top layer, is a standard video DVD with a menu that will allow viewing of the complete flight, as well as direct selection of various scenes, usually the take-off, aerobatics & landing. The menu title will also include your name.
Sample videos
The Aircraft
The Aerobatic Aircraft
Scottish Aviation Bulldog (S.A. Bulldog B120), G-BCUV
This is an excellent aircraft for basic aerobatics. Designed as a military trainer, this aircraft makes a very nice aerobatic trainer with well harmonised controls and a spacious two seat side/side cockpit. She has a 200hp fuel injected Lycoming engine which drives a two blade propeller through a constant speed unit, and is rated to +6g and -3g. This particualr aircraft was never owned by the Royal Air Force, but has permission to fly in their colour scheme.
Avions Pierre Robin R2160, G-MATT
This is a very good aircraft for basic aerobatics. It has two seat side/side cockpit with a bubble canopy giving great visibility. The engine is a 160hp Lycoming, driving a two blade fixed pitch propeller. The airframe is rated to +6g and -3g.
Other Aircraft
There is an interesting selection of "right way up" aircraft too. Chosen by pilots for pilots:
- Diamond Star (DA40): Modern composite design with diesel power and G1000 glass cockpit. Seats four in comfort.
- Robin (HR20): Superb two seat basic trainer with a bubble canopy giving the pilot excellent visability
- Piper Warrior (PA28) - diesel: Classic training/touring aircraft updated with a modern, quiet, frugal, computer controlled diesel engine and single power lever. Seats four.
- Piper Warrior (PA28) - petrol: Classic four seat training/touring aircraft.
- Piper Arrow (PA28-200R): Complex version of the popular PA28 series of airceaft. I deal for longer trips.
- Partenavia (P68b): Sleek, high wing twin with fixed gear. Seats six in comfortble leather seats.
Contact Bournemouth Flying Club for more details
Objectives
The purpose of this site is to:
- Promote Aerobatic flying
- Demonstrate the correct technique to use, to successfully complete your chosen manoeuvre
- Promote video footage of aerobatic flight, and for this I need to recognise the brave folk who have put their trust in me, to be part of an experience that isn't for everyone. They have very kindly allowed me to share their experiences with you here ...
In-flight video
Cameras
For the Bulldog aircraft we fly with two cameras that produce the stunning results that you can see on the site here. The DVD of your trial lesson (available for purchase separately) will be of higher quality still. We also now have the capability to produce HD Widescreen video on Blue-ray. Please ask for details.
Aircraft Electrical Interface
The audio interface between the aircraft system and the video cameras is still under development. Quite a bit of experimentation was required to finalise the electronics which works well, but the connection to the camera which initially relied on an internal modification has proved to be unreliable. A connection to the camera's bus is now being tested, and initial results are promising. I hope this will be less susceptible to vibraion. I am considering duplicating the audio connection so each camera has a record of the cockpit conversation which will increase the chances of having an audio record of the flight.
Camera Installation
The bespoke camera brackets have proved to be more suceptible to vibration than the original "sucker" attachment, so these have been reinstated pending a redesign.
Wish List
The videos give no indication of the 'G' forces being experienced by the aircraft/occupants. I am hoping to record the accelerations on the aircraft so that I can overlay 'G' force readings onto the video. It would also be great to extend this to include automatic power on/off, remote camera setting, and to power the cameras from the aircraft system.
News
Software
Advanced software to develop very nice videos has arrived, so we can now offer high quality DVD production. As a result, we now have the capability to produce HQ Wide Screen video on Blue-ray.
Printer
The third printer has arrived. This one is capable of printing directly to the top side of DVDs/CDs. I am very happy with the results, and this has now completed the final stage of DVD production.
Wish list items progress
Logging circuit
The micro-controller which will form the core of the data logging unit has arrived, and initial testing looks good. I am also in receipt of the accelerometers which hooked up to the micro-controller just fine, and the data looks believable. The next stage is to log that data to a micro-SD card to record the g-forces for subsequent access from a PC. The micro-SD cards have arrived as have the breakout boards with the socket, which have now been connected. The probems left to address are the development of the software to handle the logging, as well as the supply of an accurate 3.3v to the SD card and the micro-controller from the camera battery (3.0v - 4.2v).
Camera power supply
The camera batteries only last about 2.5 hours, so on a busy day they run short of life. I have thrown together a simple circuit to charge the cameras in situ between flights. This saves me the faff of removing the cameras, recharging the batteries, and reinstalling everything between flights. I am using a 6v gel battery, and two low dropout voltage regulators to deliver 2 x 5v@1A via USB connectors. It works very well, and even protects itself and the cameras from reversed connections ... tested inadvertently recently! In theory I could leave it connected during flight, but as the cameras have lithium batteries, and they would take a charge whilst connected, I don't think that would be sensible risk to take. Given more time, I plan to investigate the possibility of removing the camera batteries altogether and instead, power the cameras solely from an external battery. This would give me at least a days flying without recharging. The SD cards now need upgrading to match.
