Aerial Surveillance

[Smokeyr67]

Hi guys,

One of my hobbies (that's getting beyond a hobby:)) is r/c aircraft.

My current project is a 3 metre wingspan model that will have an endurance of about an hour with a 2 kilo payload. I'm wondering how I can use this with my other hobby, looking for Mr Hairy.

Obviously I can throw in a day camera, but something light, that works in low to no light would be very useful.

If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd love to get this airframe kitted out with some useable Yowie hunting gear.

[Neil Frost]

G'day Smokeyr67,

Maybe an iPhone 5s with a mounted FLIR recording video. viewtopic.php?f=45&t=4782

I would image that anything below might react. I remember talking to some retired RFS members many years ago who told me that a helicopter surveying bushfire damage (I think that it was the 1968/69 fires, not certain - don't think that I could verify this anymore) flushed out a large animal that ran ahead of the aircraft.

Good luck.

Neil

[AL Pitman]

Smokey

I ( TOYED ) with this similar idea some time ago . I even purchased a small helicopter with the view of furthering my skills as an UAV operator but this only ended in approximately 1000 different bits and pieces lol
I am sure that with the type of craft and an experienced operator that this type of surveillance could have a great potential , please do give it a try I am personally keen to see the results .

It makes me wonder what things chopper pilots have seen when in the process of their normal duties and working in otherwise remote areas on search missions or other . There are as you would obviously know more quiet versions of these UAV's some with multiple rotors that might be more suited to the type of outcome that we are trying to achieve . Good luck don't crash and burn like me !! LOL .

[Rusty2]

Hey Smokey67 !
I use the vio pov HD

http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/2320 ... ov200.html

The unit might fit in the cockpit and the lens could be mounted under the aircraft facing down with included mounting bracket .

There are video glasses that could be purchased that will give you a live view from the aircraft enabling you to follow any suspect activity but their expensive . You'd have to figure out how to record from the video glasses .

[huey1]

Smokey



It makes me wonder what things chopper pilots have seen when in the process of their normal duties and working in otherwise remote areas on search missions or other .

Unfortunately in my experience of flying the Sunshine Coast Hinterland daily, no sightings at all.

I always used to get my students to do the low level NAV part over the thick sub tropical rain forests around Jimna, Kenilworth etc you get the picture. Never managed to sight a thing. Always wondered what we may of picked up if we had a FLIR fitted.

Huey

[themanfromglad]

The problem with copters is they make enough noise to be heard. Another problem is that they can only search during daylight hours. Bigfoot/Yowie do not often make themselves visible during daylight hours and when they do, they are on high alert. The most successful tool to date, remains a comfy lawn chair and a jamb block. Bring them in with wood knocks and then make friends with them.

[huey1]

The problem with copters is they make enough noise to be heard. Another problem is that they can only search during daylight hours.

Really? So the 200 odd night hours I have flying the Sunny Coast area I imagined?

Now we are talking the realms of a very rich benefactor but a good FLIR equipped chopper in a high holding pattern away from the target area (think police chopper) would be the ticket.

Huey

[Dean Harrison]

Thanks for the input Huey. All interesting.

How low can you get to the tree tops when you fly at night?


DMH

[huey1]

Hi Dean

Unfortunately night flying has even more rules to adhere to than day flying. The LSALT (lowest safe altitude) for the area around Maleny etc is about, from memory 4300 AMSL (feet above mean sea level). Now of course their are exemptions available from CASA to fly lower than that but they would be difficult if not impossible to acquire for a private yowie searching flight.

Becker Helicopters at Maroochy has permits to fly lower at night but on night vision goggles. He has a contract to train foreign military pilots so has a need for the exemption.

If you could find someone willing to fund a machine with a powerful FLIR camera like what a police chopper uses, then being above LSALT would not be an issue.

Believe me. If I ever won a substantial amount on the lotto, you and I Dean would spend quiet a few hours above them hills at night until that time I can't help


Huey

[Dean Harrison]

Hi Huey,

Terrific information. Thank you.

Perhaps a private/rural land owner who has a simple two seat (I say with absolutely no knowledge), Helicopter would have more freedom.

We have the H-Series FLIR. If hovering low enough, it could be quite effective.


DMH

[huey1]

Private/rural land owner makes no difference to the rules. During day flight 500 Ft AGL (above ground level) is the lowest you can legally fly without a low flying permit. Now if you have tall gum trees that are 100 feet tall does that mean you can fly 400 Ft above them and be legal to the 500 AGL rule? Maybe, bit of a grey area I reckon.

Night flight really is a different kettle of fish. LSALT is there to keep you alive. It is dangerous flying at night to do so low is far more risky.

As for the 2 seat helicopter. The Robinson R22 is just the ticket by far the most popular chopper in Australia and there are many all around the Gold & Sunny Coasts. I'm not sure if there are any night rated (equipped) R22's in the South East anymore but if you do get 1 for night flying I doubt you'd find a pilot willing to fly low at night.

This leaves the very real possibility of doing it during the day from a R22 using the FLIR I know there will be less chance of a Yowie being around during the day but its not unheard of.

As for costs the R22 for a charter rate is around $500 an hour, that's on engine time. Start to stop. If you can get a private owner, and there are plenty around on the cattle stations, who is willing to go yowie hunting. The costs will probably half.

Now back to that low flying permit. The CAR's have a low flying rule CAR 157

1000 AGL over built up areas and 500 AGL over all other areas. If you have a low flying permit then you can go lower (or due to stress of weather or for purposes of taking off and landing). Usually a low flying permit or authorisation will only be issued for things like flying training, mustering, shooting, fire fighting, incendiary burning, feral animal bait dropping etc you get the idea.
Now technically if you find a property owner with his own machine and who thinks he has hairy fellows on his land who is willing to help, it still has to be above 500 unless he has the permit...... *But he has to be caught/sighted/reported if going lower without the permit for CASA to know.*

Huey

* I am not of course condoning or encouraging illegal flying behaviour, just saying what people get upto on there own property is well, out of sight out of mind......

[Dean Harrison]

Very much appreciated Huey.

Thank you.


DMH

[Dean Harrison]

Being dropped into a remote (notorious), location, and retrieval a few days later is certainly an option I have considered.

DMH

[huey1]

Very doable Dean. National Parks can be funny about choppers landing but if you get out of a hovering chopper it hasn't landed has it lol.

[wellymon]

Abseil...!

[Smokeyr67]

Hey Smokey67 !
I use the vio pov HD

http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/2320 ... ov200.html

The unit might fit in the cockpit and the lens could be mounted under the aircraft facing down with included mounting bracket .

There are video glasses that could be purchased that will give you a live view from the aircraft enabling you to follow any suspect activity but their expensive . You'd have to figure out how to record from the video glasses .

Thanks Rusty, at about 500 grams thats a great little unit !

[Tommi]

This is the way to do it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG26anwBsmc

[Ballbearingbird]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mktR9lesjbg something like this