StabCam
I wanted to install a video camera in my plane for the trips to Copper and Las Cruces last year. So I tried different mountings and even laid the camera up on the glare shield, it worked pretty good, but the sound was bad, and the picture was not all that great either...
Then one day I saw the show "Test Pilots" on Discovery Wings where they had mounted a camera on the VS of the aircraft they were flying. So I started looking for a camera to install in mine -8A. In searching for more info, I ran across Larry Bowen's web site where he had documented the installation of a Color CCD bullet camera into his vertical stabilizer tip.....and so off I went...
The camera was purchased from these guys for about $125 with shipping, and you can read about it here. The Cam is pretty small, and runs on 12v @ .5 amps. the only thing I want to change about the cam is to get a wider angle focal lens if possible. Right now the picture only goes about half way out the wings, and I want more to get some good formation videos...
The video camera I am using is the new Sony DCR-TRV460 Digital8 Handycam. I am going to run RG59 up to the forward baggage compartment, as well as an RCA audio cable from the intercom to the video camera for the audio source. Below you can see one of the first test videos I took over the weekend. I will post more photos and videos as I take then...
In the video you can see some interference in the video when I key the mic or my handheld... I believe this is because I was not using RG59, but rather an adaptor and some cheapy audio cable and RCA jacks... I am hoping that once I install the RG59 it will go away... I may even ground one end of the shield in the RG59 in necessary...
| Just some installation photos... |
 |
| New "StabCam"! First test video from the StabCam... |
 2.9 MB - WMV |
|
Oh, and for you "flat landers", listen for the DA here, and it's winter! |
| First Flight Videos from the StabCam! I think I may need to point the camera a little more up, but my buddy's say it's ok, so... |
||
 5.1 MB - WMV |
 3.5 MB - WMV |
 4.1 MB - WMV |
| Taxi & Takeoff | Just flying around | Landing & Taxi |
| Paul Stratman's StabCam! |
 3.2 MB - WMV |
| This is what I am going for! |