Sorry if this may seem like a silly topic, I have no knowledge of remote controlled aircraft and will do a bit research after I post.

 

Just read about an incident with an Alitalia aircraft on approach to JFK reporting an unidentified small aircraft within 200ft. From what I have read it was a remote controlled aircraft being flown in first person view from a remote control aircraft club nearby, the FBI is investigating.

 

When the first video phones came out (a long time ago) as a joke myself and a friend tried attaching them to remote control cars to see if we could drive in first person, obviously the phones where rubbish and clunky & combined with the fact that we used masking tape to attach them the experiment didn't last very long..

 

Anyway, I was wondering with modern technology is it possible to fly homemade remote aircraft from home hooked up to a big screen, onboard camera with pedals, yoke etc?

 

Edit - never mind, found this site http://www.fatshark.com/

 

Cheers

I think even the cheap (read under £100) RC helis you can get in places like Model Zone now come with onboard cameras.

People are saying it was a large quad copter at JFK,

 

http://www.bigsquidrc.com/fps-russia-quadcopter-and-machine-gun/

There are many websites out there with specific information on how to build and use UAV's. Even using GPS guidance for long range without the need for radio contact.

There are many websites out there with specific information on how to build and use UAV's. Even using GPS guidance for long range without the need for radio contact.

 

Quite scary when you think about it.... almost as scary as the guys who are building assault weapons with 3D printers...

I use UAV technology all the time for my job. It is a quad-copter configuration, with onboard GPS, and various camera payloads. The vehical can be flown as far as 3 km's away from the operator (although the legality of this parameter is questionable).

 

It allows the pilot to fly using the camera view if neccessary. The camera view is repositionable while in flight (full 360, between horizon and straight down). But it is very difficult to fly in camera view alone, and this is last resort in the event of a GPS failure. I have never done it other than in training for emergencies. The control interface is much more reliable and provides all the necessary flight telemetry to safely control the vehical when all systems are operating.

 

Now the catch is, because I use it in commercial applications, it is an aircraft in civil airspace, and thus I am obligated to operate it within the flight regulations. In fact I need a special flight permit to put it airborne, and these permits come with their own rules depending on where we fly it. That means see and be seen still applies, as we are in all practicality a VFR aircraft with no radio, no lights, and no sensing equipment (transponder or radar), and if I believe that I am in the way of another aircraft, then I must avoid them. The likeliness of the full size aircraft seeing my UAV and having time to avoid is very low, as the UAV is only a couple feet in diametre. So to be able to judge traffic conflict, I need to be able to see the UAV at all times. We use a 2 person crew for flights, because flying the thing takes some concentration, and watching the vehical half a kilometer away while flying it through the interface is not practial (or safe).

 

Operating a hobby model aircraft with a camera strapped aboard is completely different thing and is subject to different rules, however the thought of flying by camera view only is completely foolish in my experiance, considering the possible damage and risk you can cause by not seeing your own aircraft or any other traffic near you.

Thanks for the info, interesting post.

 

Regards