The 'mark of Zorro'...

I was impatient. I wanted to take some more ariel photos and video using the helicopter but the weather just wouldn't play ball. Sure, it was sunny, but it was also windy. Heavily laden helicopters and wind don't mix well. An unexpected gust lifted the little machine into an uncontrollable 'death roll' which proceeded to come straight at me. I tried to step aside, wasn't quick enough and found myself branded with the 'mark of Zorro' by the whirring rotors...OOoow! I would have to think of something else.

Thinking that I would use the wind to my advantage, I grabbed my trusty kite, some gaffer tape, some foam blocks and of course my FlyCam and walked to a nearby piece of open land.
With a bit of messing about I soon had the camera wrapped in protective foam and attached to the assembled kite.
The wind was annoying. It would gust hard then suddenly drop off leaving the kite flutter to the ground.
My first flight was with the video running. Weaving the kite from side to side in a vain attempt to gain height resulted in a very wobbly picture that left you with a distinct sea sick nausea.
Next I tried taking some stills. The wind was a little more cooperative this time.
Running backwards (dodging the minefield of dog poos left by mindless owners) got me some good altitude.
Once up high, I could appreciate how lucky I was to live in such a leafy area, dotted with lakes. Sometimes I take all this for granted, I shouldn't...
The resolution on the pictures isn't all that I hoped it would be. The camera is compromised by its weight saving (37 grams). More lifting capacity is required.... I've still got that ex-military parachute that I used when I had a go at flying (see - Lets go fly a kite...). I packed it away after it nearly ripped my arms off and threatened to drag the car that it was tethered to across a field. I wonder?!...

Helicam revisited...

Another version of my previous video, but now with music and additional photos.

'Helicam' higher...

This poor little helicopter has fallen off, rooves, hit washing lines, trees, paddled in birdbaths, as well as the ground coming up and hitting it on numerous occasions; all without major damage.
Oh, but hit a bit of floppy tall grass with the rotor results in a 'top locked over shank sheet bend' knot of twisted green rope wrapped around the shaft accompanied by a shriek indicating that every last tooth has been stripped off the drive gears...OOoow!!

Flying helicopters is like watching a horror movie...you know something bad is going to happen, you just don't know when!
Nevermind, these things can always be rebuilt. I couldn't resist the temptation to modify it just a little. A new inner drive shaft topped with an aluminium fly bar support that allows the top blades to articulate even more...cool. A quick test flight and I'm ready for new horizons.
My previous attempts at ariel videography were thwarted by the camera switching itself off. I'd put this down to me not charging it sufficiently, but, even though the camera was new, it turned out to be the battery. Replacing the tiny postage stamp sized lipo battery was a fiddle. I've got big blokey wide fingers. I need the dexterity of a trained monkey, but that's a project for another day.
I fashioned some over sized skids from polystyrene in order to avoid crushing the camera on landing.
A lanyard was also included to prevent any camera free fall videos...
It wasn't the prettiest of setups, but it did the job.

As the machine rose ever higher, a speck in the sky, a halo of sunlight reflecting off the blades the only indication of its unnatural presence, I felt a dread that this would be the last time I'd ever see it. It didn't matter how still it was on the ground, up there where eagles dare, there was always a wind, or a thermal to snatch it away...
I was unable to get the views I really wanted as I had to turn it into the wind to enable enough control to keep it in 'known' airspace. I was glad to bring it back down, opting for a 'petal cushion' landing on a very surprised Begonia.
Next project... Lights, and night flying!
I reckon there's plenty of fun to be had buzzing a few drunks on their way home. That should spawn a few UFO sightings!!!...