Turbine Observer (sneak peek) NEW photos

[cbergen]

I guess it's not all that sneaky, since I'm designing the darn thing!! :D

Anyhow, a couple of pics of the prototype.

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/b0a783dde684f1aa50c779c65e601158.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/7497944b04dae462611581cf57cc3171.jpg

http://www.helifreak.com/album_mod/upload/f59d9744fdf21a9fd8c2c0928d72310e.jpg

I should be doing test flights this week, depending on weather and other customer's projects.

[Whirly-Girl]

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Wow! Way to go Chris! I can't wait to see some video.

Jeanette

[Tonystott]

My keyboard isn't waterproof, and the drool caused a short! :D:D

[MarkWebber]

Interesting deviation from the standard Observer gimbal. I was wondering when I see a set of those high lift blades in action.

I second Jeanette...can't wait for the video!

[Gary Travis]

Excellent, now that should do nicely!!
Gary

[MLaBoyteaux]

I like the way you've supported the gimbal. A much better arrangement than the original design. And with the turbine instead of the G26 paint mixer it outta be smooth! Can't wait to see some video!

[Gary Travis]

Lets not condem the Observer with the 260 as it can shoot exellent video. I hated to post video on youtube as it destroys the video quality, but did it anyway. The video was shot off a Bergen Observer eb with a STOCK 260 PUH and a Cannon GL2. Just some stuff iI got when working with Ryan Fisher and letting him get used to the camera. I have had great siccess using the Cannon GL2 and shortly will be using the Cannon XH A1. As I suspected the video qality is diminsished when uploading to youtube. I wish there was a better place to upload with my lack of skills uploading. I will try uploading to Augusto's site and see how it goes. As far as youtube the file was reduced to a point that you are seeing about 1 of every five frames which does not even come close to the origional footage. But for those who need to know if smooth video can be shot off the Observer take a look. The Canon GL2 shoots extremly well. I will be shooting a car commercial next week and will try to get some video posted on a site that will allow a large file.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=MOSuM8NnU04

Gary

[sky high]

Gary, do you mean the Canon XL H1, their relatively new HDV system? If you're not familiar, it does not record true HD if recording to HDV tape. It will only record true HD through the SDI outputs to an external true HD recording device. Like it's predecessors, it is also front heavy because of all that glass. The Panasonic HVX200 will record true HD onboard to its P2 cards and should weigh less than the Canon. Either way though, you will have $7K-$8K hanging up there. Of course, that does not include the cost of the helo itself.

[Gary Travis]

I did not mean the XL H1 but rather the XH A1.Here is a link to the new Canon looks like 1080 to me. The camera is not as heavy as the XL H1 and will soot the 24f as well.
Gary

http://www.ritebuys.com/viewitem.php?IndexID=52568&section=

[xfc3dcd]

Chris,

Can just the lower portions - (both pan and tilt) be mounted on the original observer upper gimbal assy. to accept larger cameras? Can the whole enchilada be retrofit to the observer? Have you given any thought to adding roll axis to the gimbal? My experience so far is roll is more valuable than pan control as the heli/gyro pans much more precise than the gimbal so I don't even use it anymore.

Thanks,

Wendell

[cbergen]

Wendell,

Unfortunately not. There is a problem with height AND depth trying to adapt this to the Observer EB. I do have other options though that may help. Call me tomorrow.

In the bottom picture, you can see the optional roll function next to the standard pan and tilt.

I have also set up the axis' with gyros per Jody's advice (sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones..... :roll: :lol: ) and will continue to test and play with setups.

[GJestico]

I have also set up the axis' with gyros per Jody's advice (sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones..... :roll: :lol: ) and will continue to test and play with setups.

Care to share that advice with the rest of us ? :D
Nice work

[Flyboy]

CB,

Very nice to see you guys relocate the Lord mounts/isolators to a position where they are all under load/compression.

I can not wait to see soome footage. Very nice looking machine, Kudos!!

FB

[Brady Longmore]

looks good.

I also see what looks like a servo wire running the length of the boom. And possibly a lack of a tail servo push rod running from the frame and back. Do you have the tail servo mounted on the boom near the actual rotor with a shorter pushrod? Or am I crazy? :shock:

THE BIG QUESTION:

What are we looking at for pricing? Just ballpark.

[wren1702]

Boy, those blade grips look tiny compared to the blades! :shock: :shock:

[Greg Alderman]

Brady...yes the Observer's have a tail mounted tail servo...you are not crazy...(well...as far as I know you are not! :D)

[Crjbenny]

Hey Chris!
If you only knew how many nights I have dreamed of that sweet little setup coming together. :D NICE WORK!
Smoother, quieter, more powerful, more reliable, smells good... What else can you aslk for?

Well done!

(not bashing G26s. They make great scooter motors... Just teasing guys)
:lol: :lol:

[Crjbenny]

Just to hear that thing go through the start sequence would bring a tear to my eye.

[Crjbenny]

Hey Chris,
I just noticed the third fuel bottle under the engine. Does that bump the flight time into the 30min. range?
I suppose carrying the extra weight it might burn a bit more fuel than the turbine Intrepid does.

[Witty]

I recently visited Chris and Crew in Michigan and got my own sneak peek!
This thing is one hell of a machine... What a work of art!
:D

[Tom Fiddler]

Nice machine Chris
I know you have been working overtime on it

[Witty]

Chris and I placed my Sony HDV-FX1 on the platform and it looked like a perfect fit. The Sony is similar in size and shape to the Canon XH-A1. I also own a Canon XL-H1 and I don't think it would fit well. As previously posted in this thread I too think the XL-H1 would be too front heavy.

[sky high]

I did not mean the XL H1 but rather the AXH1.Here is a link to the new Canon looks like 1080 to me. The camera is not as heavy as the XL H1 and will soot the 24f as well.
Well, you are definitely correct and I have been educated and updated. I had no idea those cameras were just released. That's what happens when you step away from the DV world for a couple of months. :mrgreen: Canon is notorious about releasing new or improved products out of the blue, especially after you spend your life savings on what you thought was their latest and best video camera. :arggg: I spoke to my supplier today and he said Sony is about to release its latest HDV model that will offer 1080P which is even better. :roll: The A1 is 1080i and is HD but it is compressed when recorded to HDV tape and the XH G1 & XL H1 is also compressed to HDV tape but uncompressed if output from their SDI outputs, whereas higher end HD systems are uncompressed to tape and their SDI outputs. Also, all of these HDV units only have 1/3" chips whereas the higher end cameras have 1/2" and 2/3" chips which means more information and better imaging. The qualitative differences between the two by the average viewer is barely discernable but the price differences are huge! You definitely will not go wrong with that camera though. Confused yet? It is absolutely ridiculous to have so many formats! :mrgreen:

The links below have info about every DV product you can imagine

XH A1 & G1 Info (http://www.dvinfo.net/canonxh/xhskinny.php)

Canon HDV Forum (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/forumdisplay.php?s=7e7a9ad4b89e83db3c48226df211096 8&f=138)

DV Info Net Main Site (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf)

[Gary Travis]

The new Sony with 24p sounds interesting for sure. The image quality is definetly different between the progressive and the interlaced. I have a Cannon XH A1 on the way and I Am sure I will like it, I have always liked Canon's digi 2 processor. At present I am using a GL2 with a .7 x 58 wide angle converter on it and it's doing great. The new Sony may be worth a look as long as you don't have to sell your house to buy one.
Gary

[Gary Travis]

Witty
The xl h1 would more than likely be to heavy for sure, also the configuration of the camera body would pose a problem. The new AX h1 should fit the bill nicely as wellas the new Sony FX 7. I will be shooting a music video as well as a car commercial this weekend with my partner Noel Zinger who is coming down from Canada we will be using the FX 1 ans as luck would have it I have a buisness associate coming in from the east cost with a XH A1 so we will be hopefully get to use them side bide sine to make a comparison.
On another note as I said before I have had outstanding resukts using the Cannon GL2. On the Observer EB it seems like the perfect combination and above all the cost of the GL2 is quite lower.
Gary