Hybrid AP! What range can my R/C handle?

[Tonystott]

I have a job requiring a full-size heli, but unfortunately I am too much a lard-arse for the heli (R44 with a mx seat loading of 137Kg).

Then a crazy thought occured to me....

I have got a colour 2.4Ghz D/L on the way with a claimed range of 1.5km. I have a patch antenna and a 7" TFT LCD monitor. I plan to hook up the A640 AV out to the D/L tx and transmit the through-the-lns images to the ground station. My radio is a JR (x V2 (your 9303), and the shutter is fired by an RC switch from RCsoft.com

I am hoping that if the heli stays in the 1000-1500 foot range, my radios (R/C and D/L) should both be able to operate my mast setup, fitted to a mount on the helicopter.

Do you guys reckon it is a practical idea?

(PS. I already use similar setups on the mast and my Trex heli, so the technology is not an issue, just the vertical range. The pilot is a friend. I will power the airborne gear from a 7amp 12v battery, so all the pilot will need to do is turn on the radio gear (powered through a DE voltage regulator) - I will set up a switch convenient for him so he won't need access to the camera mount while in the air...)

[AZ ChopperCam]

what an interesting idea. I see no reason that it should not work. just make VERY VERY certain that the mount or component parts won't come loose and strike the tail rotor. The speeds a fullsize helo will fly at are much greater than we subject our RC mounts to so keep that in mind when attaching it to the heli.

range for the radio will not be an issue. you could go 2000' or more. not sure on the DL range, but if they claim 1.5km then you should be fine. how many watts is the DL TX?

you will also want a handheld air band radio so that you can communicate with the pilot. out here we use 123.45 mhz for air-air or air-ground communication.

basically what you're doing is guiding a big ass model helicopter around taking photos with a guy sitting in the right seat. :D :D