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Post by efliernz on Aug 23, 2015 18:34:27 GMT 12
the flaps appear to be deployed... Routine for displaying the Hunter from various accounts I'm seeing. Cool. I admit I've only seen Dave P NZ display... if normal, great
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Post by efliernz on Aug 23, 2015 10:09:02 GMT 12
Just terrible. There will be many videos (and stills) that will assist with the investigation. Certainly a lack of speed at the bottom and the flaps appear to be deployed... but we really know nothing. Time to sit and wait for official stuff. Condolences to many, and speedy recovery to many more.
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Post by efliernz on May 24, 2015 13:00:54 GMT 12
I did the Gary Forlong (RIP) tour from Rotorua. As an impressionable 22yo who had never traveled out of NZ, I was lead astray by an awesome bunch of older gentlemen! The airshow rocked and the Kiwis simply stole the show For me, the B52 was incredible but the Su-26 aerobatic plane on its first tour south of the equator was unbelievable. Pete
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Post by efliernz on Apr 19, 2015 9:19:52 GMT 12
Playing today on the History Channel. I've been learning stuff!!!
13:30, 19:30, Monday 20ht 03:30 & 10:30
Pete
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Post by efliernz on Apr 8, 2015 15:48:44 GMT 12
The end of the world has not occurred... Facebook lives lol
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Post by efliernz on Mar 31, 2015 8:57:05 GMT 12
A couple of Kiwis are helping with low-altitude UAV mapping and damage assessment at the moment - joining with the Aussies. Today he's heading down to Tanna where there has been no food for two weeks. The Govt has removed the "disaster" status due to political BS with the overseas aid agencies... and he sees the big aid agencies driving around in new Santafe SUVs with their clipboards while the aid sits in containers. Their blog is here for the reading... diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/pictures-humanitarian-uav-mission-to-vanuatu-in-response-toPete
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Post by efliernz on Mar 23, 2015 18:39:18 GMT 12
CAA Regs state model aircraft (incorporating DJI Phantoms of course) cannot be flown outside un-aided line-of-sight distance. Yet we see another Phantom being flown obviously a huge distance... I just wish CAA would publicly screw someone, making the rest of us law-abiding model fliers feel that we follow the rules for a reason. Sore point? ? Possibly Pete
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Post by efliernz on Mar 6, 2015 8:30:36 GMT 12
It was actually quite reasoned and reasonable coverage. I'm with you. They kept the drama to the minimum and presented as many facts as possible. Even having a possible search solution suggestion that was reasonable. Obviously Campbell isn't on baron's people of the year but seriously, I thought it was well put together and worth a view "on demand" www.tv3.co.nz/tabid/3692/MCat/2908/Default.aspxPete
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Post by efliernz on Feb 20, 2015 7:40:52 GMT 12
I hope this is in the correct thread...
One of the Hamilton MAC members nearly burnt down his shed last Friday night after forgetting about a charging battery. I don't know the details but we all know modern chargers when configured correctly don't blow up batteries... but I do not know if that happened (and there is nothing left to examine). What did happen was he he went to bed... and walked into a very black garage Saturday morning. His charging table was in the middle of the room. Very very lucky. Well ages ago I thought about a cheap and easy charging station and it seemed like a good week to test it out! Basically... pop the pack into an oven dish and place a plastic bag of silica (paving) sand on top of the dish. Simply lift it off after the pack has charged. If the battery has a bad day (usually due to poor charger set up or aged/damaged cells), the burning battery melts the bag and the sand is released. I did the functional test Wednesday night... here it is.
Pete
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Post by efliernz on Feb 5, 2015 8:37:29 GMT 12
Very "lucky"... I suspect some great skill too. Obviously a case of the pilot having to make some quick decisions (after an apparent flame-out) on climb-out over a built-up area. The taxi driver while injured has survived the wingtip impact which is frankly amazing.
I think that we will see in the new today the flight path and lack of choices presented to the flight team...
Pete
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Post by efliernz on Feb 3, 2015 10:13:26 GMT 12
I have been mentoring a company in Christchurch for nearly 2 years. They now have govt/CERA contracts as well as some high-profile work. They have worked hard to get there and have the full insurance, operations manual, op's log and the CAA tick. They have sat the current PPL exams (he's an ex PPL) as part of their establishment and are doing well due to some very hard and expensive work. Good responsible operators will still succeed Saying that, the part-timer like me with 8 years op's under my belt has watched some irresponsible local "drone" pilots fly illegally and with the quick setup/fly/leave time, they are unlikely to be found and prosecuted by CAA. I have a 3rd-floor glass office in Te Rapa, north Hamilton and have twice seen UAVs (a large Droidworxs quad and a DJI Phantom) fly past my window with at least a 400-500M flight path over the Te Rapa straight traffic. They must have been flying FPV - and it's illegal to fly a model outside unaided visual range. The Droidworx quad flew and hovered 100M in front/above of a heavy-lift heli lifting roof trusses. CAA were advised but I have no idea who the idiot was... I'm sure in the UAV pilots mind, he was flying safely. I'm sure the thought of laws and rules never entered the idiots mind... Education here is the key and CAA know that... but really don't know where to start. However education will still not stop the idiot factor. I do however enjoy educating construction companies about engaging the services of a "drone photographer". Do they know if the operator has a H&S manual, operations manual, insurance... and are they aware that they are responsible for their sub-contractors? That last one usually sways them Pete
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Post by efliernz on Feb 3, 2015 8:40:13 GMT 12
More UAV "drone" rubbish on Campbell Live last night. Hey... let's deliver a latte by copter! The woman even removed the cup from under the machine while it hovered just above her head! Oh yeah... just before it flipped for no reason at all at 6' lol. www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/campbelllive/latte-to-your-lap-via-drone-delivery-2015020219#axzz3QcPGKl2TAs someone that has flown remotely pilots cameraships for 8 years, I see these damn things being flown by so many thoughtless nutters with zero safety considerations. Add that to completely devaluing quality aerial photography! I have had several commercial shoot cancellations based on media negative hype... Any wonder I now shoot using a C172. Pete
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Post by efliernz on Jan 26, 2015 20:25:38 GMT 12
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Post by efliernz on Jan 25, 2015 21:23:27 GMT 12
A good laugh... they are not for everyone.
I have had (and destroyed) several Gopros on my models. My GP2 has sat on a C172 wingstrut...
... They were great in the beginning but the latest are very overpriced imho. They still have a heap of barrel-distortion and as stated above, Jaycar and others have some very well performing cheaper alternatives. A workmate bought the SJ4000 last week. Well under $200 for similar performance...
Hmmm I must try mounting one on a large whiskey bottle for the ultimate selfie...
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Post by efliernz on Jan 21, 2015 13:17:35 GMT 12
I agree on the 'quiet' periods throughout Saturday, there could be been some ground displays going, and the Bren Gun carrier parade which was right at the end of the day could have filled an earlier gap or just some of them giving a demonstration would have added to the importance of their world beating record I was in the parade... what a blast
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Post by efliernz on Jan 21, 2015 12:00:31 GMT 12
Observations... I enjoyed the show (Fri and Sat) as a good weekend away with mates. I was surprised with the tools-down lunch break. I felt the local homebuilders (Jodels etc - not Vans etc) or WW1/2 ground simulations would have been perfect since it was apparently in recognition of the WW1 centenary... WW1 planes at daybreak before the wind hit perhaps??? I saw people leaving Sat lunchtime due to nothing happening! Just my 5c worth - don't shoot me Pete
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Post by efliernz on Jan 20, 2015 19:52:39 GMT 12
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Post by efliernz on Jan 19, 2015 17:23:02 GMT 12
I made Fri and Saturday and was really lucky to be on a WW2 Loyd carrier for a trip around the field late afternoon... putting me on the other side of the field, giving me a different view to normal Editing photos... what a dilemma to have so many fantastic damn Brett Emeny Vampire photos from the most perfectly presented pass after pass I've ever seen!!! Pete
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Post by efliernz on Jan 14, 2015 9:55:45 GMT 12
Bring it on Wx looks great. Friday leave sorted, tent sorted, group transport sorted, red wine packed... and I accidentally bought the new canon 100-400 USM ii lens last Wednesday. Monopod should be delivered today... Oh well... See ya there Pete
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Post by efliernz on Dec 28, 2014 8:36:38 GMT 12
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