Mad Dogs 6, Spring 2014

[Brucey]

Brought back some great memories. Amazing what you can do with a tri.

[Flyboysee]

Yo boyz! Has everyone voted http://www.fpvhub.com/index.php/topic,20362.0.html

[Brucey]

Yes dad :-*
And for once in the history of MD, I can make either dates! No need to bribe the mrs with a shopping trip and no work commitments.

[Flyboysee]

Shiza, we have more votes than spaces :)

[krikey]

Great video Martin. I keep watching it :)

As for votes and spaces, could we cater for more people but have our frequency and booking board this time? I think the sweet spot for an informal meet is probably about 12-15 isn't it. I guess it depends on a few things:

1. Do we want MD to get bigger?

2. Will the locals allow it?

3. Can we park many more cars there?

[CurryKitten]

These are good points and worth discussing further -

1. Do we want MD to get bigger?

It was quite nice not to have to use the frequency board to organise "slots" this time - much of that was being able to shout out to almost everyone, and them doing the same.  It would be nice to keep the flying spaces at the meet small so we all get to fly quite a bit.  It doesn't mean of course that we couldn't have more non-flying spots, I'd happily turn up just to watch and fly passenger

2. Will the locals allow it?

Well, they've all been nice so far, and think it's quite exciting - especially when given a pair of goggles to have a try with.  Richard can act as minister of sweet-talking-the-locals

3. Can we park many more cars there?

A more important point this.  We have a finite amount of space there, unless the cricket club wants us to allow to drive up to the clubhouse... which maybe gives another 6-8 spaces.  It can't be relied on.  Trouble is as well, that if our parking fills up, there's a very long dirt track to walk a lot of gear up, and there's not that much other parking around the village

[Flyboysee]

In answer to the questions I think as follows;

1. Parking space at lower field should be good for about 30 cars, so no problem there.

2. We have never had more than 15 booking, average is 10 - 12.

3. This time with people on 2.4 and 1.3 video the possibility of more planes in the sky is now possible, so more flying for everyone.

4. If we try and squeeze many more people in, this will mean less flying per head.

5. That said, as much as there is a lot of interest in the build up generally, we always get approximately the same amount of flyers on the day, which in my mind is perfect.

What I would like to see is more community involvement and I will put up a few posters inviting villagers to come and see the village from the air. We can decide amongst ourselves who is prepared to offer these flights, and / or have an LED TV in the club house or on the verandah.

Boerewors Rolls as we did them this time worked really well I think. At £3.99 per 500g, you can't go wrong there.

I'm also working on a T shirt design and hopefully a really nice video intro for the videos from the event/s.

On the events side of things I think the Speed Trials works really well. Perhaps Wayne / Neil would like to keep a spread sheet of the times from event to event so that not only do we have a winner on the day, but there can be a Mad Dogs speed record. I am expecting some of the guys will fire up 6S systems for the next one :)

In addition, as discussed before and for the brave, a Range Comp, same as above, keep records of distances flown etc, winner on the day and a Mad Dogs overall record for ther uhm records.

Lastly, it has been previously offered by Dave P that we can fly on the Sunday as well if there is no cricket. Sadly though, the camping idea has now been completely ruled out due to insurance and H&S issues.

I will be going to Bounce and will chat to Angelos, check out his organisation of the meet and hopefully learn something new that will benefit MD

Richard

[krikey]

I agree, we had 12-15 people on this one and it was just right, in terms of pilots I believe for casual flying. Not to long to wait and all within earshot if you wanted to turn on. Perhaps the etiquette is simply "holler when turning on" but please do holler as there were a few instances of "feet in shot". I for one was victim on this occasion and on the last MD was the "perp" of this particular misdemeanour so if there's any one annoying thing its that :)

If the event grows then we will need a bit more organisation to allow for a fair amounts of flights each and not too much hollering.

Trophies are a great idea as best times/distances on the day and also overall, as well as personal bests. I think for instance that if flying an AXN or similar floaty style plane when stacked up against 4S wings, theres little hope of winning (although I wonder if I can get 4S out of my AXN), its still bloody good fun and a good idea to record your personal best to see if you can better it next time.

I've always said that I can provide the projector and we could hook up something in the clubhouse for passengers but I think that the logistics of that are still a ways off as we would need multiple VRXs spanning multiple frequency bands and channels. However playing back pre-recorded flights is easier on the big screen so I'll bring the projector along for the next one and we can see :)

Does anyone else have any ideas about this?

[CurryKitten]

Yes - we were just on the limit of how many you could fly without too many incidents.... although I had a crunch when I got the still-life daisy pic just as I launched, and on one of my DVR recordings I can hear you screaming "turn off turn off" :)

Any more people and i think we have to bring out the "Whiteboard of doom" for a more active role.

I personally love the little contests, I think everyone should enter always - as it's not about winning (unless you're Brucey :D) it's fun to do, and it's about personal bests as well.  People with slower planes shouldn't be dissuaded from having a go.

I've been thinking about multicopter races recently and I think we can set up a really cool little course within the field using swimming woggles (noodles as they say in the US) to form some arches to fly through.  It would make a bit more of a spectator event as well.

Having a spectator screen is an awesome idea in principal, but people tend to stand around outside and chat.  How many lumens does you projector put out, I'm guessing not enough to show up on an outside screen in daytime - not sure the best way forward there

[DaveyLC]

Thanks for the opportunity to fly so much, I managed to capture some great memories from a special day.
Its a bit longer then usual but I wanted to include as much as possible from the best FPV meet I've ever been to.


Mad Dogs 6 - May 2014 Summer FPV Meet

Great day Rich - how can we top this one?

That has to be THE BEST FPV formation video I have ever seen buddy! Even better than my previous fave from Team Echelon!

You really know how to handle that Tri-copter!

[Brucey]

Your right CK, its not all about winning, I've just got a reputation to keep :P
I like your idea of a multi-rotor course, I would also like to keep the high speed course for fixed wing (we could have the lap board like top gear) But would also like to see a more technical course for fixed wing so its not just balls to the wall flat out.

I liked the number of people that we have coming to these, and do worry about adding more people (available channels etc). I can see why we want it to grow, and that does have its merits for sure. But its a lot to cram into one day, and that's if you have a whole day of flyable weather, we were lucky last time.

I like the idea of inviting the local community to come and see. We could add a couple of time slots during the day when we have an organised session for spectators (whether its a trip over the village, or a formation conga line, or a multi-rotor demo) just so its looks a bit more pro. But obviously still welcoming the casual passers by as we do already so well.

The projector would be great, but as CK says, it would be better if it was outside so the people watching feel closer to the flight line and so it doesn't feel like a pre-recorded flight. Have you seen the Flite Test rig (two large screens and Rx's?) We could rig Rich's van with a similar install (maybe with the projector in the van projecting against the back wall??). I don't have spare TV's, but I do have a spare VRx for the 2.4ghz band.

But after spouting all of this text on screen, the thing that makes it for me is the people that turn up and the great laugh we have when doing the simple things, Dog crashing into the fence, CK recovering his plane from a tree, Krikey landing upside down and my esc failing to see a 3s battery as 3s and not 4s!

[lankyjames]

As brucey suggest a setup like flite test would be awesome to see:
Flite Test - Epic FPV Station: http://youtu.be/a_PQYgsjB5Y

It's easy to build, cheap if people will donate loaner parts and can fashion a sun hood from foam board easy enough.

[martynv]

Great videos Guys looks like a briliant event. I'd love to come along to the next one if only just to watch.

One sugestion on the "'daisy still life's" incidents. Would it not be better if everyone switched on there video receiver on their chosen channel first and then if you only see noise there's a good chance that channel is free and of course if you see a picture that channel must be in use by someone currently.

Martyn  :wave:

[Flyboysee]

Your right CK, its not all about winning, I've just got a reputation to keep :P
I like your idea of a multi-rotor course, I would also like to keep the high speed course for fixed wing (we could have the lap board like top gear) But would also like to see a more technical course for fixed wing so its not just balls to the wall flat out.

I liked the number of people that we have coming to these, and do worry about adding more people (available channels etc). I can see why we want it to grow, and that does have its merits for sure. But its a lot to cram into one day, and that's if you have a whole day of flyable weather, we were lucky last time.

I like the idea of inviting the local community to come and see. We could add a couple of time slots during the day when we have an organised session for spectators (whether its a trip over the village, or a formation conga line, or a multi-rotor demo) just so its looks a bit more pro. But obviously still welcoming the casual passers by as we do already so well.

The projector would be great, but as CK says, it would be better if it was outside so the people watching feel closer to the flight line and so it doesn't feel like a pre-recorded flight. Have you seen the Flite Test rig (two large screens and Rx's?) We could rig Rich's van with a similar install (maybe with the projector in the van projecting against the back wall??). I don't have spare TV's, but I do have a spare VRx for the 2.4ghz band.

But after spouting all of this text on screen, the thing that makes it for me is the people that turn up and the great laugh we have when doing the simple things, Dog crashing into the fence, CK recovering his plane from a tree, Krikey landing upside down and my esc failing to see a 3s battery as 3s and not 4s!

My suspicion's confirmed : Bruno's going 6S :)

[DaveyLC]

One sugestion on the "'daisy still life's" incidents. Would it not be better if everyone switched on there video receiver on their chosen channel first and then if you only see noise there's a good chance that channel is free and of course if you see a picture that channel must be in use by someone currently.

It's never that simple though :) so receivers are more sensitive than others, some have more stable PLL etc. etc. :)