Night Fly Challenge! Sign up here!

[Flyboysee]

Simple really, get your plane up at night and then post the video in this thread within 7 days.

You will earn the title, 'Man / Woman who flew their FPV plane at night.'

This was this evening, 29 November 2012 at 9pm. -2c

FPV Night Flight Minus 2 Celcius

What I can say for sure is that flying at night is awesome! It brings all sorts of completely new challenges to FPV and is not as scary as some think.

Here's the rest of my back catalogue - been doing this for a month now... Who will be first?

My first vid from 1 Nov 2012
FPV Night Flight in the country late at night with FY31AP / Hornet OSD

2nd vid from 2 Nov 2012
FPV Night Flight with FY31Ap and Hornet on Easy Star ver 2. My 2nd Night Flight!

3rd vid from 4 Nov 2012
FPV Night Flight. The Moon, Jupiter and a Crash!

[Coyote]

Well done for braving the cold Rich, I would have said no to that before the pitch black bit :)

[krikey]

Im up for this but i would like to get set up (obviously) first. I was thinking of runway lights and some people have mentioned using low voltage/battery LED xmas lights for the runway markers.

So anyone got any ideas as to runway lights and simple strobes for the wings? Something light( as in weight) and strobey for the airfarme :)

[Flyboysee]

Neil go to first person view and order a strobe (with wires). Mine is powered with the output dc of the vrx through a regulator to bring the volts down to 5. That's your most important light source. Also get from Simon a 260 degree servo so you can pan to find your position whole flying straight. I think this is the most important thing to have! I couldn't fly nights without it.

Set down your chair and GS where you want to sit and have an led lantern low down so you can find your stuff. If you put it high it will cancel the strobe.

Then put an led lantern directly in front of your chair say 30 - 50m away. The area between your strobe and lantern is your runway. Obviously check it out and make sure there are no trees etc. That's all you need.

I found it handy on my very first Flight which was at the field in Gt Haseley to put my van lights on - but do so away from yourself.

Put some LEDs on the plane for take off only. I have a 2 cell on the ez on the outer body to power it. They are quite dim and that's all you need to throw the plane, sit and immediately get in the goggles. Always land FPV - I would imagine huge orientation issues of you try do it Los.

Fly near some lights and spend the first few flights getting comfy and practice tracking yourself using the pan.

Camera wise I have an SN555, nothing fancy but it works well.

I'll be glad to share the nocturnal skies knowing it's not only me freezing my nuts and having a brilliant time!

I don't suggest flying at dusk co's full black will be easier to find your bearings in and you'll have a crisp picture. Do some research on your system which works on IR for balance - find out if it will work at night.

I'm happy to assist you with the maiden down your end one weekend.

Richard

[marcin]

Night flight

[Shikra]

How about this  one? I think it was the first ever FPV tricopter night flight!
And in the days before naza, multiwii, cc etc...
Using helicopter gyros - so it wobbles a bit.

I sh4t myself.... but couple of minutes in started to get the hang of it.
TriCopter - FPV Night Flight on Vimeo

[Flyboysee]

How about this  one? I think it was the first ever FPV tricopter night flight!
And in the days before naza, multiwii, cc etc...
Using helicopter gyros - so it wobbles a bit.

I sh4t myself.... but couple of minutes in started to get the hang of it.
TriCopter - FPV Night Flight on Vimeo

Nice Shikra!

...and considering the lack of stability tech a brilliant flight. I like it when you get full colour getting close to lights - I got that on my 2nd for a few seconds flying close in to a pavillion. I like a bit of separation from objects co's it all seems to speed up a bit :)

R

[Flyboysee]

Night flight

Cool Marcin! That's training, so when's the night flight m8?

:)

[krikey]

Cheers FB. The new Storm OSD uses gyros whereas my older Nova used IR, so that should be better. Ill take a look at firstperson view for the strobe.

[Shikra]

cool vids guys - just had time to have a proper look. liking the night stuff

[Flyboysee]

Cheers FB. The new Storm OSD uses gyros whereas my older Nova used IR, so that should be better. Ill take a look at firstperson view for the strobe.

Great Neil, then you're set to go :)

[Flyboysee]

cool vids guys - just had time to have a proper look. liking the night stuff

Cheers shikra, I just follow the calm winds... I've been known to shout, 'Just popping out for milk, love!' then returning an hour later with some vid :)

[Flyboysee]

This was at about 8pm on a very cold evening on Saturday in Southampton after flying with a bunch at Brockenhurst. Enjoy!

FPV Night Flight Southampton Docks

[krikey]

Love the backing track too. Very apt. The Strobom strobe LED worked and you could see it, but only close in as there was just so much light.