Mounting systems for video camera

GMascelli

GMascelli

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GaryM
I am looking for suggestions on a mounting system to add a video camera on the wing.

I have a tail tie down mount, works great, but I can’t mount it on top of the wing.
 
One of my friends took one of the screws holding his wing tip farings out and put a longer one through one of the plastic gopro mounts.
 
GMascelli said:
Not trusting that..... they sometimes fall off the inside windows.
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I think NFlightCam has one that mounts to the tie down ring . . . if you want a bolt-on solution.

upload_2021-1-5_16-52-57.png

Edit: nvm, I just saw that you wanted it above the wing.
 
GMascelli said:
I fly a low wing, but that looks like it might work if there is way to screw that base on a wing tip.
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Well they make ball mounts that just need a #8/#10 screw size to secure the mount. If you have any cowls or covers that utilize that screw size, it would probably work better than the tie-down ring version.
 
GMascelli said:
I am looking for suggestions on a mounting system to add a video camera on the wing.
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FYI: If looking for a store bought solution there are a number of companies that offer slotted plates with a GoPro ball on them which can pick up inspection panel hardware holes, wing tip hardware holes, etc.
 
+1 for flightflix.

I have one under the wing (so not the same as your setup) but it is rock solid.
 
In the Navion, I just mount it to the the step with a gopro rollbar mount. The big drawback is it is so close to the pavement that it looks like I taxi at 50 knots.
 
flyingron said:
In the Navion, I just mount it to the the step with a gopro rollbar mount. The big drawback is it is so close to the pavement that it looks like I taxi at 50 knots.
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Camera adds 10 knots?
 
While you're at it, get the case (plastic or metal) that protects the front side of the camera. Eliminates dust and rocks and such from damaging the lens.
 
murphey said:
While you're at it, get the case (plastic or metal) that protects the front side of the camera. Eliminates dust and rocks and such from damaging the lens.
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I have one for the tail tie down and one for the potential wing mount.
 
EdFred said:
Camera adds 10 knots?
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Only on the ground, unfortunately. Although the taxi from the Landmark FBO at Dulles to the Udvar-Hazy Center is something like six miles.
 
look at Stefon Drury's channel. He and Niko both have similar wing mounts. I am going to check into them.
 
Radar Contact said:
I have this and it’s been working really well so far. Here’s a snap shot from it.
View attachment 93070
Hope whatever you end up with works for you Gary.
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I have that one mounted on my left wingtip. I was unhappy with the amount of "jello" and started using this one, which appears to provide a much more solid mount and no jello on my airplane. I'm sure it varies from airplane to airplane.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/rocksteadygopro11-15048.php
 
MacFly said:
I have that one mounted on my left wingtip. I was unhappy with the amount of "jello" and started using this one, which appears to provide a much more solid mount and no jello on my airplane. I'm sure it varies from airplane to airplane.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/rocksteadygopro11-15048.php
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I have that one as well that I’ve been playing with on the wings. Seems to work great.

That single screw one does well on my tail with the session (smaller) at 200+ mph. Understand the jello comment well. I can’t get any mount to not be jello on my tail tie down. I’ve given up which sucks because I like the view of the gear up/down from that angle.
 
Radar Contact said:
I have that one as well that I’ve been playing with on the wings. Seems to work great.

That single screw one does well on my tail with the session (smaller) at 200+ mph. Understand the jello comment well. I can’t get any mount to not be jello on my tail tie down. I’ve given up which sucks because I like the view of the gear up/down from that angle.
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I agree about the tail tie-down mount. I like the view of the gear, but I also like that view pointed down. In that latter arrangement, the amount of jello is less. I've not had good luck at the tail tie-down otherwise. I'm suspecting that it's more about the tie down than it is the camera mount.
 
Alright, I will ask. What are the "legal" rules about screwing these onto the plane.
I was under the impression that we had to use sticky or suction mounts.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Alright, I will ask. What are the "legal" rules about screwing these onto the plane.
I was under the impression that we had to use sticky or suction mounts.
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Why do you think sticking things to the plane is any MORE legal than screws or clamps?
 
flyingron said:
Why do you think sticking things to the plane is any MORE legal than screws or clamps?
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Hearsay actually, A more seasoned video dude told me sticky mounts are okay but mounting anything to the exterior by way of using screws will get you in hot water.
That is my only reference.
 
I disagree the sense of FlightFix's statement. Temporary means squat. Temporary mods are no more legal nor held to a lesser standard than permanent mods.
 
flyingron said:
I disagree the sense of FlightFix's statement. Temporary means squat. Temporary mods are no more legal nor held to a lesser standard than permanent mods.
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Didn't their statement specifically say that you wouldn't find the term "temporary" in the FAA publications?
 
flyingron said:
I disagree the sense of FlightFix's statement. Temporary means squat. Temporary mods are no more legal nor held to a lesser standard than permanent mods.
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Is that solely in reference to the outside of the plane, or does stuff velcro'd/suctioned/double-sided-taped to the panel/glareshield/windows now have to get a 337/STC/Field Approval to be as legal and meet the same standards as something being permanently installed in the panel/glareshield/windows?
 
One of the great things about biplanes is that there are so many good places to mount cameras. This is a homemade mount using a Ram ball adapter I made to clamp onto any of the various struts on my plane (more info in the April 2021 Kitplanes mag):

upload_2021-1-7_18-42-55.png
 
Radar Contact said:
I have that one as well that I’ve been playing with on the wings. Seems to work great.

That single screw one does well on my tail with the session (smaller) at 200+ mph. Understand the jello comment well. I can’t get any mount to not be jello on my tail tie down. I’ve given up which sucks because I like the view of the gear up/down from that angle.
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I'd like to see exterior shots in your videos.
 
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