FPV Close Formation with Head Tracking

[Turbinefancy]

I look forward to the day when more people adapt HD FPV into their warbird cockpits and start flying formations, mock air combats, aerobatics etc. In a club of >300 members. I am the only one I know that flies FPV with head tracking - which makes all the difference to keep target/lead aircraft in view. It's challenging and exhilarating to fly FPV formation and super fun at the same time!

[rifleman_btx]

Yeah my friends in grapevine tx have a small group that fly fpv. They are working on getting planes to try formation as well.

[Turbinefancy]

The 114th Aero Squadron at Meadowmere Park is awesome. I thought about moving to the neighborhood because of that field when I was living in DFW.

I think FPV formation flying and mock air combat will become a trend once HD FPV become more prevalent. It’s a whole new experience flying from the cockpit vs LOS flying.

[rifleman_btx]

I agree, im still waiting for my 2 canopies for my CZ T28. Im going to make one a dual fpv platform so i can take others for a ride in the plane with me. Both with independent pan and tilt systems

[Turbinefancy]

CZ T-28 is the ideal scale FPV platform! Big with bulbous canopy for easy pan & tilt install. And gentle flight character as close as possible to full scale without breaking the bank. I was so disappointed that HH discontinued it before I got one.

That dual FPV setup is the bomb! I am so envious of Aussiehoppy’s setup!

[rifleman_btx]

Thats really close to what i have planned for mine, similar to my flightline P38

[Spitfire4life]

Good to see more FPV P&T out there. I'll be working on a system for a model myself in the near future, can't wait. I still firmly believe this is one of the more exciting newer aspects of the hobby yet to be fully exploited and enjoyed.

Look forward to seeing more video's on your results gents.

S.

[Turbinefancy]

Hi Stuart,

Very nice of you to chime in! I agree that FPV P&T deserve more exposure and the catalyst to gain widespread acceptance is an affordable plug & play HD system. An integrated flight controller that can maintain the plane flying in a circle in case of FPV or RC glitch would be ideal to ease pilots transition into FPV with minimum chance for crash.

Your enthusiathem for FPV P&T really shows in the many thoughtful features of the Avios Spitfire. I am building one right now. It’s a shame that the execution on quality of that model is not up to par with the FL standards.

Following is video of a proximity & precision aerobatic flight putting my HD FPV P&T to good use:

[rifleman_btx]

Heres my setup

[Turbinefancy]

Often people neglect the tilt action in head-tracking setups. But pan & tilt are both critical for realistic dogfight/formation experience to keep target in sight.

Here’s a formation training flight with some near misses. Very challenging but exhilarating by chaser and chasee!

[Turbinefancy]

A smooth, predictable flight lead is critical to successful formation flying. And a large, bright schemed lead aircraft also helps. Here’s one of my FMS PC-21 in formation with 2.1m Carbon-Z Cub. Too much fun!

[Turbinefancy]

Another one with an AJ Laser 230z 60" going fast. It's much different (more difficult) than chasing a gentle giant like the Cub.

[Turbinefancy]

Close FPV formation of 2x PC-21 with commentary on what’s on my mind when I fly formation...

[Deanorc]

G'day, I'm really keen to be able to do what you guys are doing with head tracking FPV, what do I need, where do I get it?? I want to put it in my e flite Prometheus it would be a blast. I fly with A Spektrum Dx9. Cheers.

[Turbinefancy]

You need a good FPV system and head tracking system.

State of the art digital FPV system with HD resolution and low latency would give you the best in cockpit experience. Right now the best one is DJI Digital FPV system.

The only independent headtracking unit available now is Quanum head tracker:
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/quanum-3...BoCgvUQAvD_BwE

You will also need pan and tilt camera mount to make use of the head-tracking signals from the head-tracker unit, which are transmitted using spare channel from your RC TX/RX.

[Turbinefancy]

Close FPV formation with real time pilot communication at the flight line to coordinate the flight.

[Turbinefancy]

Mock dogfight and formation aerobatics fun

[sgrtgoat]

It's great to see someone doing this ! i would love to do formation , I've been flying fpv headtracking aerobatic planes for a couple of years now and i haven't found any one doing what i'm doing , this is the closest thing i've found so far , i have headtracking on a 48
' electric yak with a spektrum dx8, with a wing sight, so i can do many aerobatic maneuvers, i only have an early video on my youtube channel, (setup kinda redbull air race course) but i'll post more so you all can get an idea of what i'm doing, so big question is any one else do aerobatics ??
i'm setting up a 78" extra with a 50cc right now and i have questions like,,,,, has anyone put fpv on a gasser ? electronic noise and vibrations ??? i'm a transmitter setup away from my maiden flight .

so here's the main question for you guys if your doing this , trying to get the fatshark trinity headtracking setup on a futaba T14SG , running an s-bus rx with a cortex in the plane, and i'm struggling with a radio setup, the spektrum is way easier , what are you guys running??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URi5W0MSmKg thanks for your time, mike,

[sgrtgoat]

Here's one with some aerobatics , couldn't find ant recent ones, sound is crap , so turn it down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrGHKhyc0kU

[Turbinefancy]

Hi Mike,

Great to see you flying precision Aerobatics with your head-tracking FPV setup, especially utilizing the wing sight (reference angles). I always strive to fly acro precisely, too. A wing sight is what I need. I do find that on cloud less days, when I pull vertical, it’s hard to tell how much I veered right or rolled left/right without reference to horizon. So half of the time my stall turns flop the wrong way.

About setting up FPV on gassers, vibrations makes the video intolerable on the few ones I have seen. So no, I would not want to do that.

I am just now setting up a separate head-tracking system on a FrSky Taranis. Seems pretty straight forward. Should be similar on a Spektrum TX.

Anyways, I subbed to your YouTube channel and will be looking forward to your progress. Sorry for the late reply. Have not been flying until recently due to lockdown.

-Robert / motionsic on YT

ps. Trying out EDF jet flying with FPV