The CAA set the guidelines for distance from people, although if everyone agreed for it to fly within, say 5 metres perhaps within an area in rhe middle of the circuit, like GYG for example, not over the track but on the infield, then that could be done, but logistically that is only likely to be sensibly achieved when everyone signs up to the series at the start of the year and we can show a potential flight plan, as I did to the Clerks here before we flew it.
I believe the MSA reg is no flying over the track, but would need to determine whether that means tarmac or infield as well where there us a reasonable sized piece of infield, such as GYG, Wigan and others. At the moment I am looking for straightforward movement from a distance, which gives us an overall aerial view of the karts. Nice to get closer, but it is still a great production value view never seen before in a kart race programme, so a World first for Super 1.
The gimbal is what makes it so steady, and that is the best gumbal on the market today at £3000.
We can view what the camera on the aircraft sees from a ground station monitor in HD live, so that is how I can fly it and follow the action at the same time. I was flying, Jack Hoyle was operating the camera and did a great job following the karts using the pan and tilt of the gimbal from the radio controller.
The GPS software flight controller (wookong m) makes it easy to fly if you have any experience of r/c helicopters as I do, The flying was simple really but I was aggressive in terms of maxing the airspeed. Other than that the software on board makes it very straightforward.
You need a CAA approved licence to fly commercially and obviously Public Liability insurance. The ground school licence course and test was about £1350, and the insurance is around £800. Total cost including the huge batteries, camera etc. woukd be £9500. Got a slight discount on that as a part sponsorship deal but still a big investment. If I get other work with it it makes financial sense......if.
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