R/C helicopter for line placement

[rmihalek]

I was at the mall yesterday doing a bit of Christmas shopping when I walked past one of those little kiosks they have set up in the middle of the pedestrian area. This particular kiosk had some radio controlled Formula 1 cars that caught my eye so I wandered over for a closer look. I wasn't too impressed with the F1 cars, but I looked around the whole booth anyway. On the other side. they had a variety of R/C helicopters on display. There was one for about $150 (normally $199...) that was about 2 feet long with rotor blades maybe 2 feet in diameter. The guy at the booth was kind enough to fire it up and quickly flew it up to the top level of the mall and then back down.

Then I thought: what if I tied my zing-it throw line to the helicopter and then used the whirlybird to fly up to the tree, through the particular crotch where I want my climbing to go, and then back down the other side! There's a nice red oak that I've been wanting to climb and now that all the leaves are off the trees, I'm sure I could fly the bird up there with my climbing line on it and then (perhaps with some practice), fly the climbing line back to me and avoid all the other crotches on the opposite side of the tree that I would have to deal with if I did the standard throw bag technique.

It very well might work. Also, all the parts on the helicopter are replaceable, so even if I break something trying it out, it might work pretty well.

The salesman said the heli has a 200 foot range, so distance is not a problem.

Bob

 

[Youngbuck20]

If you do this please video tape it! Sounds like a great idea and an excuse to have a bunch of fun!

 

[atvguns]

I am wondering if the little think will have enough ump to pull the line

 

[Sagetown]

I imagine you'll be needing lots of repair parts. Like; Oops I didn't see that limb....

Was in my Dad's alfalfa field a few miles from town, and saw this guy out in the middle walking around. Said his remote airplane got too far from his controller, and he was following it in hopes it would run out of gas. The last time he had sight of it was over the field of 2' high alfalfa.:bang:

 

[moss]

A friend of mine has already done a rescue on a RC quadcopter that hung in a tree. Another friend builds quadcopters complete with live feed mini-video cam on the front. Challenge is the copter needs to lift the payload, for example a 10oz throwbag plus the weight of the throwline. Typical hobbyist copters don't have that kind of lift capability. You could use a 3-4 oz fishing weight and trail fishing line to decrease copter lift requirements. But... the biggest challenge assuming you have a powerful enough copter is flying them around trees, if there is any kind of gusty wind it's a no go. On a calm air day it is still a challenge to navigate the copter around branches.

I think the strongest contender for RC line placement will be some kind of mini trunk climber robot. Robo-squirrel!
-AJ

 

[fubar2]

I'd think a recurve bowfishing setup would be more practical.

 

[rmihalek]

Hi Moss,

I don't think a throw bag is necessary. Imagine just tying the zing-it to one of the skids on the 'copter. The line can be flaked into a throw cube just as if you were going to do a big-shot or a traditional throw bag launch.

The operator then gets the helicopter in the air, flies up and through the desired crotch ( I like that term...desired crotch, but I digress...) and then just flies the bird straight back to where he/she is standing.

Still, I think the weight of the line and wind will be the two main factors to deal with. If I get some Christmas money to spend, I'll try this wacky idea and get some video.

Bob

 

[treeman82]

How would you keep the line out of the rotors?

 

[rmihalek]

How would you keep the line out of the rotors?

I think the first part of the journey would be easy because the line would be trailing behind the helicopter. But, yes, you are correct that the flight back to the operator would be tricky with the first leg of the throwline blowing in the breeze. I definitely think a couple hours of practice would be required and also that certain trees would just not be possible to fly the helicopter through.

 

[smokey01]

I have been flying RC helicopters for sometime now and have about 14 of them from large to small, flybarless to coaxial.
I will just say have fun and keep your Bigshot, another throwline and bag available so you can get into the tree and recover the helicopter.

Hobbytown USA has a good selection of helis and the great thing is you can get the parts YOU WILL NEED immediately.

Here are some other links you might find useful and a couple of videos I have already posted.

Enjoy

Wish I was going to be around to watch you do it:msp_wink:

[video=youtube;BLUiDXTUxuU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLUiDXTUxuU[/video]

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RealFlight R/C Flight Simulator - True to Life

 

[smokey01]

Another video

Another video

[video=youtube;gk56bD5vr50]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk56bD5vr50[/video]

 

[smokey01]

one more

[video=youtube;PutNk1xeg0o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PutNk1xeg0o[/video]

 

[smokey01]

yet another

[video=youtube;bB8d0VwoLxw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB8d0VwoLxw[/video]

 

[smokey01]

spying on deer (last one)

[video=youtube;FQGx_RDqi_8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQGx_RDqi_8[/video]

 

[smokey01]

I was at the mall yesterday .........

Then I thought: what if I tied my zing-it throw line to the helicopter and then.........

It very well might work. Also, all the parts on the helicopter are replaceable.........

The salesman said the heli has a 200 foot range, so distance is not a problem.

Bob

I would suggest getting to a real hobby store for your purchase and stay away from the mall for a helicopter, you will get a much better deal.

The weight of the throw line will not be the issue, it will be the control issues from the effect it has on the aerodynamics and center of gravity.

Most of the helicopters have a range of MUCH more than 200 feet, probably more in the range of a 1000 feet or more but the real issue is keeping it close enough so you can control it.

 

[rmihalek]

Excellent points Smokey. Thanks for offering your expertise on the topic. I didn't really think about it right away, but like you said, if I get a helicopter from an established hobby store versus one of those mall kiosks, I'll have a place I can go back all year 'round for advice, parts and upgrades.

 

[NEKS Tree Svc]

boom, dead deer

[video=youtube;FQGx_RDqi_8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQGx_RDqi_8[/video]

If only the helo could carry and remote fire a Rem 700 :msp_wink:

 

[rmihalek]

If only the helo could carry and remote fire a Rem 700 :msp_wink:

Or at least a taser: less recoil and no chance of collateral damage.

 

[Carburetorless]

You could get a Big Shot, and use the heli to target practice on.

Or mount a cam on the heli and use it to inspect the tree, spy on the neighbor, buzz the dog, win $10,000 on AFV.

 

[samdweezel05]

I think the first part of the journey would be easy because the line would be trailing behind the helicopter. But, yes, you are correct that the flight back to the operator would be tricky with the first leg of the throwline blowing in the breeze. I definitely think a couple hours of practice would be required and also that certain trees would just not be possible to fly the helicopter through.

A couple of hours? In a couple of hours you might have enough practice under your belt to keep it in a some what stable hover but even that is pushing it. There not as easy to fly as you might think.

This is one of mine. It's a blade 450 3D.