On Sep 10, 9:28*am, Orval Fairbairn
wrote:

I could not see the hand signals in the videos, since hand signals and
airplane motions are the primary means of communicating formation
commands.

I **think** I captured some in my next video I am creating. I know I
got the thumbs up after runup and that will be included and of course
the wing waggles. I saw the head bobbles, but can't remember if I had
the camera on the plane when I saw it. My next video will be
"randoms" from our first and second formation flight and 2 ship
flight. Even with my experience (NONE) I can see in the videos we
flew flight 1, 2 and 4 much more crisp and a tighter formation.

We did 3 distinct 4 ship flights (briefed and debriefed each). First
and second flight we were #3 and last flight (video uploaded) we were
#4. Pilot said it was a nice change for him as he hasn't been in 4
for quite some time (he is usually lead) but to me, that was the "room
with the view" for videoing. Going home we did a 2 ship formation
where the lead in the 4 ship was wingman as my pilot wanted to show
him why you should not do 45 degree banks for joins as it caused us to
(bear with me with terminology - I may have it backwars) to smoosh??.
So he did one with a 45 degree and then a 30 degree. During this
flight I think I got some good close ups of our wingman but need to
review.

My camera work still needs A LOT of work, but I did improve with each
flight from what I have reviewed thus far. I had never done anything
like this before and I found I that I should have stayed with a plane
much longer then I did rather then pan back and forth as much as I
did. Kid with a lollipop I guess from my own excitement.

Soooo, for those following this thread and ever get this once in a
life time opportunity.... Video tips that may be worthy of
printing :-)

Don't let the excitement overcome your videoing!

KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT. I lost audio on my recorder because I failed to
consider using the "hold button" I realized I was losing audio as I
had my recorder in my camera bag and something kept hitting the stop
button. Had I used that hold button, this would have disabled the
buttons and this would not have happened.

Study up on formation flying before hand. The more prepared you are
before, the better of you will be. I was very fortunate to have four
chances to learn the moves and transistions. It would have been nice
if I would have at least watched a video or two before hand. Of
course your position is everything and what looks simple on the ground
is incredibly complex in the air. Try to be situationally aware if
you are doing lazy eights. Allows you to anticipate.

Take a wide angle lens if you have one as you can't capture all planes
in the formation when tight. There were times I could not get the
whole plane in when I was zoomed OUT we were that close.

Take extra batteries or an extra camera is even better (I used the
second camera in the flight formation video since my newer camera
battery was nearing it's life)
Stay focused on the plane (or planes) for at least 10 seconds before
panning to your next shot. This becomes important for editing later.
I have two "point and shoot" digital cameras (Casio and Kodak Easy
Share). As we all know, confines of an airplane are tight, it's even
tighter in a tailwheel and camcorder may be bulky since the canapy
narrows big time in the back.

I had a small camera bag with easy access to everything. Think small,
there is no room in the rear and you CANNOT have anything on the floor
since controls are running through there and the rear rudder pedals
move constantly. Everything must work from your lap. THINK SAFETY as
you are strapped in for the ride and your mobility is not the same as
a 4 passenger plane. Do not keep any loose items on your lap as the
breaks are extremely sharp responses that I have never felt in a plane
before.

Shoot with the canopy open if the pilot allows it. I had no clue what
to expect so I closed the canapy as I was thinking "wind noises" would
be rediculous. Take the wind noise and you can edit it later. I
can't do the reverse now. Reason you want the canopy open is to
eliminate reflections that you see in my video.

Pilot I was with was great, during the acro video, he did duplicate so
I could get the wing and front view. Think backwards! I like the
view with the camera panned on me. Unique touch to it. If time
permits, I would suggest doing each routine three times, once out the
front, side and back. This way if you mess up one, you still have two
to go with for the final video cut.

Orval, please add to this if you see anything I missed, so others can
learn and not mess up capturing a part of flight that everybody should
experience at least once! It really was poetry in motion.