What is the L/D penalty of outside mounted GoPros?

On Tuesday, 6 January 2015 18:21:17 UTC+2, wrote:
My biggest problem with these lipstick cams is that the field of view is still too narrow. The one that Andy mentioned is only 140 degrees. The Hero3 is 170 degrees. I am finding that wider is better for helping the audience feel they are there.

Thanks,
Bruno - B4

I personally don't like the wide angle shots as one gets too much extension distortion (objects close to the camera look too large relative to objects in the distance which appear too small). On top of that there is the horrendous barrel distortion to take care of.
It however does makes the video look more impressive as it gives the impression of higher speeds as distance objects grow in size rapidly before flashing by.

For me the idea setup would be a GoPro shooting at 2.7K and processed to remove the barrel distortion, image stabilized and then cropped to 1080p to reduce the FOV.
One product which can do all of the above for the price of an aerotow is ProDad ProDRENALIN http://www.prodad.com/home/products/...2316,l-us.html

Maybe someone would like to make GoPro fairings for glider pilots.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 9:59:38 PM UTC-8, Surge wrote:

Maybe someone would like to make GoPro fairings for glider pilots.

Like this?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw1...ew?usp=sharing

9B

On Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 1:58:55 PM UTC-8, Andy Blackburn wrote:
On Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 9:59:38 PM UTC-8, Surge wrote:

Maybe someone would like to make GoPro fairings for glider pilots.

Like this?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw1...ew?usp=sharing

9B

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw1...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw1...ew?usp=sharing

9B

Andy, thanks for playing around with the farings idea. How much drag do you really think this would save? I think it would be a fun project.

Bruno - B4

On Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 8:48:15 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Andy, thanks for playing around with the farings idea. How much drag do you really think this would save? I think it would be a fun project.

Bruno - B4

I you look up drag of different shapes, a flat plate (Go Pro) has a drag coefficient of 1 or more. A contoured airfoil-type shape has a drag coefficient of 0.1 to 0.2 so it would seem to make a fair amount of difference.

My 3D printer is on the fritz, but once I get it working again I should be able to crank one of these out in a day or so.

Bruno,
These camera's are already in that shape.

http://store.driftinnovation.com/dri... HNxoCT2Hw_wcB

But I agree, those fairings look cool, and it would be a fun project.

Put enough cameras on, Bruno, and the plane may glide backwards because of all the drag! Want serious glide degradation, you needed to talk with Oscar Boesch about carrying an early I-Max camera on his AS-W15. Pictures in a back issue of SOARING. Oscar left us in 2012.

I can say from personal experience that a Super Cub wingtip
inserted (in flight) into the wing of a Nimbus 3 reduces its
performance to about Ka8 level, not all due to the full rudder
required to fly straight.

Total drag of a sailplane equals AUW divided by L/D, typically
around 25 lbs force (or 120 or so if you insist on SI units). Go-Pro
Cameras aren't very aerodynamic. OK when flying for fun, but not
seriously.

At 22:46 12 January 2015, Steve Leonard wrote:
Put enough cameras on, Bruno, and the plane may glide
backwards because of
=
all the drag! Want serious glide degradation, you needed to talk
with
Osca=
r Boesch about carrying an early I-Max camera on his AS-W15.
Pictures in
a=
back issue of SOARING. Oscar left us in 2012.