KAV? BAV? Aerial video from my new kite balloon

mathewL

I've been working on a new kite balloon I call Airpup. I wanted to be able to fill with a 40 cubic meter tank or less, so I can backpack with the setup.







I've been having good luck doing low-altitude towing by hand and by bike in calm winds (less than 7mph). I have also tested the balloon in a 24mph wind.

Footage from the Lincoln City Fall Kite Festival has come out the best:

https://youtu.be/dfNq1N3qnPg



Walking video in low winds:

https://youtu.be/S_mjer_s5lI



Towing by bike lets me test stability and simulate higher winds. When I'm driving at just the right off angle in the same direction as the wind, I get a little wobble:

https://youtu.be/2imR-zk1Fjo




I've also launched a crowdfunding campaign for both buying and renting Airpup.

mathewL

I've been using a Feiyu SPG cell phone gimbal with my Galaxy S7. I can't really control it from the ground, but I was hoping the object tracking would work better than it does. I've been just setting it at a fixed angle for flights.

I'm weighing my options between buying a DJI Osmo+ or a full-on FPV rig & camera.

Sue

The Airpup looks like an interesting idea. I like the Lincoln City Fall Festival video with it just mooching around among the kites.
Well done.

Fly High

Sue

mathewL

Thanks Sue!