Helicopter or Fixed Wing Aircraft – a Stable Platform for Aerial Photography?

<h1>Helicopter or Fixed Wing Aircraft – a Stable Platform for Aerial Photography?</h1>Author: <a title="Keith McGregor" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/keith-mcgregor/15010.htm">Keith McGregor</a>  
Fixed wing aircraft
Advantages
<li>More economical –lower running costs.</li> 
 
<li>Less vibration.</li> 
 
<li>Good endurance.</li> 
 
<li>Plenty of space for equipment.</li> 
 
Disadvantages
<li>Wing tip or strut can get in the way.</li> 
 
<li>Continuously moving.</li> 
 
<li>Can be difficult to position.</li> 
 
Rotary Aircraft
Advantages
<li>Can hover – remain stationary in the air.</li> 
 
<li>Can operate very low to the ground.</li> 
 
<li>Greater maneuverability on the spot.</li> 
 
<li>Easy to get into the right position for the required shot.</li> 
 
Disadvantages
<li>High cost per hour.</li> 
 
<li>Smaller lower cost helicopters have greater vibration.</li> 
 
<li>Lower cost helicopters such as the R22 have very little room for equipment.</li> 
 
It is clear that both Rotary and Fixed wing aircraft have their advantages and disadvantages and although small rotary aircraft can have comparable running costs they also have reduced cruised speed. Therefore it would take longer to get from site to site which is where economies of scale can be obtained. Therefore if the company has a planned route where there are many sites far apart a more economically cruising aircraft such as a Cessna 172 may be the best option. This type of planning is often the case where <a href="http://www.sealandap.co.uk/">Oblique Aerial Photography</a> is required for the commercial property market and large companies will have many sites far apart.
<a href="http://www.sealandap.co.uk/">Survey Photography</a> is often undertaken using fixed wing aircraft with a vertical camera. This is because most surveys are required along a fixed route such as a pipe line or a road network and require <a href="http://www.sealandap.co.uk/">vertical photography</a> through the bottom of the fuselage of the aircraft.
Event Aerial Photography often benefits from using a rotary aircraft as the ability to remain relatively stationary over the ground allows continuous coverage of one spot. This also allows the aircraft to land nearby in a temporary airfield to refuel before continuing coverage.About the Author: South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start <a href="http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk">Strawberrysoup</a>; a <a href="http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk">website design</a> company based in West Sussex and Dorset. 
 Keith successfully gained entry into the Southampton University Air Squadron and spent over 12 months training to fly. Since then he has continued to follow his interest in flying and has now began his own training in the form of a Private Pilot's Licence. 
 Keith also spent 13 months working within the Image and Printing Group at Hewlett Packard in Bracknell. Throughout his time there, he was responsible for many activities including events organisation and website design and maintenance.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/helicopter-or-fixed-wing-aircraft-a-stable-platform-for-aerial-photography-501814.html" title="Helicopter or Fixed Wing Aircraft – a Stable Platform for Aerial Photography?">Helicopter or Fixed Wing Aircraft – a Stable Platform for Aerial Photography?</a>

Fixed wing aircraft

Advantages

More economical –lower running costs.

Less vibration.

Good endurance.

Plenty of space for equipment.

Disadvantages

Wing tip or strut can get in the way.

Continuously moving.

Can be difficult to position.

Rotary Aircraft

Advantages

Can hover – remain stationary in the air.

Can operate very low to the ground.

Greater maneuverability on the spot.

Easy to get into the right position for the required shot.

Disadvantages

High cost per hour.

Smaller lower cost helicopters have greater vibration.

Lower cost helicopters such as the R22 have very little room for equipment.

It is clear that both Rotary and Fixed wing aircraft have their advantages and disadvantages and although small rotary aircraft can have comparable running costs they also have reduced cruised speed. Therefore it would take longer to get from site to site which is where economies of scale can be obtained. Therefore if the company has a planned route where there are many sites far apart a more economically cruising aircraft such as a Cessna 172 may be the best option. This type of planning is often the case where Oblique Aerial Photography is required for the commercial property market and large companies will have many sites far apart.

Survey Photography is often undertaken using fixed wing aircraft with a vertical camera. This is because most surveys are required along a fixed route such as a pipe line or a road network and require vertical photography through the bottom of the fuselage of the aircraft.

Event Aerial Photography often benefits from using a rotary aircraft as the ability to remain relatively stationary over the ground allows continuous coverage of one spot. This also allows the aircraft to land nearby in a temporary airfield to refuel before continuing coverage.

South African born Keith has lived in the south of England for most of his life. After graduating from University with a degree in Business Information Systems Management he decided to start Strawberrysoup; a website design company based in West Sussex and Dorset.
Keith successfully gained entry into the Southampton University Air Squadron and spent over 12 months training to fly. Since then he has continued to follow his interest in flying and has now began his own training in the form of a Private Pilot's Licence.
Keith also spent 13 months working within the Image and Printing Group at Hewlett Packard in Bracknell. Throughout his time there, he was responsible for many activities including events organisation and website design and maintenance.

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/helicopter-or-fixed-wing-aircraft-a-stable-platform-for-aerial-photography-501814.html

Article Tags: Aerial Photogaphy, Commercial Aerial Photography, Event Photography, Aerial Photographic Library, Event Aerial Photography, Vertical Photography, Oblique Aerial Photography, Progress Photography, Contruction Photography, Survey Photography

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Shadow Edge Transfers in Photography

Play

How to Shoot a Photography Session

Play

Six Lies About Digital Photography

Play

The Basics of Exposure in Photography

Play

Photography Lightening Equipment Review

1. karthik (10:47, 15.07.2009)

your statistics are well and good. But i would like to have some reference or an information from you people, to do my observation or project that is essential for my life...! thanking you...!

Latest Digital Photography Articles
More from Keith McGregor

Lost luggage still a problem for airlines

By: Keith McGregor | 27/07/2009 | Travel
June 23rd, 2009 Some of the best known national airlines still languish at the bottom of the latest 'lost bags' league table produced by the Association of European Airlines. Iberia has emerged as the European airline most likely to lose a passenger's luggage though the airline blames this on a period of heavy snow in January of this year and an industrial 'work to rule.' Air France came next worst in the survey followed by the Portuguese carrier, TAP.

Nothing more American: Brands of National Identity

By: Keith McGregor | 16/07/2009 | Food & Beverage
Nothing more American: Brands of National Identity For those thinking of celebrating American Independence Day, why not be really Patriotic and celebrate with America's No.1 Chocolate 'Hershey's' A perfect gift for a Host or Hostess are Hershey's Kisses or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. If you are hosting a party, here are some recipes using Hershey's Chocolate which will delight your guests.

Keep the Fizz - Popping Candy Recipes

By: Keith McGregor | 15/07/2009 | Food & Beverage
The 70's cult popping candy, what fun they are if used in delicious summer desserts. Here are a couple of recipes you may wish to try Chocolate and Candy Pops This dessert was inspired by a pre dessert served at Les Ambassadors in Paris.

Organising a wedding on the River Thames

By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | Travel
I got married on the River Thames in London last year. Well technically you can't actually officially get married on a boat yet as it is a moving venue so we had the ceremony at the Hilton and then boarded the boat as a unique wedding breakfast venue and then swapped some of the older family members for our more excited friends and ended the day with a Wedding Disco Cruise. It was one of the most special days of my life made even more memorable by sharing it with my friends and family on the Riv

Summer - A perfect time for Thames Boat Charter

By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | Travel
Londoners head for the South Coast in the summer to enjoy the hot weather and get out on the water. Boating is such a part of so many peoples lives and rightly so. What many people forget is that they can get out on the River Thames in London. A Thames Boat Charter has all the pleasures of boating in the Solent without the hustle and bustle and choppy water.

Henley Regatta - Charter your Thames Boat

By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | Travel
Going to Ascot for a flutter and Wimbledon for the tennis this summer? Another must for your events calendar is one of the most British, the Henley Royal Regatta. Rowing is one of the sports we Brits still dominate the World and where better to watch some of our finest rowers, but at the most well known and visited regatta in the UK at Henley on Thames.

Travel forecast for Bank holiday weekend

By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | Travel
Forecasters are predicting the hottest temperatures so far this year over this Bank Holiday weekend but whatever the weather, the usual Bank Holiday getaway is expected to cause gridlock on the roads and bustling air and sea ports. Airport operator BAA said 1.68 million passengers would pass through its seven UK airports in the period from Friday to Bank Holiday Monday.

Tough climate for airlines

By: Keith McGregor | 17/06/2009 | Travel
First, British Airways announces record losses and then ‘no frills’ airline Ryanair does the same. Now we have Richard Branson announcing that he expects the current economic downturn and decline in business travel will result in the collapse of a major American airline in 2009. His own airline, Virgin, seems to have bucked the trend, doubling its profits in the last twelve months but Virgin does appear to be a rare exception in this difficult market.