P3D Aerial Photography

[bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx (Bill C Walton)]

Eric Goldstein wrote "I'm probably blaspheming here as far as Bill is
concerned, but in many instances. I think fixed wing's a better choice
for still photography.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but what I like best about Eric's
statement is "I Think" .  This is very civil and courteous as opposed to
some of the opinions posted on P3D and adds to the tone of the discourse.

I am somewhat familiar with aerial photography from a Fixed Wing
aircraft.  I was selected to attend The Army Fixed Wing School in 1961. 
I was  a unwilling selectee (to say the least) for what I thought were
two good reasons:
(1) I had been flying CH-34C cargo helicopters, capable of transporting
18 troops and a crew of three, for the past four years  and I considered
my self as a cargo helicopter pilot.  The Army had no fixed wing aircraft
at that time with anywhere near this capability, so I thought it was a
step down.

(3) Being selected for Fixed Wing school meant that I would have my third
tour in Germany cut short by about 3 months. This meant I would not be
able to participate in the last three races of the German National
Hillclimb Championship and therefore would not receive a "ranking" in
this series at  the end of the season.  I was ranked 35th in 1960 and
thought I would do a lot better in 1961, but that was not to be.

I graduated from FW school in the Fall of 1961 and for the next 2 1/2
years I flew only airplanes, mostly the UIA Otter,including a one year
tour in Vietnam.  Of course I continued with my aerial photography during
this time.

I was delighted in late 1963, when I returned to Germany and took my
reorientation check-ride in a CH34C.  For the next 15 years I flew both
helicopters and airplanes, depending upon mission requirements., until I
retired from the Army in 1978.  But I favored flying helicopters because
they are simply more FUN!!.

  The only non-fun helicopter flight I made was on 6 Feb 1968 (my 37th
birthday) when I crashed and completely destroyed a UH1-C gunship. 
Luckily there were no serious injuries.  I sprained my back and my thighs
were black and blue from the cyclic control stiick trying to "wipe out
the cockpit" before I hit the ground.  The crash was caused by a
maintenance error by our support maintenance detachment.  Two days later
I strapped myself in another helicopter and went on a recovery mission,
and found the Fun was still there.

I retired as a Master Army Aviatior.  As that time this meant I had
acquired a Special Instrument Ticket, somewhere along the line.  The only
advantage, if it can be called that, to having a Special Instrument
Ticket was that you could take off in weather minimums that were below
landing minimums.  This meant that should you have a mechanical
difficulty after take off you had to go somewhere else to land as your
departing airfiield was below minimums.  I never did really like the
logic behind this particular regulation.

I have digressed a bit from the original posting and I will have to be
careful or the "Content Police" will be on my case.

Based on my somewhat limited experience in both type aircraft , I THINK
that rotary wing is the way to go for aerial photography ,if only for its
maneuverability.  As in " I really like the line we flew by
Neuschwanstein castle. How about stopping, backing up and flying the same
line again"? 

Eric also mentioned flying in Bell Jet Ranger and Hughes 500.  The Jet
Ranger is alright, I THINK, but based on two years experience with Hughes
helicopters, including the 2d tour in Vietnam, I BELIEVE they are just "a
shade above flapping your arms"

Happy to hear that Paul Talbot had a good time on his aerial excuser and
look forward to reports on how his stereographs turned out.

Bill C Walton, Interested in Stereo Cards
(Who is Bill?)
bill3dbw3d@xxxxxxxx


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