http://www.otherlandtoys.co.uk/hoverfly.htm?nb

im thinking about putting a helicopter with a camera attached to it in my jeep.
I would be really cool to launch this puppy from the back trunk of my jeep and let it do recon ahead of me to check how traffic conditions are, or to send it to the roof or someones window to peep in, or to give a chick my phone number across the street where i cant drive to.

One problem though, is that the controls would have to be implemented into my sterring wheel which is stuffed with a frigging life saving airbag.

What do you guys think?

or to give a chick my phone number across the street where i cant drive to.

Oh yeah, that'll get 'em!

This is just what we need, helicopters flying around with X10 cameras in them...

And then you could use a glider on a string for when your on the highway...

This is just what we need, helicopters flying around with X10 cameras in them...

Too late to worry about that!

I'll see if my friend Tod can comment on the reliability of RC helicopters and their ability to operate in windy environments....

Um, I believe the title on that page says "indoor helicopter". That thing looks so light that a small gust would send your $350+ helicopter far beyond your reach.

It wouldn't get too far, it's a tethered power helicopter...Wonder if it could autorotate, or if it would just crash when it lost power.

If you havn't seen it, check out draganfly. I bought a remote control blimp from them on ebay years ago, but they've long since expanded their offerings into some really cool toys that I can't even begin to afford.

Matthew

Ok lets look at the variables here...

wind
the light turning green
other cars moving (esp. tall trucks)
powerlines
a possible tether

I think crashing is inevitable.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought these things were at least somewhat challenging to fly standing still...

OK.. my last post made me think... What if your empeg connected to a gps unit could broadcast to your helicopter what your coordinates were.... then instead of steering the thing it would just follow you around....set it high enough to be over any overpass + a semi on that overpass and you might keep it intact for more than one use....

If you can make that happen, then I think that McDonnell Douglas have about a billion dollars lying around that they might want to give you.

heh heh... Man I'm dreamer not a techie....

Actually, i posted the wrong model, I would of course have one without a tether!

Flying them has been described as "roller skating on a basketball".

Others say you have to grease the basketball first, then hop on with roller skates.

McDonnell Douglas isn't around any more, they got absorbed into Boeing in Aug 1997.