Cheshire man creates his own quadrocopter

Sep 4 2008 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

A CHESHIRE photographer has got a bird’s eye view of life in Cheshire thanks to a unique flying machine.

David Fenton, originally from Chester but now based in Kelsall, has built a quadrocopter and plans to use it to take aerial photographs from low altitude.

The remarkable radio-controlled machine, with four rotor blades rather than the standard two associated with helicopters, is designed for improved control and flexibility.

Soon to be fitted with an HD video camera, it can fly up to 200ft and was built by Mr Fenton after he bought parts over the internet. Anyone wishing to buy a fully constructed quadrocopter would usually have to pay £20,000 in the USA.

Mr Fenton, who also takes photographs of villages using a radio-controlled glider at thousands of feet, said: “I ordered and bought all the parts from the internet, soldered it, configured it and now I fly it! It’s my flying saucer.

“It is quite stable to film and it allows me to concentrate on taking pictures. I am still learning how to fly it and you can see some of my early attempts on the internet.

“Since putting some of the images on my website people have been in contact with me almost daily requesting photographs of their properties.

“The enquiries range from people trying to sell large houses and want something different, to construction sites recording progress, or people who just want a high quality aerial photograph.”

To see how the quadrocopter was built and see some of the images in can take visit www.loolee.org