Last Updated on September 19, 2024 by Datatoys
AirKnight HD4S – 3G-SDI High Definition Aerial Video Recording System for Flight Tours and General Aviation use.
AirKnight HD4S High Definition (HD) airborne / aviation video recorder (DVR) is a pivotal component of any aviation video recording system. AirKnight HD4S is a full 1080p60 3G-SDI and (1080p30) HD-SDI airborne video recorder designed for the professional helicopter touring industry. Record video from up to FOUR HD-SDI 1080p30 or 1080p60 cameras. Automatically or manually switch between each camera by using the front panel interface buttons or our Director Box. You can also directly connect these controls to your cyclic or collective controls, so the pilot never has to remove his/her hands from the helicopter controls. Overlay pilot/operator audio commentary on the video recording. Create your custom flight tour experience while recording directly to USB flash drive or SD card. Customers will purchase the video at the end of the tour to share their experience with their friends and family via social media. We have seen the AirKnight HD4S pay for itself within a month after install.
But it has other uses besides the helicopter flight tours. The Air Knight HD4S has many uses for fixed wing and rotorcraft applications.
Sample Applications for Air Knight HD4S
- Flight Testing
- Flight Schools
- SAR (search and rescue)
- ISR
- Surveillance
- ALEO (airborne / aerial law enforcement)
- Air Ambulance
- Aerial Firefighting
- Border Patrol
Highlights (abridged)
- High-Definition HD Aviation Video Recorder
- Record directly to the industry-standard external media such as USB flash drive, SD removable card, SSD or HDD
- 3G-SDI, HD-SDI, HDMI or CVBS camera inputs available.
- Automatically or manually switch between up to four (4) 3G-SDI / HD-SDI video sources.
- Optionally, record (1) HDMI or (1) RS170 / CVBS NTSC PAL video source.
- Audio In, stereo (L + R channels).
- Audio Out.
- Overlay operator audio commentary on to video.
- Record GPS information to storage media, user selectable.
- Overlay User and GPS data on the video source prior to encoding.
- Stream live video to a tablet, smart phone, PC or MAC
- Easy to install and operate. Installed and operated in helicopters and fixed wing aircraft around the world.
- Flight Tour Video – Capture the “Once in a lifetime” experience thrill seekers of all ages enjoy, plus provide a recorded video to take home.
A simple install and your flight tour aviation video system starts paying back for itself immediately. It’s just that easy.
Record Audio and Video
Single, Dual, and Quad Channel Options
- AirKnight-HD – Single Channel Recording
- AirKnight-HD2 – Dual Channel Recording
- AirKnight-HD4S – Single Channel Recording with Quad Switching
Each version has the option for bottom mounting, side mounting, or Dzus rail mounting. GPS option is also available with all versions.
Record one or two channels as separate video files to SD or USB media. Add up to 4 cameras with the AirKnight HD4S which allows you to switch between four cameras with our Director Video Switcher. Use existing bullet or gimbal cameras with our HD-SDI, HDMI and CVBS PAL / NTSC or use our HD high definition HD-SDI and 3G-SDI bullet cameras.
Data Recording and Overlay
With the optional GPS, record and overlay geospatial data including: time, lat long, altitude, heading and speed. Included with the GPS option is your choice of a Garmin 18x 5Hz, or 1Hz GPS receiver or you can use most standard GPS units through the RS-232 input on the AirKnight.
GPS Data Recording
GPS data will be recorded a KML and GPX format. These files can be viewed directly in Google Earth, or the included FlightSync software which synchronizes your video and data. These files also work with most third party Geospatial software applications.
Overlay GPS Data
In addition to a separate data file, you can also overlay GPS data and other text on top of the video. Using the web user interface, individual data points can be turned on or off and positioned anywhere on the video. Text size options range from 8pt to 40pt (pixels) in height. Multiple font and color options are available.
- Coordinates
- Degrees, Minutes, Seconds
- Degrees, Minutes
- Degrees
- Speed
- Knots (KT)
- Miles per Hour (MPH)
- Kilometers per Hour (KPH)
- Altitude (AMSL)
- Feet (F)
- Meters (M)
- Heading (Degrees)
Overlay Custom Text (Character Generator)
A built in high definition character generator allows you to overlay custom text on the video. Users can enter the text in the web user interface or send real time text information via RS-232. Up to three independent lines of data can be sent at nearly any baud rate, text must simply be sent as ASCII$,text1,text2,text3(CR)(LF) . Font type, size, color and position can be customized in the web interface for each text line.
Record to USB or SD Media
Record straight to off-the-shelf USB or SD cards. No hassle downloading. No exotic memory cards.
Optimized for flight tours. “The old way of burning DVDs worked, but can be time consuming.” With the Datatoys Digital Copy Concept, just pop out the USB flash drive at the end of a flight and hand it to your customer. Drives can be preloaded with stock footage, coupons and still images, drives can also be printed with your logo. The instant gratification of digital copy for the customer improves conversions, since your customers no long have to wait for a lengthy DVD edit, encode, and burn process.
For helicopter tours with multiple groups, Datatoys offers a complete USB replicating system to duplicate the video on multiple USB’s in minutes.
Record Headset Audio
Video is only part of the experience. Include all headset audio throughout your flight with the included Aviation Headset Cable. Cables plug into your audio panel and any GA headset on the market. U174 helicopter headset cables are an available option.
High Quality, Small Files
Using the same AVC/H.264 High Profile compression as Blu-Ray. Our AirKnight recorders offer the highest quality with maximum efficiency meaning you get the highest video quality while having files sizes that are easy to store, edit, playback, and upload. Universal file containers allow for easy editing and playback on a PC or Mac.
The AirKnight-HD records in the “Sweet Spot” balancing video quality and small file sizes. HD recordings under 8mbps offer poor quality, pixelation and blocking in the image, on the other hand once compression data rates surpass 20mbps there is little or no visual improvement in video quality. By keeping the data rate between 8Mb/s and 16Mb/s, quality to file size ratio is maximized, meaning its the highest quality, yet easy to use.
MJPEG compression is a menu option with data rates up to 50Mb/s. MJPEG compression is ideal for production film applications where high speed editing is required.
Sync Time and Overlay
Synchronize system time to an NTP server and overlay time right on the video. Ideal for flight testing applications.
Control
Record Stop/Start Switch
Trim down your post flight editing time by starting and stopping recordings with an external record switch. Mount the Start/Stop Switch on the dash. An LED indicator lights up to indicating there is power to the unit. Flip the switch to start recording and the LED indicator will flash, indicating recording.
A record LED is also built into the front of the unit. The AirKnight-HD2 can be wired to record each channel independently or simultaneously.
Network User Interface
Access more advanced settings via the network user interface.
- CBR and VBR
- .H264 AVC and MJPEG Compression
- Baseline or High Profile Compression
- Bit Rates
- GOP Size
- Video Down-scaling
- Pre and Post Alarm
- Custom File Size
- Video Motion Detection
- Live Streaming
- Custom Text Overlay
- Audio Gain Level
- Overwrite When Full (Yes/No)
Connect
Connect HD-SDI, HDMI, or NTSC/PAL cameras directly into the AirKnight. All standard resolutions up to 1080p60 are supported. BNC HD-SDI connectors make connecting the AirKnight to your Gimbal camera system a snap.
*HDMI will not recognize protected content
Datatoys HD Bullet Cameras
The HD Mini Bullet is our very own waterproof 1080p bullet camera, offering superb quality, automatic adjustments and a rugged, compact design. Mount one or several HD Mini Bullet Cameras inside or outside the cockpit.
Aviation Grade HD Cabling
Aviation grade jacket rated to FAR 25 standards provides maximum protection and performance.
Military Grade Connectors
Connect your cameras with ruggedized and weatherproof Military Grade connectors.
Live Viewing
Input loop-through provides a live output from HD-SDI, HDMI, and Composite inputs. Connect straight to your EFIS, monitor, or use one of the 7″ Datatoys monitors to keep an eye on the action in real time. Great for hook operators or pilots who want to watch their tail rotor.
Protection for your AirKnight
Great Warranty with Excellent Support!
A one year warranty that covers your unit front to back. At Datatoys we take pride in our customer support. Just call us (414) 639-9085!