GoPro® Mount for the Cessna 172 (using tie-down ring)
What?
• Design an exterior GoPro mount using the tie-down ring with no drilling • Protect airframe integrity and avoid interference with gear, fairings, or control travel • Control vibration for usable footage in taxi, climb, and cruise • Enable quick install and removal with minimal tools • Add secondary retention for safety and compliance
How?
• Measure tie-down geometry; model bracket in SOLIDWORKS with proper clearances • Select materials and hardware (aluminum bracket, corrosion-resistant fasteners, TPU isolators) • Run basic FEA for bracket stiffness and thread bearing; check worst-case dynamic loads • Ground and taxi tests to tune isolation; add anti-rotation keying • Add safety lanyard and a simple install checklist with torque guidance
Results
• Stable footage with reduced rolling-shutter artifacts across flight phases • No visible thread wear or paint damage after repeated installs (visual inspections) • Install and removal in under a couple of minutes by one person • Verified clearances during full control-deflection walk-around • Reproducible BOM and instructions for future builds
Personal Project
2025
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