Keen model aircraft flyer Anthony Morris has found a way to turn his hobby into a potential nice little earner - by having a camera fly through the air with the greatest of ease. RICHARD LYONS reports.

Beddington resident Anthony Morris has been fascinated with taking to the skies since he was a boy. Beginning with making and flying remote controlled aircraft he eventually became airborne himself when he got a pilot's licence.

Now though, he is not content to confine this passion to his spare time and has struck upon a way of profiting from his aviation interest.

By customising his model plane and helicopter, he has developed a method of taking photos from the air while he controls the aircraft from the ground.

He is sure applications exist for the technique, which capitalises on his flying skills and, at the same time, allows him to indulge his boyhood dreams.

"In the real aircraft I think the best thing is the sense of freedom you have," Mr Morris, 42, said.

"If the radio wasn't on you could be the only person in the world.

"With the models, some people like building them and others like flying them and then you get people who like a mixture of the two.

"When you are flying the model for the first time, there's a big sense of satisfaction.

"For me the camera has brought another dimension to doing it. It also gives you something to aim for rather than wandering around the sky willy-nilly.

"It's like having a target I suppose and if you achieve that, you feel quite satisfied again."

Mr Morris of Wolseley Road, flies his model aircraft locally at Croydon Airport and Epsom Downs.

He designed the plane himself so it could contain a Sony V1 digital camera and constructed it using parts bought from a model shop.

The nature of the design means the camera can be taken out and transferred to the helicopter where it fits inside a special framework underneath it.

So far Mr Morris has taken aerial photos of Camber Sands and Bodiam Castle in Kent, as well as piloting the camera over Epsom race course and the old Croydon Airport.

He thinks the number of uses for this kind of aerial photography could be vast and include estate agency, town planning and even archaeology.

"If you want a picture of whatever building, say St Helier Hospital, normally you'd have to pay to get a light aircraft or a helicopter to do it, but with a model it's so much cheaper," Mr Morris said.

"I enjoy taking pictures and I'm sure there would be uses for it. It's quite different seeing your local area from the air."

Mr Morris is in the early stages of turning his remote controlled bird's eye view camera into a successful business, but inquiries about the technique can be sent to aerialimages@talktalk.net.

While waiting for the demand to grow, he will continue to do what he has always done since he was a teenager, namely fly aircraft.

For Mr Morris there is simply nothing better than defying gravity with a flying machine and seeing it go swooping and gliding among the clouds.

"It's hard to say what fascinates people with aircraft. It's just the whole thing," he said. "It's very hard to describe.

"It's a relief once you have landed after the first flight, it's like an adrenaline rush.

"All that effort has been worthwhile.

"It does seem to make people very happy."

Beddington resident Anthony Morris has been fascinated with taking to the skies since he was a boy. Beginning with making and flying remote controlled aircraft he eventually became airborne himself when he got a pilot's licence.

Now though, he is not content to confine this passion to his spare time and has struck upon a way of profiting from his aviation interest.

By customising his model plane and helicopter, he has developed a method of taking photos from the air while he controls the aircraft from the ground.

He is sure applications exist for the technique, which capitalises on his flying skills and, at the same time, allows him to indulge his boyhood dreams.

"In the real aircraft I think the best thing is the sense of freedom you have," Mr Morris, 42, said.

"If the radio wasn't on you could be the only person in the world.

"With the models, some people like building them and others like flying them and then you get people who like a mixture of the two.

"When you are flying the model for the first time, there's a big sense of satisfaction.

"For me the camera has brought another dimension to doing it. It also gives you something to aim for rather than wandering around the sky willy-nilly.

"It's like having a target I suppose and if you achieve that, you feel quite satisfied again."

Mr Morris of Wolseley Road, flies his model aircraft locally at Croydon Airport and Epsom Downs.

He designed the plane himself so it could contain a Sony V1 digital camera and constructed it using parts bought from a model shop.

The nature of the design means the camera can be taken out and transferred to the helicopter where it fits inside a special framework underneath it.

So far Mr Morris has taken aerial photos of Camber Sands and Bodiam Castle in Kent, as well as piloting the camera over Epsom race course and the old Croydon Airport.

He thinks the number of uses for this kind of aerial photography could be vast and include estate agency, town planning and even archaeology.

"If you want a picture of whatever building, say St Helier Hospital, normally you'd have to pay to get a light aircraft or a helicopter to do it, but with a model it's so much cheaper," Mr Morris said.

"I enjoy taking pictures and I'm sure there would be uses for it. It's quite different seeing your local area from the air."

Mr Morris is in the early stages of turning his remote controlled bird's eye view camera into a successful business, but inquiries about the technique can be sent to aerialimages@talktalk.net.

While waiting for the demand to grow, he will continue to do what he has always done since he was a teenager, namely fly aircraft.

For Mr Morris there is simply nothing better than defying gravity with a flying machine and seeing it go swooping and gliding among the clouds.

"It's hard to say what fascinates people with aircraft. It's just the whole thing," he said. "It's very hard to describe.

"It's a relief once you have landed after the first flight, it's like an adrenaline rush.

"All that effort has been worthwhile.

"It does seem to make people very happy."