Filming from an Airplane for the first time

[Patrick Tresch]

Beware of strong wind the gimbal usually don't like it.
I'm doing this stuff with helicopters so an open door and slightly hanging from the cabin (harness you and also the camera) (beware of all accessories that could take wind) with one foot on the helicopter foot gives you much framing capacity (if it flys in low speed mode).
If it's in a plane try to frame and stabilize the gimbal (hanging) for the window size and what you want to film prior to take off. Plan with the pilot what you need to film (hight, traveling, second and third try) and ask him to make the 80% of the framing work. This is quite different as in an helicopter as it can't make small curves, or change easily direction.
Use a "small" zoom... 35-70.

In a helicopter you make 70% of the framing, in a plane the pilot makes 80% of the framing.

Good luck. Have fun. Be safe! It's an intense filming experience.

Pat

 

[Michael J Brennan]

However, as I aid, speed for speed, with same need of angles and turns the Chopper remains more difficult to shoot in then in a Plane, I have done enough of this, at va rious altitude, and Geographic settings, Mountain ranges, sea level flying, amongst Skyscrapers, Desert and so on, that when a similar sized Plane is matched with a similar size Chopper, the plane is almost always easier to predict and control while filming making the chopper more difficult and dangerous.

Is a fixed wing is preferable to a heli as a filming platform?

In a plane you have to
avoid shooting the wing, tailplane and landing gear.
cant crab to get a more forward direction of travel
cant fly at less than 60 knots (in general)
cant fly low unless their is a suitable 500 meter emergency landing zone
Back seats are generally not designed for utility work.


helicopters
have less dangly bits to get in shot
the (rotary) wing is above your head and out of shot
are designed for utility work
can safely fly at 30 knots or less
can easily adjust verticle component of flight
are easily and legally configured with a wide opening
door can be closed in transit on some types
can make an emergency landing in a far smaller area than a fixed wing
Is often able to be based near location
can land locally to sit out poor weather
Large number of pilots with filming experience
Twin engine craft can legally and safely hover at low level and for instance, in uk, 750ft above cities.


Both aircraft types can fall or spin into the ground if mishandled by the pilor.
Both are influenced by updrafts and wind gusts.
Helicopters are more expensive per flight hour.

Helicopters are universilly accepted as prefferred camera platform for majority of filming missions.

Mike Brennan

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Is a fixed wing is preferable to a heli as a filming platform?

In a plane you have to
avoid shooting the wing, tailplane and landing gear.
cant crab to get a more forward direction of travel
cant fly at less than 60 knots (in general)
cant fly low unless their is a suitable 500 meter emergency landing zone
Back seats are generally not designed for utility work.


helicopters
have less dangly bits to get in shot
the (rotary) wing is above your head and out of shot
are designed for utility work
can safely fly at 30 knots or less
can easily adjust verticle component of flight
are easily and legally configured with a wide opening
door can be closed in transit on some types
can make an emergency landing in a far smaller area than a fixed wing
Is often able to be based near location
can land locally to sit out poor weather
Large number of pilots with filming experience
Twin engine craft can legally and safely hover at low level and for instance, in uk, 750ft above cities.


Both aircraft types can fall or spin into the ground if mishandled by the pilor.
Both are influenced by updrafts and wind gusts.
Helicopters are more expensive per flight hour.

Helicopters are universilly accepted as prefferred camera platform for majority of filming missions.

Mike Brennan

Mike,

Not sure why you quoted me in your answer with a question first... As I never said that I prefer Fixed Wing planes to Choppers for Filming, just explain thru my experiences that shooting from a Chopper speed for speed with similar angles of shooting to be done, it is easier doing so on a Plane, by that clearly meaning that a Plane is of a smoother ride with less forces applied to the Camera set up while filming, planes don't put you thru what a Chopper does, unless of course you doing spinning dare devil dive... Doubling the G force instantly.

I in fact much prefer to fly Choppers for filming, and have done so about 1 to 3 times the amount of filming in Planes, but when I did filmed form Planes, the wing was never a problem do to the choices of lenses made and altitude of the plane in perspective to the Focal used to get the framing needed.

Either way you make some good points, and of course there are still many more to take in to account when choosing to film in a chopper vs. a plane, that is if and when you can choose one, and then if and when you can choose size and type of Aircraft based on the project at end together with the proper Camera gear, lenses and support, if and when you can, at times we know well, that we can just find ourselves tossed in to a Plane or Chopper with what ever gear we have and need make do... And we always do, one way or an other...


My next project after the one I am currently DP'ing, will be one of those projects were I'll be fortunate to choose the Aircrafts, Camera and support based on each needed shot, and will be one that I will also document in detail and look forward to showcase that when times comes.