How to equip yourself to record and film your flights?

Flying an aircraft provides amazing sensations. Landscapes viewed from the sky, sunsets from an incredible angle, the feeling of absolute freedom, flying over breathtaking places... But it can be frustrating to experience them briefly or keep them to yourself.

That’s why many amateur pilots film their flights. It’s the safest way to preserve the memory of your air adventures and share them with loved ones, or more widely on social media. Not to mention, video can also help you progress, analyze your mistakes and decisions, and improve your skills.
However, you need to equip yourself with the right gear and know how to use it effectively. Filming your friends with a smartphone on the "ground" is one thing. But capturing spectacular video footage in a narrow, vibrating, noisy aircraft surrounded by bright light is much more delicate... Here are a few tips.

1. Why is it complicated?

Filming while flying is a challenge, and the problems you’ll face are numerous. The first one is obvious: you can’t film while piloting. You must always keep in mind that safety comes before beautiful footage. Therefore, you’ll need to entrust the camera to a passenger or fix it somewhere.
Still, you need to know where to fix it, where to film, and what to capture from your flight. And choose the right equipment that compensates for all the drawbacks of recording during a flight: vibrations, strong contrast between the dark interior and the very bright outside, window reflections...
The duration of the flight also comes into play: if you film continuously throughout the journey, your camera's battery must last for this long duration. And you'll need to plan an editing process to keep only the most interesting sequences.
So, here are some questions to ask yourself before getting started: why and for whom am I filming? what equipment should I choose? how do I organize myself so that filming doesn’t interfere with my full concentration on piloting and safety?

2. Choosing the right equipment for filming in flight

Equipping yourself properly is already ensuring a good part of the quality of your films. Most pilots will instinctively turn to an action or mounted camera that meets most of the aviation constraints.
You might also consider using multiple cameras, especially if you're filming in “Record and Forget” mode, meaning you turn on the devices and "forget" them until landing. This will be a good way to vary angles and shots, and get a much more dynamic result.
Given the specific circumstances, your cameras should first be effective on stabilization systems, lightweight, small size, wide angle, and battery life. HD resolution, which is now standard on all devices, may be sufficient, especially if you're uploading to social media and – in case you’re flying solo with a fixed camera – to ensure more battery autonomy. Of course, 4k or 5.3k will give you a more "professional" output, but the storage will take up more space.
If you plan to mount a camera outside the cockpit, it’s clear that you’ll need to find robust equipment capable of withstanding speed, weather, and extreme conditions.
Finally, check that the chosen model has an external mic input if you want to add sound to the video.
The choice of model must take all these factors into account. While GoPro is the pioneer and global leader in this market, there are other brands offering quality equipment, such as DJI or Insta360.
You can find online comparisons of the numerous available models, which you can consult after asking yourself the right questions and determining the most important criteria for you, depending on how you intend to use your videos.

3. Properly mount your camera

Having a good digital stabilizer for your camera is important for image quality. But you also need to ensure that the mounting system can withstand the continuous vibrations of the aircraft, and decide where the best place to mount it is.
There is no ideal spot in a small cockpit, especially on Cirrus or Piper aircraft, where plastic coverings won’t make it easy to fix a suction cup.
To reduce the effect of vibrations, choose a spot near a pillar, bar, or rigid structure, and avoid supports with a long arm that causes undulation effects.
If the camera is mounted outside the cockpit, make sure to secure it very firmly. And for filming inside, it may be worth using a tripod for wide shots.
You can find the right products for your mounting solution on the Bayo store: camera base mount, standard arm for standard ball B, lever suction cup, collar mount of different diameters for smartphone…

4. Clear sound to accompany your great images

For a complete rendering of your sensations, sound can complement the image advantageously. For this, you’ll need to plan an audio recording cable that connects the camera to the aircraft's audio circuit for optimal recording quality. Complement this essential piece of equipment with a lapel mic connected to your smartphone or dictaphone, with an attenuator if you want to reduce noise from frequencies and make the sound more pleasant.
The connectivity will depend on what your camera allows. For example, before acquiring a video camera cable from Pilot, check that you can plug a 3.5mm Jack into your video device, or get a specific GoPro adapter for a GoPro camera.

5. And now, film, create!

Now that you’re well-equipped, you can start filming. Whether it’s in Record and Forget mode or handheld (by a passenger), here are a few more tips.
Choose, depending on your aircraft, the clearest possible angles and don’t hesitate to vary the shots as much as possible: views from the sky through the side window, rear panorama, cockpit interior… Also, take the sun's position into account. And always think about how you’ll use these films, and the audience you’re targeting.
This last tip will also be useful during editing. Select the best moments, string together short and rhythmic sequences. And, if possible, arrange them to captivate your viewers. In summary, tell a story!