Freefly Alta hexacopter drone with 460W motors and Mōvi gimbal system, capable of lifting cinema cameras up to 15 kg (RED, Alexa Mini) with inverted mounting.
Technical Details
The Alta features six brushless motors, each with 460W of power, and uses 22-inch carbon propellers for maximum efficiency. The airframe is made of CNC-machined aluminum and weighs 8.6 kg without the gimbal. Power is supplied by interchangeable 22.2V LiPo batteries (16,000 mAh) that are hot-swappable. The integrated Mōvi controller system allows for precise gimbal control with a latency of less than 10ms. Two main variants exist: Alta 6 (standard hexacopter) and Alta 8 (octocopter for heavier payloads up to 15 kg).
History & Development
Freefly Systems introduced the Alta at NAB in 2015 as a response to the limitations of conventional camera drones in professional productions. The company, known for its Mōvi gimbals, integrated this technology directly into the aircraft. In 2016, the Alta 8 followed for even heavier cameras. The development was explicitly aimed at Hollywood productions after FAA regulations eased commercial drone flights in the USA.
Practical Use in Film
The Alta was used in "Fast & Furious 8" (2017) for chase sequences, where its ability for inverted gimbal mounting enabled low-altitude driving shots without obstructions. For "Blade Runner 2049" (2017), Roger Deakins used it for complex camera movements in exterior scenes. Typical workflows involve pre-programming flight paths with Litchi or DJI Ground Station Pro. The modular design reduces setup times between different camera configurations to under 15 minutes. Disadvantage: The noise level of the six motors requires post-production for dialogue scenes.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to the DJI Matrice 600 Pro, the Alta offers higher payload capacity and more flexible gimbal positioning, but costs three times as much (approx. 17,500 EUR vs. 6,000 EUR). The newer DJI Matrice 300 RTK achieves similar specifications at a lower cost, but without an invertible gimbal system. For RED Weapon or Arri Alexa Mini, the Alta remains unrivaled, while lighter cameras like the Sony FX6 can also work with more affordable alternatives. Modern FPV racing drones are increasingly replacing it for dynamic action shots.