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Freefly Alta X
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Freefly Alta X

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Freefly Systems drone with 15.9 kg payload capacity and integrated MōVI gimbal for cameras like RED Dragon or Alexa Mini.

Technical Details

Maximum Take-off Weight: 24.9 kg with 15.9 kg payload. Eight T-Motor U8 KV100 motors drive 29-inch propellers. The carbon fiber chassis measures 1,270 mm between motor axes. Integrated MōVI gimbal system stabilizes cameras such as RED Dragon, Alexa Mini, or Sony FX9. Redundant flight control with dual IMU and GPS. Operating temperature: -10°C to +50°C. Battery system: 6S 22000mAh LiPo batteries, hot-swap capable during operation.

History & Development

Market launch in 2016 as the successor to the Alta series from Freefly Systems, founded in 2011 by Tabb Firchau. Originally developed for their own MōVI gimbals, the Alta X quickly established itself in Hollywood productions. In 2018, Freefly expanded the system with the Alta Pro variant, featuring improved weather resistance. In 2020, RTK-GPS was integrated for centimeter-accurate positioning.

Practical Use in Film

Used in "Blade Runner 2049" (2017) for complex tracking shots through skyscraper canyons. "1917" (2019) utilized the Alta X for seamless transitions between ground and aerial shots in the famous one-shot sequences. Typical workflow: Gimbal operator controls the camera separately from the pilot, allowing precise image composition during complex flight maneuvers. Disadvantages: High power consumption at maximum payload, noise pollution from eight rotors during interior shots.

Comparison & Alternatives

Directly competes with the DJI Matrice 600 Pro (6 kg payload) and heavy lift systems like the Shotover F1. Bridges the gap between consumer drones and manned helicopters. Modern alternative: DJI FPV for smaller cameras or specialized custom builds for extreme payloads over 20 kg. The Alta X is used in medium to large productions where gimbal quality is more important than pure flight time.

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Ich schätze die nahtlose Integration mit MōVI-Gimbals – endlich kann ich dieselbe Gimbal-Bedienung am Boden und in der Luft nutzen. Die Stabilisierung ist so präzise, dass ich mit 200mm-Objektiven noch scharfe Aufnahmen bekomme, und das Hot-Swap-System der Akkus bedeutet keine Unterbrechung meiner Lichtstimmung.

Director

Die Alta X eröffnet mir Kamerafahrten, die früher nur mit Kran oder Hubschrauber möglich waren – ich kann vom Erdgeschoss durch ein Fenster ins Obergeschoss fliegen und dabei die Emotion der Szene verstärken. Besonders wertvoll sind die fließenden Perspektivwechsel, die das Publikum direkt in die Handlung hineinziehen.

Producer

Bei 40.000 Euro Anschaffung plus Versicherung rechne ich mit 800 Euro Tagessatz, aber das ist günstiger als Hubschrauber-Miete für 3.000 Euro plus Crew. Die FAA-Zertifizierung bedeutet weniger Genehmigungsaufwand, und das kompakte Transport-Case spart mir Logistikkosten bei internationalen Drehs.

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