This newly announced drone is not a toy or DJI consumer product. Alta X is a professional aerial platform for high-end productions. The guys at Freefly added some decent features to the ALTA X compared to other models, to enhance the aerial cinematography experience.

Aerial cinematography

Today Apple announced its new iPhone armed with “state of the art” camera that can produce stunning images. However, in digital cinema, it’s not an option, since we want the unique cinematography imagery derived only from cinema cameras. Of course, you can use those DJI’s user-friendly drones. However, in order to get the RAW cinematic gradable footage, you’ll need to lift one of those heavy-duty cinema cameras connected to a gimbal, plus cinema lens attached. The way accomplishing that is by using a professional drone developed especially for cinema applications. 

Freefly’s Alta X: 35lb payload capabilities

Freefly designs and manufactures camera movement systems and stabilizers for cinematography purposes. Also, Freefly is specialized in aerial cinematography development and solutions. The company gained its reputation after the launch of the MōVI camera stabilizer that provided a smaller and lighter alternative to the Steadicam.

The world’s toughest drone

Freefly Systems

The newly developed professional drone, named Alta X, designed to carry the line of the MOVI gimbals and create professional aerial shots. With the Alta X you can fly a Mōvi Carbon (20 lb payload) for 20+ minutes, or a max payload (35lb) for over 10 minutes. That’s a lot of weight (16K). According to Freefly, this is “The world’s toughest drone.” I won’t be so sure about that since there is the XM2 Sierra which was made to lift an ALEXA 65 (payload capacity of 65 pounds). However, the ALTA X was planned to allow high payload without impairing maneuverability, and still to remain easy to use.

Key Features

• Carry up to a 35lb payload while maintaining a 2:1 thrust to weight ratio. Maximum lift capacity: Max gross takeoff weight is 76.9lbs (34.9kg) at sea level, 0°C. With smaller payloads, flight times can exceed 40 minutes.
• ALTA X folds to half its normal size with the push of a finger (see picture down below). The folding linkages also stiffen the booms to ensure low vibration and precise flight characteristics.
• ActiveBlade feature: ActiveBlade allows the blades on Alta X to flap to counter some of the undesirable impacts of dissymmetry of lift and cyclic loading. ActiveBlade reduces peak vibration levels to 1/5th of the level seen without ActiveBlade, which enables better reliability, and more precise flight characteristics.

Have a look at Freefly’s video below, which demonstrates ALTA X capabilities:

Summary

As written above, this is not a toy. The Alta X costs $16,000 for a minimal package, which means only the drone chassis. You can’t fly a cinema camera on this drone without a stabilization gimbal, so bear in mind you will have to purchase the MOVI Pro as well. A complete package will cost you about $25,000, not including the camera and lens.

For those who are eager to learn how to operate this machine, Freefly offers a couple of dedicated training programs from basic to advanced. Go to their website to learn more about it. Just remember that in this case, crushing is not an option!