WhiteCap Video Blog

This shows an R44 helicopter doing a practice autorotation.

Jeff Relaxed, Paul goofing

What is a autorotation?  If you loose power in a helicopter a autorotation is when the machine glides to the ground without power to the blades.

I am not a helicopter pilot yet.  I am a professional videographer who has shot for a lot of years from helicopters as part of my job.  This was a practice autorotation in a very controlled environment over our normal airport.  So yes helicopters can fly without power as long as you still have blades rotating, altitude, and a skilled pilot.

Here is the clip of one of our autorotations from onboard looking out the side door.  Autorotation

The wait is over, southern New England now has their own fishing show.

Last winter we were hired to shoot aerial footage for a new show from Discovery call “Lobstermen”.   So along with my pilot Jeff Codman (Bird’s Eye View Helicopters) we shot all of the aerial footage for the show.

Shot in the winter December through February we were very pleased that our gear worked flawlessly in the cold conditions.  While shooting out of the helicopter I take up one of the back seats and the gyro system with my camera/gear is in the seat next to me with that door off.  The front two seats are filled by pilot and producer who have a monitor to view what I am shooting.  They also have both of their doors on with heat.  Needless to say we had a couple of cold flights.  How about 15 degrees F while moving at 125 kts with free flowing air coming in the door.  Exciting stuff and I love it.

Here is the link to Discovery Channel.  Lobstermen