01
Gimbal camera helicopter
Pilot and gimbal operator with monitors, plus the director or DP in the rear.
CAMERA HELICOPTER
Astar Camera Helicopters
Airbus H125 (AS350 B3e) single-engine camera helicopter
The industry's go-to camera helicopter, ready in more places for less. Our Astar camera helicopters, based on both coasts, fly the full XBRAND gimbal lineup: the flagship SHOTOVER K1, plus the IMMORTAL Phoenix and SHOTOVER F1. They deliver stable, long-lens aerials from car chases to stadium night work, with hot-and-high performance for mountain locations.
STC for populated areas
STC-certified for flight over densely populated areas with K1, IMMORTAL and F1 mounts.
Door-off camera work
Open-door position for handheld or side-mount shots.
Starlink-ready live downlink
Can be equipped with Starlink for a live video feed to video village, for real-time review anywhere in the world.
Seating configurations
Who rides along
02
Door-off camera
Pilot + camera operator at the open door on a tethered harness, for handheld or side-mount work.
03
Stock passenger
1 pilot + 6 passengers, or 2 pilots + 4 (manufacturer).
Performance & capacity
The numbers producers ask for
Fast cruise
136kt
252 km/h
Vne
155kt
287 km/h · max gross, ISA, sea level
Range / endurance
340nm
630 km 4 h 27 min at MTOW
Hover ceiling OGE
12,600ft
at MTOW
Hover ceiling IGE
14,500ft
4,420 m at MTOW, ISA
Max flight altitude
23,000ft
7,010 m
Useful load
974kg
2,148 lb at 2,250 kg MTOW; 1,075 kg (2,373 lb) at the 2,370 kg MTOW option
Cabin volume
3.00m³
105.9 ft³ · excluding the pilot's area
- Bases
- Headquarters in Linden, NJ · Los Angeles, CA · Las Vegas, NV, with H125 camera helicopters ready at a moment's notice.
- External (sling) load
- 1,400 kg (3,086 lb)
- Engine
- 1 × Safran Arriel 2D, 952 shp takeoff, dual-channel FADEC
- Crew positions
- Pilot + gimbal operator + 1–2 creatives
- Door-off
- Yes
- Camera positions
- Nose-mounted gimbal (K1, IMMORTAL or F1); door-side handheld or side mount
Custom wraps
Custom wraps available on every airframe.
Base airframe: Airbus H125. Manufacturer figures from Airbus. Manufacturer published specs for the stock base airframe. XBRAND's modified camera platforms, with gimbals, camera pods and mission equipment, may perform differently.
Gimbal mounting options
SHOTOVER K1, our flagship.
The biggest, most powerful gimbal we fly, for any camera and lens package imaginable, from large cinema cameras to long zooms.
SHOTOVER K1
- Our biggest, most powerful option, ready for any camera and lens package imaginable, from large cinema cameras to long zooms
- 6-axis gyro-stabilized, 2D or 3D, straight look-down
- 360° pan, tilt +60° to −140°
- Takes payloads up to 760 mm long
IMMORTAL Phoenix
- A capable, versatile option in a compact package
- 6-axis, no gimbal lock, mounts overslung or underslung
- 360° continuous pan, tilt +45° to −110°, nodal roll ±100° with optional 360° continuous spin
- 120°/sec slew
- Cinema payloads up to ARRI 35 + Canon CN20, broadcast up to Sony P50 + Fujinon UA46
- Operating altitude −30 ft to +30,000 ft
- Fully sealed for heavy rain
- Rated to 250 kt
SHOTOVER F1
- 6-axis, no gimbal lock
- Look-down, inverted or underslung
- 360° continuous pan, tilt +45° to −140°
- Rated to 200 kt
Mount position: Nose mount, plus a door-off side position for handheld and side-mount work. All three gimbal mounts (IMMORTAL, K1 and F1) are covered by an STC for flight over densely populated areas.
Certified sign-off, every time
Every externally mounted gimbal is inspected and signed off by an FAA-certificated A&P mechanic for compliance and safety before and after each production.
Flown with Savage Aviation as our primary aircraft supplier.
On location
The Astar at work
Request a Quote
Ready to fly the Astar?
Our Aerial Project Managers are available 24/7 to provide rates and availability for our teams worldwide.