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Filming
Pilot + aerial DP in tandem; the DP composes the shot and operates the gimbal.
CAMERA SHIP
Cinejet
High-speed, aerobatic Aero L-39 jet camera platform
The jet responsible for a majority of the fighter footage on Top Gun: Maverick. Cinejet puts a stabilized cinema camera on a long-nosed, aerobatic L-39 that can loop, roll and keep pace with fast jets while the lens hangs below the belly for unobstructed, look-anywhere angles. It's the platform when the shot is too fast or too aggressive for anything else.
Top Gun: Maverick proven
The jet behind a majority of the film's fighter footage.
Custom F1 Rush
Tuned for speeds over 350 kt and maneuvers approaching 3 G.
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.
Partner
Developed with our partners, the Patriots Jet Team
The Patriots Jet Team is the largest civilian-owned aerobatic jet team in the western hemisphere: an L-39 jet demonstration team based in Byron, California, whose pilots include former U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
The Patriots Jet Team developed the Cinejet platform: a high-speed, aerobatic L-39 camera platform built for motion picture and television production.
Patriots Jet Team
Randy “Howler” Howell
Slot #4 · Patriots Jet Team Owner
Randy has been instrumental in XBRAND’s progression in high-speed camera experimentation and exploration.
He has more than 28,000 hours of flight time and took early retirement as a United Airlines 747-400 Captain. An advanced instructor in aerobatics, formation and UPRT, and a Check Airman in a multitude of aircraft, he has flown 30 years of air shows between his MiG-17 team and the Patriots and raced in three different classes at the Reno Air Races. He holds an ATP with 24 type ratings, from the MiG-17 to the Boeing 747.
In flight
Go behind the scenes on our first test flight with the IMMORTAL Gimbal System
5 Gs · 450 MPH
Seating configurations
Who rides along
02
Stock
2 crew in tandem (manufacturer).
Performance & capacity
The numbers producers ask for
Range
1,000km
≈540 nm at 5,000 m
Service ceiling
11,500m
≈37,700 ft
- Max level speed
- 700 km/h (≈378 kt) at sea level; 750 km/h (≈405 kt) at 5,000 m
- Vne
- 910 km/h (≈491 kt) at sea level
- Filming speeds
- Custom F1 Rush tuned for speeds over 350 kt and maneuvers approaching 3 G
- Max climb
- 22 m/s (≈4,330 ft/min); 5 min to 5,000 m
- Engine
- 1 × Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan, 16.87 kN
- Crew positions
- Pilot + aerial DP, tandem
- Camera position
- Under the nose; the lens sits just below the belly for an unobstructed 360° view, and can look directly behind
- Door-off
- No (canopy jet)
Custom wraps
Custom wraps available on every airframe.
Base airframe: Aero L-39C Albatros. Manufacturer figures from Aero Vodochody. 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
Now flying IMMORTAL Phoenix.
A massive capability upgrade in a much smaller gimbal package.
IMMORTAL Phoenix
- 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
- High-speed PHX-X rated to 450 kt
SHOTOVER F1
- The system flown on Top Gun: Maverick
- Nose-mounted, tuned for 350+ kt and about 3 G
- 6-axis, no gimbal lock
- Look-down, inverted or underslung
- 360° continuous pan, tilt +45° to −140°
Mount position: Nose mount, with the lens just below the belly line.
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.
On location
The Cinejet at work
Request a Quote
Ready to fly the Cinejet?
Our Aerial Project Managers are available 24/7 to provide rates and availability for our teams worldwide.