Aerial Photography – Photo flights in a helicopter

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Ingo

What are Photo Flights and why not use a drone?

A photo flight is a flight in a helicopter or airplane with a photographer on board, taking pictures of properties, events, construction sites or other projects. So why not just use a drone? That seems to be just so much easier, right?

Well, a drone is very lightweight, and can stay in the air only for a limited amount of time. Winds can be challenging for a drone because of its weight. There are also restrictions on what you can do with a drone. You cannot operate above a certain altitude without FAA approval, and you cannot operate close to certain airports.

A helicopter or airplane is able to stay in the air for hours, if needed. An aircraft can cover a way bigger area and give the photographer better flexibility.

There are specific applications where a drone makes way more sense than a helicopter or airplane. Especially if you are operating close to the ground. So both have their advantages and disadvantages.

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How does a photo flight typically work?

We typically start with a ground briefing with the photographer and the pilot. This is to make sure both know exactly what is expected and what is of importance to the photographer or camera man and the project. This is of even more importance if a video or movie is shot.

It will help keep the cost down, since we want to keep the time that we are in the helicopter actually flying as focused and short as possible. Also important is the safety briefing. No loose objects in the aircraft. We try to fulfill the needs of the photographer but it is of the highest importance that the flight is safe.

What projects have we done in the past?

We have worked on film and photo projects including Music Videos, Vehicle promotion videos and lots of photography projects. Some of those include Vineyards, buildings, marathons, crop fields, construction sites and more.

Contact us!

If you have any questions or need details on how we can help you with a certain project, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Considerations for After You Graduate from Flight School

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Amanda Emerson

Graduating from flight school is exciting. Acquiring the skills and certifications needed to successfully pilot aircraft across the skies is a uniquely liberating accomplishment. Knowing how to fly an aircraft and having the licensing to do so gives you the freedom to go anywhere in the world that you would like to go, at your own discretion and with a little more control over the circumstances than flying commercial or even private. After you graduate, though, you may wish to think about what is next.

Piper Comanche

Will You Own Your Own Aircraft?

Many people obtain a pilot’s license with the intention of owning a personal aircraft. Owning a personal aircraft can give you access to the skies so that you can roam as you please – within reason. However, owning an aircraft comes with a lot of responsibilities and can become pricey. When you own your own craft, you must purchase aircraft insurance, figure out where you will park your aircraft, keep the craft fueled, and keep up with regular maintenance and certifications.

Shared Aircraft Ownership

Many owners are finding shared aircraft ownership to be more desirable than private ownership. When you share an aircraft with others, you share the costs of purchasing the craft itself and you also share all of the costs of ownership and maintenance. You may have to work with the other owners of the craft to be sure that it will be available when you need it, but this is often less of a problem than most pilots think. Pilots often tend to actually log few sky miles, so the lowered costs may be worth more than the sacrifice.

Aircraft Rentals

Another flight option that is becoming more widespread is aircraft rentals. Companies rent aircraft to certified pilots to use as needed. This option eliminates many concerns, such as where to park the aircraft and where to fuel up. Rental companies also handle insurance needs and maintenance, charging the pilot renting the craft a set rate that covers all costs. Many pilots like this option, as it allows for variety in the type of craft that is flown from one excursion to the next.

Will You Pursue a Career in Aviation?

There are many career options available after flight school. Working with rescue services, working with utility companies to supply necessary services, taking travelers to their dream destinations, and taking vacationers on flying tours can all be highly fulfilling careers that allow you to do what you love. Your options may vary based on the type of training that you receive, but licensed pilots are in high demand for many industries.

2013 Konect Aviation Car Trophy Winner

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Holly

2013 proved to be another good year for the Ezra Koch Car Show here in McMinnville, Oregon and Konect Aviation was honored to have the privilege of awarding a trophy again this year to the hottest car! There were many amazing cars and after narrowing down the competition to less than 10 cars out of nearly 100 I really started to feel the pressure.

Honestly, I knew the car I would choose when it drove through the entry gate but was determined to give all the rest a fair shake.

1973 Newlyweds Speed Off in the Challenger

Even after taking a closer look, this car screamed quality, original American craftsmanship and high performance. Add on top of that my personal nostalgia for the Dodge Challenger, we’ve got another no-brainer for 2013.

Meet Steve and Sharon, proud owners of a 1970 Dodge Challenger! In 2013 one might argue the car is in better condition than when Steve bought it in 1972 for $2100.00. He has kept the car true to the MOPAR design with only upgrades originally offered as options and the restoration of worn parts and interior. Since he is a mechanic, he has done most of the work himself but did get it professionally painted in 1992.

The 1970 debut model of the Dodge Challenger was arguably the best in terms of options. According the article “Dodge Challenger: History of the Dodge Pony Car” (Tyll, 2008), there were 9 power-train options available in 1970 a number which was drastically reduced the 4 subsequent years the Challenger was produced due to increasingly more strict EPA and Safety standards.

“So what’s under the hood?” you might ask. This car has the 340 cubic inch V-8 to which Steve added the Six-Pack option later on which has three Holley carburetors with a total of 1350 cfm. What makes this one special is that it has the A66 Performance Package with the following features:

raised hood with call-out emblems
150 mph speed-o-meter
Rally dash with needle gauges
front sway bars
15 inch Rally wheels
heavy duty 11 inch front and rear drum breaks
3-speed console shift 727 transmission
full-harness seat belts

There is a lot more to this car, but I tell you what makes it really special is that Steve and Sharon have kept this American Classic as a family car in such great condition and are now sharing it with their 7 grandchildren who will likely get to appreciate it when they are old enough to know what it is.

Thank you Steve for sharing your awesome car!!!