Heavy lift drones
Freefly Alta X: cinema heavy lift drone
When the camera package is too big for anything else. The Alta X flies full-size cinema cameras, big zooms and anamorphics on a Movi Pro or Ronin 2, up to an ARRI 235 shooting 35mm film. Crewed to suit the job, UK-wide and into Europe.
The biggest builds, in the air
The Alta X is Freefly's heavy lift drone, built to carry up to 15 kg. That's the headroom for the camera builds the Alta 8 can't take: lenses over 1.7 kg, long zooms, big anamorphics and full-size cinema bodies.
It flies the same custom Movi Pro as our Alta 8, rebuilt to the Ignite Digi format with 24V power for cameras like the Sony Venice and ARRI Alexa 35. When the build gets bigger still, we swap to the Ronin 2.
Full-size cinema bodies
ARRI LF, Alexa 35, Sony Venice 2 and the equivalent from every major brand
RED
V-Raptor XL and the full V-Raptor range
High speed
Phantom 4K Flex on the Ronin 2, and the Freefly Ember with a long zoom on the Movi Pro
35mm film
ARRI 235 with a 400ft magazine
Lenses we've flown on it: ARRI/Zeiss Master Primes, Cooke anamorphics, Atlas Orion anamorphics, Hawk anamorphics and the Angenieux Optimo 15–40.
It's the right tool for:
- Big zooms and anamorphics that have to match the main unit.
- Full-size cinema cameras, not stripped-down drone builds.
- Long, steady takes where every minute in the air counts.
- Shooting 35mm film from the air.
Ronin 2: our biggest payload
For the heaviest camera and lens packages, the Alta X carries our DJI Ronin 2. It's built around full-size bodies like the ARRI LF rather than the smaller Mini LF, takes bigger and longer lenses, and can even fly an ARRI 235 35mm film camera with a 400ft magazine.
- What it carries: full-size cinema bodies from ARRI, Sony and RED, the Phantom 4K Flex, and heavy zooms and anamorphics. Everything stays within Freefly's 15.06 kg maximum payload: after the Ronin 2 itself, that leaves around 10 kg for camera and lens.
- Shooting film: a 400ft roll of 35mm gives around 4.5 minutes at 24fps in 4-perf, or about 6 minutes in 3-perf. The production's loader handles the mags, and our own servo rolls and cuts the camera in the air.
- Control: DJI transmission gives full control of the gimbal, the video link and focus in one small, lightweight package. With prep time we can fit Preston or ARRI focus motors instead.
- Mounting: a quick-release plate and vibration isolator between the Ronin 2 and the airframe.
If you're shooting on film, or your main unit's build is too big to strip down, this is the package to ask about.
A crew to suit the shot
Every Alta X shot is flown dual operator: the pilot flies the aircraft while our camera operator, who is also an aerial DOP, frames the shot and works with your DOP and camera team on settings, lenses and looks.
Crew of two
For a few simple shots, such as openers, we can work as a pair, with the production's 1st AC pulling focus.
Crew of three
On busier days we bring our own spotter and battery tech, so the aircraft is ready the moment you call action.
Separate aerial unit
Working as our own unit, we supply the focus puller too. We bring enough batteries for a full day, plus two generators and back-up chargers.
One crew, two jobs
Drone unit and B camera
Tim Boydell, who leads our heavy lift crew, is a working DOP and camera operator as well as a drone operator, so a second unit can run aerials and ground work with a safe, experienced pair of hands.
When the aerials are done, the camera comes off the gimbal and into a tripod or handheld build, or stays on the gimbal, ready to go as a gimbal unit.
One crew, one camera package, two jobs covered. It means your production gets cinema aerials and a second camera without paying for two separate units.
“Everyone remarks on how quiet the Alta X is. It's a big aircraft, but that low hum puts the whole set at ease, and actors tell us it helps them stay in the moment.”
Alta X or Alta 8?
Both fly cinema cameras on the same Movi Pro. The Alta X lifts more and stays up longer, and its heavier airframe and big 33-inch props make it noticeably steadier in the air.
The Alta 8 is lighter, quicker to set up and the one we fly abroad, because its batteries can be sourced locally. The Alta X travels too: by ferry to Ireland and mainland Europe and then by road, with batteries hired or bought locally where possible, or with the whole kit sent ahead by specialist freight.
Not sure which you need? Tell us the camera, the lens and the shot, and we'll advise the best package.
What Freefly built into it
Maximum payload
15.06 kg (33.2 lb)
Maximum takeoff weight
34.86 kg (76.9 lb)
Aircraft weight
10.86 kg (23.9 lb)
Props
33 inch folding, four motors
Batteries
Two 12S packs, 44.4 V
Size
2,273 mm across with props, folds to 877 mm
Operating temperature
−20°C to 50°C, tested to IP43
Gimbals
Custom Movi Pro or DJI Ronin 2
Flight time
Movi Pro + Sony FX6: 30+ min
Movi Pro + ARRI LF + 1.5 kg lens: 20+ min
Ronin 2 + ARRI LF + heavy zoom: under 15 min
Video link
DJI or Vaxis wireless video, SDI out at the base station
Day rates
Crewed day rates, including the Alta X, gimbal, wireless lens control and batteries for the day. Crew size is set to the job, so every quote is confirmed on enquiry.
Alta X with Movi Pro
from £2,950
Alta X with Ronin 2
from £3,100
Drone unit plus B camera or second unit
Ask us
Our DOP flies the drone unit, then operates B camera or runs a second unit between flights.
Camera body and lenses from the production, or supplied on request. Prices exclude VAT. Day length, overtime, travel and cancellation follow our rate card.
Get the full rate card
For producers
Are you CAA authorised and insured? Yes. We hold a CAA Operational Authorisation and carry £5m drone public liability insurance. We handle the risk assessment and flight plan, can arrange landowner permissions, and share everything with your production before the shoot.
Do you handle location and airspace permissions? We can. On TV and film shoots the location team usually secures location permissions, and we work alongside them with our risk assessments and flight plans. Where there's no location team, we can arrange landowner and airspace permissions ourselves, for example near airports or in restricted airspace. We fly under a CAA Operational Authorisation (PDRA01), which allows us to work within 50 metres of people who aren't part of the shoot (30 metres for take-off and landing). For London, congested areas, or shots that need to get closer, we can fly under an Operating Safety Case (OSC) at additional cost, reducing separation to 20 metres from the public with the Alta X.
Can you fly our camera and lenses? Send us the camera and lens list and we'll confirm the weight and balance. For any combination we haven't flown before, we may ask for a tech day.
How long does it take to set up? We schedule a one-hour pre-call before shooting for both the Movi Pro and Ronin 2 builds. A much heavier package may need a prep day, in which case it arrives built and is flying within 20 minutes of reaching the take-off point.
Can we shoot film? Yes. The Ronin 2 build can fly an ARRI 235 with a 400ft magazine. Your loader handles the mags, and we roll and cut the camera from the ground with our own servo.
What does the director see? A live picture from the main camera, sent down by DJI or Vaxis wireless video. The base station has SDI outputs, so we can feed video village, the director's monitor or the DIT cart directly.
Can you take the Alta X abroad? Yes. We drive it to Ireland and mainland Europe by ferry, hire or buy batteries locally where possible, or send the whole kit ahead by specialist freight.
Tell us the camera and the shot
We'll tell you straight whether it's the Alta X, the Alta 8 or the Inspire 3, and what it'll cost.
Check availability