Airplane Cockpit Video Recording How to Videotape in Flight
Things You'll Need:
Video Camera - analog or digital with external microphone jack
Microphone Patch Cord - homemade or store bought
Camera Mount ( or willing passenger with a steady hand)
First things first... the videocamera. Depending on the type of camera and the future intentions for the video, the videocamera is obviously the most important piece of the puzzle. To make a video to watch on your tv at a later date, an older analog video camera will suffice just fine. The camera however must be equipped with an external micorphone jack so it can be interfaced with your airplane's intercom headset. If you choose to use a camera without the capability of an external mic, you will hear nothing but the sound of the engine. This is pretty much a useless video unless you plan on adding music to the video with some editing at a later date. I have found the cockpit videos to be far more interesting with the conversation of the pilot, the passengers, other pilot's radio transmissions, and air traffic control. It was more common in older cameras to have an external microphone jack. Newer video cameras have mostly dropped this option with the exception of the high end models. Another helpful feature would be image stabilization. This is more common on newer cameras and is not mandatory, but will be helpful in the event of a shaky cameraman or turbulent ride.
First things first... the videocamera. Depending on the type of camera and the future intentions for the video, the videocamera is obviously the most important piece of the puzzle. To make a video to watch on your tv at a later date, an older analog video camera will suffice just fine. The camera however must be equipped with an external micorphone jack so it can be interfaced with your airplane's intercom headset. If you choose to use a camera without the capability of an external mic, you will hear nothing but the sound of the engine. This is pretty much a useless video unless you plan on adding music to the video with some editing at a later date. I have found the cockpit videos to be far more interesting with the conversation of the pilot, the passengers, other pilot's radio transmissions, and air traffic control. It was more common in older cameras to have an external microphone jack. Newer video cameras have mostly dropped this option with the exception of the high end models. Another helpful feature would be image stabilization. This is more common on newer cameras and is not mandatory, but will be helpful in the event of a shaky cameraman or turbulent ride.