SpaceCam Systems, Inc. has, since its inception in 1989, set the pace for design of helicopter mounting bracketry for gyro-stabilized camera systems. SpaceCam was the first gyro-stabilized system to provide helicopter nose mount bracktery which allows for many creative options in aerial filming. With the newly developed SpaceCam Helicopter Omni Mounting System, SpaceCam has once again taken the lead in creativity, versatility and innovation.
Designed in response to the needs of Director Randall Wallace and DP Dean Semler on the Vietnam epic film We Were Soldiers, the SpaceCam Helicopter Omni Mounting System enables the film maker, for the first time, to easily and precisely film actors in actual flying positions. The basic structural design of the system is applicable to all helicopters but has been first applied to the OH-1 model of the Bell “Huey” line. The Huey was a natural for the new system’s first application because of its Vietnam utilization and high visual potential involving pilots, troops, guns and rockets.
The SpaceCam Huey Mount is a fully tested and operational system that was used with great success on We Were Soldiers in April 2001 at Ft. Hunter Liggett, California. SpaceCam system designer and aerial DP Ron Goodman operated the SpaceCam gyro-stabilized camera system with film pilots Cliff Fleming and Rick Shuster doing the flying. The crew filmed various air-to-air formations with transitions to and from principal actors within the picture-ship Huey. Also captured was close up work of Greg Kinnear with radio dialogue and shots with Mel Gibson and Sam Elliot in the open door of the Huey with helicopter formations in trail.
The SpaceCam Huey Mount is a camera mounting bracket system designed to mount the SpaceCam gyro-stabilized, remotely controlled camera module in a variety of positions to effect virtually all flying scenarios involving Huey helicopters. The Huey Mount consists of a modular tubular frame and ancillary mounting arms that may be used to provide over 200 different camera positions on the Huey helicopter. It is the first complete system of its kind. All prior art on this type of installation was on an improvised basis and simply mounted a camera in one position with either pipes, speed rails or other temporary mounts. The components of the SpaceCam system may be mounted singularly or in various configurations to effect camera positions and avoid the filming of the camera support system. A precise counter balance system is also incorporated in the design so that the Huey always stays within approved specifications for flight safety.