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I’m a licenced commercial helicopter pilot and fixed wing microlight pilot. In 2017 I started a YouTube channel and because of my broadcasting background, I called it Rory On Air. It’s all about sharing the joys of flying, learning new skills and striving to become a better aviator.
You can watch all my airborne adventures on the Rory On Air YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications!
In 2019 I took a leap of faith towards achieving my dream of becoming a professional helicopter pilot. I quit my job as a Studio Director at the BBC and enrolled on a full time integrated commercial helicopter pilot training course at Helicentre Aviation in Leicestershire. I’ve been learning on a Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopter – see the pilot page for more on the aircraft I can fly. In January 2021 I graduated with a CPL(H) and a frozen ATPL(H) IR. In 2022 I landed my first flying job – as a copilot flying the S92 helicopter for Bristow in Aberdeen. I hope to be able to share some of what my job involves over the coming months, so watch this space!
There are various expenses associated with making videos, like software licences, buying hard drives to store footage, SD cards, cables and a multitude of gear. If you enjoy my videos and fancy buying me a coffee I’d be very grateful.
I’ve struggled for years with sunglasses that don’t quite work for me in the cockpit. They often cause compression pain on my head and spoil the seal around my headset ear cups, making the noise cancelling less effective.
That’s until I discovered Flying Eyes. These amazing glasses are designed for pilots, bikers and helmet users. The temples are incredibly thin yet strong and flexible and they’ve already made a big difference to my airborne comfort.
Get 10% off across their entire range with my RORYONAIR discount. Click here for more info.
I get a lot of questions about the setup I use to film and record my flights so I thought it would be helpful to share some information about the kit I use. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch via social media or the contact page.
Video settings
I usually shoot 1080p or 2.7k, 30fps with gopro colour, auto white balance and the iso limited to 400. On really bright days it’s sometimes worth using an ND filter. High resolution footage can add flexibility in the edit but its hard work on your computer.
Audio recording
Audio is recorded via a splitter cable into a Zoom H1. I also us a 40db pad (attenuator) to reduce the input audio level before it reaches the recorder. This helps to avoid distortion. Alternatively, you can also put a lavalier mic inside your headset ear cup.
DJI Ronin SC Guimbal
