about

The Phenom CS

The Phenom
Camera Ship

What started as a suggestion from a business partner soon turned into a feat of engineering and aviation that the likes of Hollywood have ever seen. In 2016, Jonathan Spano-Long Beach, CA aviation entrepreneur and stunt pilot was approached by his business partner Fred North to retrofit his Embraer Phenom 300E business jet with a multi-camera operating system so that he could help film scenes for the highly anticipated movie, “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022).

It took over 18 months of engineering, modification and certification to ensure that the drag rom the 300 lb. camera stabilizers attached to the nose and of tail of the jet would not be an issue while travelling over 300 knots.

The speed and agility of the Phenom 300E allows for advanced aerial filming, such as diving behind an F-18 while filming for “Top Gun: Maverick.” The design of the jet also allows for longer sortie times since can carry more fuel and has the power of dual engines compared to standard camera planes.
The two Shot Over F1 Rush cameras installed on the jet allow for multi-lensed filming and have a wide range of capturable angles…

Camera

Forward AOV

33° Up, 112° Down
112° Left
33° Up, 19° Down
67® Left, mirrored on the right side

Camera

Aft

33° Up, 112° Down
112° Left
33° Up, 19° Down
67® Left, mirrored on the right side

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The Phenom Camera Ship