FREEFLY ALTA 8 UAS for Aerial Cinematography

The ALTA 8 from Freefly is an octo-rotor configuration UAS for aerial cinematography. Designed to work in conjunction with a MoVI gimbal (available separately), the ALTA 8 will support payloads up to 20 pounds, making it ideal for today’s lightweight cinema cameras. The ALTA 8 allows the gimbal can be mounted above, as well as below, the aircraft, enabling “sky view” shots.

For fast setup and breakdown, the ALTA 8 employs Freefly’s Toad in the Hole (TITH) quick release gimbal attachment mechanism. For extra portability, the prop arms retract and props fold in half for a smaller footprint that is easier to transport.

Performance
Efficient Design
18-inch props, optimized propulsion system, and a lightweight carbon fiber frame together allow flight times comparable to quadcopters while being able to carry the weight of a cinema camera and gimbal.
Flight Time
The ALTA 8 supports flights of over 15 minutes when using two 16 Ah batteries with a payload of 15 lb.
SYNAPSE Intelligent Flight Control System
Precise Positioning
By fusing GPS data with the IMU and Barometer, the ALTA 8 is able to hold position even in difficult weather conditions. For industrial users, this gives the ability to execute complex flight paths while keeping pilot fatigue low.
Velocity Clamps
The SYNAPSE features velocity control with an adjustable real time speed limit. This means pilots can alter the vertical and ground velocities to ensure precise, repeatable camera moves.
Height Hold
The SYNAPSE flight controller takes readings from accelerometers, barometer, and GPS and fuses them together to create high-bandwidth height-control flight mode. This feature is designed to give filmmakers a “dolly in the sky.”
Return to Home
Alta 8’s return-home function features a “safe height” parameter. With this set, on return home the aircraft will fly at a fixed elevation to avoid collision with obstacles below the pre-defined limit.
Automatic Data Logging
The ALTA 8 allows you to monitor and analyze performance and health using Freefly’s proprietary high-speed data logging via microSD card. Data can be inspected using Freefly’s data viewer application.
ALTA App
Functions
Functions accessible through the app include:
Flight Pack Voltage
Satellite Count
Flight Mode
Attitude
Pilot Checklists
Vibration Levels
Height
Temperature
Works with MoVI Gimbals
Top Mount Camera Option
In addition to traditional bottom (“Ground View”) mounting, the ALTA 8 supports mounting the gimbal on top of the aircraft (“Sky View”). This enables capturing distinct camera angles from beneath an elevated subject.
Quick Release Gimbal Attachment
The Alta 8 supports Freefly’s Toad in the Hole (TITH) mounting system, the same mount found on MoVI gimbal. This reduces setup and breakdown time, and makes switching between “Ground View” and “Sky View” modes easy.

Note: MoVI gimbal available separately.
Air System Design
Folding Frame
The frame and propellers fold for a footprint that is 50% of the Alta 8’s size in operational configuration. This makes it easy to pack up and carry along, even to remote locations.
Vibration Isolation System
A vibration-isolation system rejects high-frequency disturbances, adding further image stability on top of what the gimbal provides.
Weather Resistant
The ALTA 8 features a lightweight molded plastic enclosure to cover the flight control and power distribution board to protect them from the elements.
Receiver Mounting Bay
The ALTA 8 provides two fully enclosed receiver mounting bays to keep these sensitive components protected and dry.
Silent Drive
The ALTA 8 utilizes sinusoidal drive motor controls, and the motors are custom tuned to match the F45 flight controller, with optimizations for speed, reliability, and robustness. The motor drives are constantly monitoring a variety of parameters and reporting status to the SYNAPSE.
Required for Completion
The ALTA 8 comes as an ARF (almost ready-to-fly) bundle. It features a hard transit case, Quick-release top handle, and inverted landing gear for top-mounting the gimbal. In addition to these included items, typical use cases may require the following:
MoVI gimbal
Transmitter (radio controller) and compatible receiver
At least two flight batteries
Aero Landing Gear (lower landing gear for flying a MoVI in the bottom mount configuration)
An FPV system

In the Box
FREEFLY ALTA 8 UAS for Aerial Cinematography
Case
Case Lid Foam
18 x Isolator Cartridges
Electronic Luggage Scale
Inverted Landing Gear for Top Mounting Drone
USB to Futaba Power Cable
4 x Antenna Tubes
4 x FPV Cables
Quick Release Battery Tray
FPV Mount Plate
Installation Hardware
1-Year Warranty