GoPro is a globally recognized action camera brand that stands out in a crowded market, primarily due to its exceptionally high dynamic range and innovative features. Founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman, the brand originated from his desire to film his adventures without the hassle of holding a traditional camera.
This simple yet powerful idea has transformed GoPro from a small startup into a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Today, GoPro cameras are indispensable for a variety of activities, from surfing and skydiving to racing and rock climbing. Whether you’re seeking a unique point of view for your recordings or capturing aerial footage as a pilot, a GoPro is the ultimate choice for action enthusiasts.
Go Pro Accessories
Propeller Filter
It’s not just the camera that makes a GoPro so useful, it’s the accessories that can be used with it. GoPro makes a ton of different accessories and the propeller filter is one of the most common aviation Go Pro accessories you can get. This filter limits the amount of light that hits the lens which makes it register less light and thus the sensor runs slower than the propeller which means it doesn’t have the distortion you usually get.
Lemo Cable
A 6-pin Lemo cable can make your GoPro usable in a helicopter so that you can get the audio of the helicopter’s intercom system. This means you can get a clear sound through of what’s going on with the intercom without excess cabin noise and still have a simple setup.
Cockpit Mount
The GoPro cockpit mount is a must-have accessory if you want to get a stable recording and place your action camera however you want without fiddling with it too much. This mount usually comes as part of a mounting kit which means it works together with a suction cup and a stainless steel arm that make it easy to set up and get the best angle possible at the same time.
Sport Adapter
Made out of aircraft-grade aluminium, the Sport adapter from GoPro is made to work in your aircraft of choice and with any GoPro camera. These GoPro Hero accessories, allow you to mount your camera on any surface and it stays there even if you’re upside down. Remember though that this adapter can only be used inside the cockpit and not on any external surface of your aircraft.
Cage
Talking about mounting a GoPro cockpit mount outside of the cabin, if you plan on doing so while doing speeds over 150 knots you should use a cage. GoPro offers a metal cage that helps protect the camera from hard impacts and keeps it operational in the harshest environments as it too is made from aircraft-grade aluminium. This cage also comes with all the cutouts that allow the camera to work with GoPro’s Nflightcam audio solution which lets you hook up any of their models with your intercom.
SD Card
A GoPro wouldn’t be what it is today without one of the most essential Go Pro accessories and that’s an SD card. An action camera is small and therefore its form factor doesn’t allow for much-dedicated storage but it’s because of that you can have a lot more removable storage. You can record long videos in 4K without worrying if you have enough memory. You can then mount the SD card on your laptop and edit, view or transfer the footage.
Chest Mount
With a GoPro you can have different POVs and one of the most convenient ways to get a pilot’s POV is with a chest mount. As you would expect this type of mount involves a strap that goes on your chest and has the camera mounted at the midpoint of your upper body at the centre of your rib cage.
Head Strap
A head strap is also a good idea if you want to bring your view to life for others as this type of solution lets you place your GoPro on your head. This strap prevents the GoPro from moving around too much as it sits on rather tight. It may not be as convenient during longer flights but for short videos, a head strap is a great alternative to a chest mount as it gives you a more versatile POV in terms of getting a more realistic view.
Battery Charger
Without batteries, you wouldn’t be able to capture all those interesting moments and educational information in one go. However, the battery in a GoPro is not as long-lasting as you’d expect which is why you should get spare ones. While changing them mid-flight isn’t something you should aim to do, when there is no other solution, putting in a new battery will help you continue your recordings without much downtime.
Wide Angle Lens
If you want to get more of your cabin in one shot, you should consider getting one of the most practical GoPro Hero accessories and that’s a wide-angle lens. Some action cameras don’t even allow you to put a wide-angle lens or already come with just a wide-angle view which makes for quite a limited solution. This just isn’t the case with a GoPro.
