Al Kaplan
Veteran
Tom, it was a bit scarey the first time. The pilot had already removed the door. It was lying on the ground next to the skid. We had a flight of about a mile to where we were shooting some construction. I was worried about leaning out to shoot down past the skid. No need! He started doing tight little circles, the chopperr banked over about 45 degrees, and centrifical force kept me pinned to the seat as I shot about straight out the doorway to my side. That same centrifical force keeps things from sliding out the door. I've never shot out of an airplane.
The most fun shoot though was a couple of days before Christmas back around 1978 or '79, when cops kind of expected people to be a bit tanked at holiday time, and as long as you didn't drive off the road or run a red light you were cool. I'd been making the rounds of client's XMAS parties for most of the afternoon when my beeper beeped (remember beepers?) At the next stop I called the answering service. Get my a$$ over to the heliport and the girl at the service would call to say I was on my way.
I think the pilot was as $hitfaced as I was. Anyway, we went up for about an hour, I shot five or six rolls, and after we landed I reached down to unfasten the seat belt. I couldn't find the buckle! I was sitting on it. I'd never fastened the dang thing.
It's amazing the things you can do when you're too drunk to be scared. The pilot had a good laugh!
The most fun shoot though was a couple of days before Christmas back around 1978 or '79, when cops kind of expected people to be a bit tanked at holiday time, and as long as you didn't drive off the road or run a red light you were cool. I'd been making the rounds of client's XMAS parties for most of the afternoon when my beeper beeped (remember beepers?) At the next stop I called the answering service. Get my a$$ over to the heliport and the girl at the service would call to say I was on my way.
I think the pilot was as $hitfaced as I was. Anyway, we went up for about an hour, I shot five or six rolls, and after we landed I reached down to unfasten the seat belt. I couldn't find the buckle! I was sitting on it. I'd never fastened the dang thing.
It's amazing the things you can do when you're too drunk to be scared. The pilot had a good laugh!
Last edited: