Steve started dabbling with aerial photography in 1994, making use of a Powered Paraglider. This marvellous craft allowed ideal positioning on site and was a stable platform, operating at a very low cost. Perhaps the only drawback to a PPG was it’s limitations in terms of speed, allowing for only one target site per outing. So whilst the PPG provided a low operating cost, it was not productive. The aircraft currently used has ‘the legs’ to go out and position for the capture of 6 – 10 sites in the same time frame. Economics were thus improved for all.

The aircraft of choice now is a top wing Rainbow Cheetah and whilst registered in the Microlight category, it is equipped with a rated aviation engine and the same avionics as that found on any light aircraft. The Cheetah’s most favoured attributes are the very easily removable doors, a very slow loitering speed for photography and yet the speed to travel quickly to distant sites. Most important of all is that the Cheetah’s operating cost is about a quarter of that for small helicopters and light commercial aircraft. It is this aspect in particular which translates into ‘Affordable Aerial Photography’ and related services for the consumer.