(04/09/2013) Innovative, swift, cost-efficient: Organizers and TV stations who wish to have their events produced in spectacular aerial shots now have an alternative to expensive helicopters - with the _eaglecopter by _wige MEDIA AG.
Spectacular aerial shots form a substantial and versatile part of the live broadcast of sports and other major events. The production of corresponding images is often associated with the use of helicopters with costs in the five-figure range and thus not feasible for many projects.
_wige MEDIA AG has developed the _eaglecopter in collaboration with the Austrian helicopter manufacturer Trixy Aviation. This flying machine with a total curb weight of 342 kg and a length of 5,800 mm is significantly lighter, swifter and features a better fuel efficiency than a conventional helicopter. The _eaglecopter comes with a fully integrated stabilized 3- or 5-axis camera system, including live uplink equipment. With the 5-axis stabilized camera system, the cost per minute are less than 50% compared to a conventional helicopter production of motion picture footage from the air, which costs around 64 EUR per flight minute. In addition, the copter can optionally be used as a repeater or relay station in order to expand the transmission of signals. The aircraft can be easily and inexpensively transported to the site with a trailer or pickup truck.
After being tested for the first time during the Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt at the end of June, the _eaglecopter lifted off last weekend at the ADAC GT Masters at Lausitzring. _wige has been commissioned with the TV production of the League of Super Sports Cars since 2007, and today also provides editing and TV marketing for the series. During the race in the Lausitz, the Cologne media company was also responsible for the coordination of the _eaglecopter and the uplink that transferred the signal of the copter to the OB truck. The aerial shots were then inserted directly into kabel eins' TV live broadcast, thus providing live images of the popular racing series from the sky for the first time ever.
The two-seater plane, which can fly up to an altitude of 3000 m, provides space for a pilot and a camera operator. It was exclusively designed by the Austrian company Trixy Aviation for _wige MEDIA AG. One of the biggest challenges in the development was to ensure the stability of the camera to get steady, shake-free images, while at the same time constructing a very light-weight camera mount. The camera head is now used for precise balancing of utmost ease and stability; it forms the focal point of the entire project.
_wige offers broadcasters and hosts the opportunity to produce aerial shots with minimal effort and low costs. The _eagle can be used at numerous major events, especially in sports, e.g. Triathlon competitions or winter and trend sport events. The lightweight helicopter will also provide the viewers with high quality shots from the sky at the upcoming ADAC GT Masters race at the Slovakia Ring.
Technical specifications of the _eaglecopter:
Length: 5800 mm (228 in)
Width: 2455 mm (97 in)
Height: 2881 mm (113 in)
Weight (empty): 342 kg (753 lbs.)
V/max: 195 km/h (105 kn)
V/cruise: 165 km / h (86 kn)
V/min: 30 km / h (16 kn)
Construction: carbon fiber
Maximum weight: 600kg (1323 lbs.)
Short interview with
is the developer of the _eaglecopter and is responsible for the business development of _wige BROADCAST gmbh. The 23-year-old is known in the technology sector as the inventor and developer of nano talk, the worlds smallest radio, used during the Tour de France.
Steiner was also involved in the development of the ski goggle camera for the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2013 in Schladming, Austria.
Q: Lukas, why did you invent the _eaglecopter?
A: I've been thinking for quite some about the future of TV productions. Today, most TV formats cannot afford live and aerial shots, as the budget often does not allow covering the increasing costs of a helicopter. So I began my search for an alternative, which is completely different, cost effective and above all - safe!
copyrighted by stern-press / I. V r s 2013 Q: What were the challenges (especially during Ironman?)
A: The biggest challenge was probably affixing, or better integrating, a fully stabilized camera system. Through a special and unique design, it is now possible to achieve a 360 degree view with a 27x zoom lens! The process cost us a few sleepless nights, so we now applied for a patent for this particular mount.
Q: What are _wige's future planes for the _eaglecopter?
A: Basically, the _eaglecopter the most important component of an emerging concept at _wige. We want to offer innovative and cost-efficient live productions in the future. In the upcoming months, two or three complementary products will significantly change the concept of live productions!
Most recent headlines
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
(04/09/2013) Innovative, swift, cost-efficient: Organizers and TV stations who wish to have their events produced in spectacular aerial shots now have an alternative to expensive helicopters - with the _eaglecopter by _wige MEDIA AG.
