Shooting The Pilot Series II Launch From A Helicopter
When it came to launching our Pilot Collection Series II, we wanted to shoot the new watches at a thematically appropriate location. But, in true Farer style, we wanted that location to be somewhere that was also outside the norm for this type of launch.
So, we reached out to a friend of the brand, Mackie Alcantara, a professional model and helicopter pilot, who we worked with for the launch of the first Pilot Collection. He was only too happy to recommend that we come to the flight school he works at - HQ Aviation. Based just North of London, HQ Aviation is a helicopter flight school that was established by Quentin “Q” Smith.
Smith is the quintessential modern English explorer, having become the first person to fly to both the North and South Poles by helicopter. He has also circumnavigated the world by helicopter twice, and is a two-time Helicopter Aerobatics World Champion. And, for the cinephiles, Smith was also an instructor pilot for the film Mission Impossible: Fallout, which features extensive helicopter aerobatic sequences. HQ Aviation was therefore the perfect place to launch these new pilot watches, as it embodies the spirit of adventure that lies at the heart of this collection and the Farer brand.
On the day of the shoot, we had what can only be described as perfect weather. Having had a tour of the hangars and workshops, we took two flights up in a helicopter with Mackie. The first was a trip around the airfield and surrounding area, where we engaged in a few aerobatics, whilst the second was along the course of the Thames up to the Isle of Dogs.
We’re very grateful to Mackie and HQ Aviation for giving up their time and allowing us to film them. Their generosity has allowed us to bring the new models to life and show them in their natural habitat.
