STUDIO WINGS

What STUDIO WINGS does

Studio Wings is a veteran-owned aerial film production company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Camarillo, California, providing helicopter cinematography, drone filming, military aircraft coordination, and stunt aviation services for major film and television productions. The company operates under an FAA-approved Flight Operations Manual and Safety Management System, holds the only Civilian Class Bell 212 Huey in Hollywood approved for fast rope shots, and deploys stabilized camera systems including the Shotover K1. Service offerings include helicopter cinematography (Airbus H125, H145, Bell 212 Huey), drone cinematography (small-lift, heavy-lift, FPV), military aircraft access, picture ships and production pilots, fast rope tactical operations, aerial location scouting by a DGA member director, production air transportation, and risk assessment/Special Use Airspace Film Permit support. The drone service line is delivered through a partner network spanning Los Angeles, Atlanta, UK, Australia, and Seattle.

The business is operated as Studio Wings, Inc., a privately held California corporation with no disclosed funding, parent, or subsidiary structure, owned and run by founder Steve Stafford, a USMC veteran and 12,000-hour pilot who previously worked as A-camera operator under Academy Award-winning cinematographers Haskell Wexler and Conrad Hall, supported by a small team of former Navy, Marine, and Army special operators. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, with custom quotes per production; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales to major streamers and studios, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Studios, Warner Bros., ABC, CBS, Fox, AMC, Disney, and Paramount, acquired primarily through industry reputation and referrals from producers and directors. The company has earned the 2003 Emmy for an aerial stunt sequence and the inaugural 2020 Satellite Award for Best Aerial Stunt Performance, and serves as Aerial Production Safety Consultant to studios including Dreamworks/Abrams Partners.

Name

STUDIO WINGS

Legal name

Studio Wings, Inc.

Website

https://studiowings.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio Wings is a veteran-owned aerial film production company providing helicopter, drone, military aircraft, and stunt aviation services for major film and television productions worldwide, founded in 1994.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Film Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Charter & Sightseeing (TLAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft (UAV) (IMABAIAB)

Keywords

• Aerial cinematography services
• Helicopter film production
• Drone filming services
• Stunt piloting
• Military aircraft coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Camarillo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Aerial Production Services: Professional aerial cinematography and stunt flying services for film and television productions. Revenue is generated through project-based engagements involving helicopter cinematography, drone work, airplane pilots, and stunt coordination. Services include aerial unit coordination, camera ship piloting, and special operations aircraft work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Studio Wings is a veteran-owned aerial film production company that provides aerial cinematography and stunt aviation services for screen projects. Its core offerings include helicopter cinematography (Airbus H125, H145, Bell 212 Huey), drone filming (small-lift, heavy-lift, FPV), picture ships and production pilots, military-grade aircraft access, camera systems with aerial DPs, fast rope tactical operations, location scouting, and aerial safety consulting. Services are delivered directly to film and television productions requiring complex aerial sequences and stunts.

Product overview

Studio Wings is a veteran-owned aerial film production company specializing in providing comprehensive aerial cinematography services for film and television productions worldwide. The company offers a unified service portfolio centered around helicopter cinematography (using Airbus H125, H145, and Bell 212 Huey), drone cinematography (small-lift, heavy-lift, and FPV), picture ships and production pilots, military-grade aerials, camera systems with aerial DPs, fast rope tactical operations, location scouting, production transportation, and risk assessment services. With over 25 years of production flying experience and a perfect safety record, Studio Wings serves major productions including work for Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Studios, ABC, CBS, Fox, and Warner Bros. The company is led by founder Steve Stafford, a 12,000-hour pilot with Marine Corps background, and has received industry recognition including the 2020 Satellite Award for Best Aerial Stunt Performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Helicopter Cinematography Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 25+ years of experience with perfect safety record
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Drone Cinematography Partners (LA/ATL/UK/AUS/SEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudio Wings works with drone cinematography partners in Los Angeles, Atlanta, UK, Australia, and Seattle for small-lift, heavy-lift, and FPV drone packages. These partners have worked on major productions including Star Wars Ep. 9 and 007 No Time to Die.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Helinet Aviation Services: Long-standing Southern California-based helicopter aerial cinematography company providing camera ships, pilots, and aerial coordination for major Hollywood film and television productions. Directly comparable to Studio Wings in aircraft types operated, customer base (major studios), and service lines (helicopter cinematography, helicopter charter to productions).
• Sundance Helicopters: Los Angeles-based helicopter services company with a dedicated motion picture division that supplies aircraft, pilots, and aerial production support for film and television shoots. Overlaps with Studio Wings on helicopter charter, aerial cinematography, and entertainment-industry customer base.

Regional players

• Flying Pictures Ltd: UK-based helicopter aerial filming company founded in the 1980s with an established track record supporting major Hollywood and European productions filmed in the UK. Comparable service offering (helicopter camera ships, aerial coordination) but operates in a different geography, serving UK/European shoots rather than the U.S. market where Studio Wings is anchored.
• Helifilms Australia: Australian aerial cinematography company operating helicopters and aerial camera systems for film and television productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Provides a similar helicopter-based aerial film service as Studio Wings but primarily serves Australian/international productions rather than U.S.-based filming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-wings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STUDIO WINGS