Soloy Aviation Solutions had been awarded a contract by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to outfit two of the agency’s Cessna 206 aircraft with Soloy’s wing mount observation camera platform.
Soloy’s recent approval to locate a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera on the wing of the Cessna 206 has proven to be an ideal location for surveillance and patrol. The wing mount location allows for an unobstructed 360 view and better operational awareness.
Soloy’s solution to mounting airborne cameras on a C-206 airframe is to utilize the C-206’s high wing location. Their STC’d wing mount places the camera outboard of the wing strut in a robust location that minimizes vibration to/from the airframe. This location further allows more maneuverability and visibility to the camera operator. It also places the camera away from the hot exhaust trail and lens damaging exhaust emitted from the engine as well as runway debris.
The mount is adaptable to virtually any sized camera manufactured by all major camera manufactures such as FLIR and L3 (WESCAM). Installation is clean and straightforward and allows for any payload within the 24” depth, 18.5 diameter and 100 pound envelope.
The CHP contract is Soloy’s first for their new camera mount. The camera wing mount is one element to Soloy’s total airborne observation platform. Although adaptable to piston powered Cessna 206 aircraft, Soloy offers a revolutionary and complete airborne 206 observation package on their Mk II turbine powered “Sentinel” aircraft, which begins with an engine conversion replacing the piston powered Lycoming platform with the FAA certified Soloy Mk II turbine conversion featuring a reliable 450hp Rolls Royce 250-B17 engine.
In addition to the camera mount and turbine conversion, the Sentinel observation package offers an ergonomically designed rear observer’s station with 270 degree rotating articulating seat, full length observation window, raised headliner, four point harnesses for pilot and co-pilot as well as a 185 amp electrical bus to power any additional electrical needed by law enforcement.
Dave Stauffer, Soloy’s CEO says his team is fielding a lot of inquiries from law enforcement and government agencies around the country since certifying the Sentinel package earlier this year. “Our Sentinel platform with the wing mounted camera mount system is really gaining a lot of attention. The activity our sales team is seeing is evidence of validation that the airborne observation package we’ve engineered is right on the money. Combined with the extreme cost efficiency and operating performance of our turbine Mk II Sentinel aircraft, we are expecting this platform to be a perfect balance between cost efficiency, safety, aircraft capability and airborne observation performance.”
Interested parties can contact Soloy directly at their
