In short: Yes, during a sightseeing flight over Warsaw, you can freely take photos and film videos with your phone through the Cessna window. It's your flight and your memories. You'll catch the best shots through a clean, closed window, in the light of the "golden hour," without gluing your lens to the glass. And as a souvenir, you'll get photos of the passengers—shots of the plane and the cockpit, which you can't take yourself. See flight options and current prices in the configurator →
The flight lasts 15, 30, or 60 minutes—and most passengers want more than just a memory. Sightseeing flight videos and photos are the most common "souvenirs from the air" these days: Warsaw looks different from any postcard, and your shot of a specific day, at a specific time, is unique. In this article, as the pilot who leads these flights, I explain whether filming is allowed, how to do it properly, and what you get as a souvenir included in the price.
Can I film and take photos during a sightseeing flight?
Yes. You can take photos and videos throughout the entire flight—with your phone, point-and-shoot, or action camera. It's your flight, and the views are there to be captured. No one rushes you or limits your shots.
There are just a few sensible safety rules – the same as in any small plane:
- Equipment on a belt or in the hand with a strap on the wrist. The Cessna cabin is cramped, and a loose phone can slip out—a strap is stress-free.
- The windows remain closed. In our Cessna 172, you shoot through clean glass – you don't stick your hand or lens out.
- Do not cover the instruments or the remote control. From the front seat, frame your position so as not to interfere with the controls' field of view.
- Listen to the pilot. If I ask you to put your equipment down for a moment (e.g., when approaching for landing), it's a matter of seconds and safety.
Other than that, complete freedom. Many passengers record the entire flight in the background and then take individual shots of specific objects.
How to Take Good Aerial Photos - Tips Through the Window
Taking photos from an airplane has slightly different rules than taking them from the ground: you're shooting through glass, moving, and often into the sun. A few simple habits can make a huge difference between a blurry frame and a shot you'd love to frame.
- Lens close to the glass, but do not touch it. The closer you are to the window, the less reflection there will be—but a camera held up to the glass will pick up the plane's vibrations. Leave 1-2 cm of slack.
- Turn off the flash. Flash will reflect off the glass and ruin the entire shot. You're using natural light—there's plenty of it here.
- Short exposure / sports mode. The plane is moving, so the fast shutter speed "freezes" the image. On a phone, you simply touch the screen to focus and set the exposure on a specific subject.
- Clean the lens and glass with your gaze. Streaks on the glass are only visible in sunlight - look through the frame before take-off.
- Dress in dark clothes. Light-colored clothing reflects in the glass. A dark T-shirt = less glare in the photo.
- Hold the phone with both hands and rest your elbows on it. Body stabilization works better than any mode in the camera.
For comparison, here's what different times and locations look like from our flights:
| Situation | What to do | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Full sun at noon | Frame with the sun behind you, touch the screen on a darker subject | Saturated colors, clear city details |
| Golden hour (sunrise/sunset) | Slightly underexpose, catch the light from the side | Warm, postcard-like photos - the most effective ones |
| Single facility (e.g. PGE Narodowy) | Optical zoom, not digital; short time | Sharp frame without pixel mush |
| Wide panorama | Panorama/wide angle mode, phone horizontally | The entire skyline with the Vistula River |
How to make a scenic flight video worth watching?
There's one catch to aerial photography: we record 30 minutes and then watch two. The secret to good footage isn't the quantity, but the serenity of the shots. Here's how to record something you'll actually want to share with your friends:
- Record in short clips of 10–20 seconds. One shot = one object (the Old Town, then the Palace of Culture and Science, then the Vistula River). Easier to edit, fewer "flyovers" into the void.
- Hold your phone horizontally. Vertical video is suitable for a report, but horizontal video looks like a movie—and that's what makes an impression on the big screen.
- Turn the phone slowly, without jerking it. Smooth movement from left to right along the horizon looks professional. Sudden movements = nausea for the viewer.
- Turn on stabilization if your phone has it. Most newer smartphones have great stabilization – it saves the footage in a shaky cabin.
- Don't record non-stop. Capture the moments: a turn over the city, the sun on the Vistula River, a close-up of the Royal Castle. Experience the rest of the flight through your eyes, not through a screen.
- You will record the sound "cabin" anyway. You can mute it in the editing room anyway – don't worry about the engine noise.
In our Cessna, every passenger is provided with professional aviation headsets, so you can talk quietly despite the engine running – and your hands are free to use the phone.
What souvenirs do you get for the price? Photos of passengers.
No matter what you record through the window, The price of each flight includes photos of passengers — shots you simply can't take from the comfort of your seat. These are smiling photos next to the SP-OKS plane, wearing headphones before takeoff, sometimes with a "Remove Before Flight" keychain in hand. A souvenir "from the other side of the lens.".
What exactly will you find in each flight package:
- Passenger photos — Your shots at the plane and around the cockpit, as a souvenir from the day of the flight.
- "Remove Before Flight" keychain„ — an iconic aviation gadget that looks great in photos.
- Professional aviation headphones — the comfort and atmosphere of a real cabin.
- Insurance according to AOC and notifications (email/SMS/calendar/Apple and Google Wallet).
The best combination? Your video and photos through the window + our photos of passengers on the ground. Together, they tell the complete story of the entire day—from the approach to the plane to the view of the Palace of Culture from above.
What's worth capturing over Warsaw - shot list
The route over Warsaw offers a whole series of recognizable "heroes" to capture. It's worth knowing what to look for beforehand so you don't miss a shot when an object flashes by under the wing:
- Old Town and Royal Castle — dense, red buildings above a bend in the Vistula River. The most "postcard-worthy" shot of the route.
- PGE National Stadium — the white and red dome of the stadium looks great with the slight twist of the plane.
- Vistula — a ribbon of river that cuts through the city; it reflects the light beautifully at sunset.
- Palace of Culture and Science — a landmark surrounded by the glass skyscrapers of the center.
- Royal Łazienki and Wilanów — green, park scenes contrasting with the city.
- Panorama of the city center's skyscrapers — a wide shot of the modern silhouette of Warsaw.
A longer flight (30 or 60 minutes) gives you more time to take in each of these points at a leisurely pace – with 15 minutes you have to be more efficient. Compare flight lengths in the configurator →
See sample flight videos
It's best to see it with your own eyes. Below are some cinematic shots from our scenic flights over Warsaw—you can record this footage yourself, and these are the views waiting for you from the Cessna:
Ready to capture Warsaw from above?
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Frequently asked questions
Can I take photos and film during a sightseeing flight?
Yes. You can take photos and videos with your phone or camera through the aircraft window throughout the flight. We just ask that you secure your equipment with a strap, not cover the remote control or instruments, and turn off the flash (it reflects off the glass). Windows remain closed—you're photographing through the clear glass.
Do I get professional flight documentation?
The price of every flight includes passenger photos—shots of the aircraft and cockpit area, which you can't take yourself from your seat. This complements your own photos and video taken through the window. The package also includes a "Remove Before Flight" keychain, professional aviation headphones, and AOC insurance.
How to take the best photos through an airplane window?
Hold the lens 1-2 cm from the glass (don't touch it to avoid shake), turn off the flash, set a fast shutter speed or sports mode, and shoot with the sun behind you. Dark clothing reduces reflections in the glass, and two-handed stabilization produces sharp shots.
How to record a good scenic flight video?
Record in short, 10-20-second clips, hold your phone horizontally, turn on stabilization, and move it slowly along the horizon. One shot = one object (the Old Town, PGE Narodowy Stadium, Vistula River). You'll replace the engine sound with music in the edit anyway, so you don't have to worry about it.
Can I bring an action camera or stabilizer?
Yes, you can use an action camera or phone on a small gimbal—as long as you secure the equipment with a strap and don't stick it out the window (the windows are closed). However, in the cramped cabin of a Cessna, the easiest and most effective way to use a phone is to hold it in your hand.
Text consulted by: Aleksander Domalewski
An ATPL pilot with thousands of hours in the air, he is the owner of LotyWidokowe.Net. He professionally flies an Embraer Praetor 600 business jet around the world, and sightseeing flights over Warsaw are his passion. He holds an AOC PL-076 certificate (Civil Aviation Authority), and is EASA and CAMO Part-145 certified. He flies the same aircraft with his 6-year-old daughter.
