About Aidan Kelly | Drone Cinematographer

I co-founded XM2, an aerial cinematography company that grew from humble beginnings into a 7-figure global operation. Over 14 years I have flown on every continent, delivered shots most pilots would not attempt, and built a reputation as one of the most trusted drone operators in the film industry.

Drone crew with heavy-lift cinema drone in a red rock canyon on location

Whether it is a chase sequence through a European city, an aerial reveal over Antarctic ice, or an FPV shot threading through a live film set, I bring calm precision to high-pressure situations. Today I work as a freelance drone cinematographer while building Drone Pro Hub, an education platform for professional pilots.

Before drones, I was a national champion swimmer, an RC touring car national champion, and an entrepreneur who started importing toys in shopping centres before moving into RC helicopters. That obsessive drive to master anything I touch is what eventually led me to build one of the world's leading aerial cinematography companies.

Now I'm on to my next chapter — Family, and Drone Pro Hub: entertainment and education for the next generation of drone pilots.

The Journey

Pre-2000s

National champion swimmer. Built discipline and fitness that carried through everything.

Early 2000s

Won national titles in 1/10 scale RC touring car racing. Obsessed over motors, gearing, suspension, batteries.

2003 - 2006

Studied Information Systems at university. Worked as a swimming coach.

Mid-2000s

Discovered foam RC planes overseas, became Australian distributor for Silverlit. Spent life savings importing stock. Set up in a Melbourne shopping centre, sold out in under a week.

2009

Launched ARKRC.com.au, a specialist RC helicopter and electronics store. Became one of DJI's first Australian distributors.

~2010

First aerial cinematography job. Canon 5D strapped to a stretched Mikado Logo 690 helicopter with a servo-driven gimbal.

2012

Co-founded XM2 with Luke Annells and Stephen Oh. Goal from day one: be the best aerial cinematography company in the world.

Late 2014

First major feature film, The Dressmaker. Built a custom 12-motor aircraft carrying a RED Epic.

2015

Pirates of the Caribbean. Built a 40kg aircraft to carry an ALEXA XT. Flew next to Johnny Depp. Booked for 2 weeks, stayed 6 months. Put XM2 on the global map.

2018

XM2 capital raise. Investors included Pursuit Aviation, the Friedkin Group, and Tony Wheeler (founder of Lonely Planet).

2019

Built XM2 UK operation. Low overheads, freelancer model. Became one of the strongest contributors to the group.

2020

In Venice for Mission: Impossible when COVID evacuations started. Production dragged 19 months.

2024

661 km/h. Guinness World Record for the fastest battery-powered drone. Built as a side project with aerospace engineer Ben Biggs.

2025

Stepped out of XM2 day-to-day operations. Launched Drone Pro Hub. Started building what comes next.

Now

Freelance drone cinematographer. Building Drone Pro Hub. Chasing 700 km/h.

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The sky was never the limit.

14+

7

20+

The Journey