Award-winning Director of Photography Mehran Salamati is a veteran cinematographer with credits that range from feature films, IMAX films, nationally broadcast commercials, and television shows.
He has been involved in working on shows such as : Steve Jobs, Transformers Age of Extinction, Iron Man, U2 3D, Ring of Fire, Seasons, VW, Geico, The Bachelor, and The Biggest Loser.
A member of the American Cinematographers Guild and the Society of Operating Cameraman, Salamati has (in addition to his work behind the camera) designed, fabricated and marketed a number of groundbreaking products such as Hot Gears Remote Systems™, MR14 UAS (unmanned aerial systems), JetCams, (High Speed Aerial Systems), and Phoenix Camera Systems.
His designs have gained industry-wide acceptance, which earned a Life Time Technical Achievement Award for his Hot Gears Remote Systems. Mehran’s background and knowledge of building FAA approved custom aircraft, and camera mounts for various aircraft was a perfect marriage for designing a UAS for the film industry. The MR14 UAS has been used in both interior and exterior shoots, for a number of movies, commercials, and television shows.
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING / FLIGHT TEST: Advanced degree and experience in all areas of flight test development and engineering management. Extensive expertise in the full spectrum of engineering flight test, from design concept to final flight evaluation.
MOVIE STUNT FLYING: Acrobatic pilot qualified in numerous fighter type high performance aircraft with camera systems providing high screen dynamics. Aerial coordinator qualified in the full spectrum of 2nd unit flight film production: concept, planning, development, execution, and evaluation of the shot.
LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT, "Skunk Works" Division. Experimental Test Pilot. 1978 - 1994
Engineering Test Pilot team member for cockpit and system design reviews, aircraft design reviews, flight test, production test, production acceptance, and flight test reporting on F-22, F-117, U-2R, TR-1 programs and numerous other classified fighter aircraft projects.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE Combat Fighter Pilot, Air Force Test Pilot, Lt Colonel 1966 – 2003
Air Force Lt Col fighter pilot with 37 years, 8 months, and 24 days service. Combat Pilot with World Record of 1,072 fighter combat flight hours: Korat RTAFB (1968) and Takhli RTAFB (1969) in F-105D Thunderchief fighter aircraft for 163 combat missions, 471.5 combat flight hours. Korat RTAFB (1970-1971) in F-4E Phantom fighter aircraft for 189 combat missions, 600.9 combat flight hours. Air Force Test Pilot School Instructor, teaching stability & control, spin theory, weapons system integration, human factors, qualitative aircraft analysis, and experimental aircraft dynamics and handling. Aggressor Top Gun Pilot and Reports Analysis Branch Chief at the Pacific Air Forces Combat Sage Top Gun live firing test and evaluation facility in the Philippines. California ANG pilot.
Air Force Decorations: Three Distinguished Flying Crosses; Air Force Meritorious Service Medal; Twenty-five Air Combat Medals; Air Force Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Ribbon; Combat Ready Medal; Seven Vietnam Service Medals; and the Vietnam RV Camp Medal
Distinguished Graduate: All Air Force flying schools: Undergraduate Pilot Training; F-105 Upgrade Pilot Training; USAF Top Gun; F-4 Upgrade Pilot Training; Pacific Forces Combat Stage, USAF Test Pilot School.
Civilian Flight Awards: Congressional Civilian National Aviators Award; California State Appreciation Medal; Pulitzer Trophy in 2002 from the National Aeronautics Association; Thompson Trophy in 2003 for Reno Air Race speed record flight of 512.164 miles per hour; Thompson Trophy in 2004 for highest speed at 2004 Reno Air Races.
Air Race Awards: Gold Winner of 1981, 1984, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Reno Unlimited Air Races in four different aircraft; 1984 Canadian Unlimited International Air Race in the Healer, and 2002 and 2003 Nellis Air Race in Dago Red; World Closed Course Speed Record set in 1981, 2002, 2003 and 2004 for reciprocating propeller driven aircraft in Jeannie and Dago Red; World Unlimited Closed Course Qualifying Record of 450.085 miles per hour flying Jeannie in 1981 and 497.787 in Dago Red in 2002; Reno Race Gold Speed Record of 437.621 mph in Stiletto in 1984; World Unlimited Closed Course Lap Record of 512.164 miles per hour in 2003 in Dago Red; World Unlimited Closed Course Race Record Average of 506.509 miles per hour in 2003 in Dago Red; Reno Race Gold Speed Record of 487.938 mph in Dago Red in 2003; 2002 Pulitzer Trophy from the National Aeronautics Association; Thompson Trophy in 2003 for speed record flight of 512.164 miles per hour, and Thompson Trophy at 2004 Reno Races.
COMMERCIALS: - “JAMAICA THOR” L-39 Dog-Fight Yacht Attack. Stunt Pilot Aerial Coordinator in flight of 2 L39 fighters to Jamaica. “NASCAR AIR-TO-AIR” Ford Racing Division, Ford Motor Co Karl Edwards Commercial; “DAYTONA RACE” Ford Motor Racing Air-to-Air Combat Promotional Stunt Pilot flying L-39 Wild Child; “DEFECTOR” Stunt Pilot flying F-86; I-WORKS aerial portraying the “1st, 2nd, Korean, Viet, and Future Fighter Aircraft”’ Stunt Pilot flying Draken and Gnat jets; “EAAs TIMELESS VOICES OF AVIATION” flying fighter aircraft; “MICROSOFT INSIDER LIVE” flying Dago Red race plane; "HONDA” Stunt Pilot flying a L-39; ”HEART OF AMERICA" Aerial Coordinator, Stunt Pilot flying F-86/T-33; “Airshow” F-86 Acrobatic Pilot; "BEDE-10 JET" Aerial Coordinator, Acrobatic Stunt Pilot; "GENUINE DRAFT MILLER BEER" Aerial Coordinator, Draken jet Stunt Pilot, RSA, USA, Inc.; "CHUCK YEAGER PEPSI" Aerial Coordinator, P-51 Stunt Pilot; "COLOR TILE" Aerial Coordinator, P-51 Stunt Pilot; "COLOR TILE II" Aerial Coordinator, P-51 Stunt Pilot, Photography Assistant; "U-2 TODAY" Aerial Coordinator, Test Pilot; "RED KNIGHT AIRSHOW" Aerial Coordinator, T-33 Acrobatic Pilot, Airshow Pilot; "SKYFIRE" Race Pilot, Flight Coordinator; "SHOWDAY VNY" Race Pilot, Flight Coordinator
MOVIES - “FAST GLASS” Stunt Pilot Aerial Coordinator of air combat flights into Grand Canyon. “IRONMAN” Pilot of rocketman flights over Santa Monica pier. “THUNDER OVER RENO” Stunt Pilot Aerial Coordinator of Reno Race scenes. “SUCCUBUS” Aerial Coordinator, Stunt Pilot air-to-air L-39 fighter aircraft TOP GUN maneuvers; “JAR HEAD” Stunt Pilot for all aerial photography fighter flying shots; "HOT SHOTS" Aerial Coordinator, Gnat T-1 jet Stunt Pilot, all aerial photography flying stunts; "MISSION OF THE SHARK" Albatross Aerial Coordinator; "FIREBIRDS" Draken jet Stunt Pilot; Consultant; “SUCH IS” Stunt Pilot flying stunts; "B.O.R.N" Executive Producer, P-51 Stunt Pilot, Aerial Coordinator; "NAVY SEALS" Aerial Advisor. "DEAL OF THE CENTURY" Technical Advisor; "THE RIGHT STUFF" T-33, A-4, F-86 Pilot, Flight Stunts.
TV SERIES - Cintrope “TEST PILOT” reality show flying ME-109 WWII, Gnat fighters; Panopoly Productions “FIGHTER PILOT” flying L-39 fighter; Bruised Heal Productions “AIRSHOW” flying ME-109 WWII fighter; Cintrope “AIR RACE” reality show flying P-51 Dago Red; MTV’s series “SENSELESS ACTS OF VIDEO” L-39 Stunt pilot, ejection of passenger as event; “BEYOND BELIEF” Aerial Coordinator and T-33 Stunt Pilot; "HARDCOPY", John Travolta, John Denver BD-10 Stunt flights; A&E "FIRST FLIGHTS" Neil Armstrong flights, flying Meteor; "DISCOVERY" BD-10 Flight Test; "SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN" Opening Credit T-33 jet Out of Control maneuver.