Abstract: A modular camera support and extension structure which removably mounts on the seat tracks of a conventional aircraft and extends through a cargo pod door during usage, including a box structure containing a plurality of vertical rails which support a tracking plate positioned inside the box structure with linear bearings around its periphery, slidably mounted on said rails for vertical movement from a retracted position to an extended position; a camera rotatably mounted on the bottom of said tracking plate about a vertical axis; a pair of actuating sprockets connected by a drive chain mounted on the box structure, the drive chain is connected to the tracking plate for moving the FLIR camera from its retracted position to its extended position; a box frame structure mounted on the aircraft skin which includes stops on the box frame which lockingly engage the tracking plate in its extended position.

Abstract: A modular camera support and extension structure which removably mounts on the seat tracks of a conventional aircraft and extends through a cargo pod door during usage, including a box structure containing a plurality of vertical rails which support a tracking plate positioned inside the box structure with linear bearings around its periphery, slidably mounted on said rails for vertical movement from a retracted position to an extended position; a camera rotatably mounted on the bottom of said tracking plate about a vertical axis; a pair of actuating sprockets connected by a drive chain mounted on the box structure, the drive chain is connected to the tracking plate for moving the FLIR camera from its retracted position to its extended position; a box frame structure mounted on the aircraft skin which includes stop means on the box frame which lockingly engages the tracking plate in its extended position and a drive means which forces the tracking plate against the stop means.