About Us — Top Gun Drone Pilots | John Johnson, FAA Certified Pilot

Owner & Lead Pilot

John Johnson

The Man Behind the Drone

Born to Fly.
Built to Deliver.

John Johnson is the owner, operator, and lead pilot behind Top Gun Drone Pilots — a Southern California aerial photography and videography company he founded in 2016 out of a simple obsession: capturing the world from above and sharing footage so smooth, so cinematic, it makes people stop and stare.

Based in Huntington Beach, California — what locals call Paradise City — John brings the same sun-soaked dedication to every flight that the city brings to its surf. He is an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot, fully insured, and has logged hundreds of hours across some of the most demanding projects in the industry.

From intimate wedding ceremonies to the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium, from canal-front residential listings to large-scale statewide construction monitoring — John has seen it all from above, and made it look extraordinary.

The Journey

A Decade in the Air

2016

Top Gun Drone Pilots Is Born

John launches Top Gun Drone Pilots in Huntington Beach with a clear mission: provide only the highest quality aerial videography and photography, operate with complete professionalism, and help build a positive drone-flying community. The YouTube channel launches the same year.

2018

FAA Part 107 Certification

John earns his FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — the federal commercial drone license required to fly legally and professionally for hire in the United States. Combined with full liability insurance, every client John works with is fully protected.

2020

Expanding Across Southern California

Top Gun Drone Pilots grows beyond Huntington Beach, taking on real estate, weddings, construction monitoring, and sports across Southern California. John earns a reputation for being professional, punctual, easy to work with, and great quality — the kind of operator clients call back every time.

2022

The Largest Drone Project in Industry History

John is brought on by Skygear Solutions to fly what was described as the largest drone project in the history of the industry — working in demanding conditions across the State of California, day after day, delivering photos and data that exceeded client expectations at every turn.

2024

AT&T Stadium & National Venue Work

John travels to Arlington, Texas to fly at AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys and one of the largest stadiums in the world. It's a milestone moment that represents the full arc of what Top Gun Drone Pilots has become: from Huntington Beach pier sunsets to NFL venues.

2026

Still Flying. Still Raising the Bar.

A decade since the first flight, Top Gun Drone Pilots now offers seven service categories across Southern California. John remains the lead pilot on every job — because the personal standard of quality that has defined this brand from day one never gets outsourced.

What Drives Us

"Top Gun Drone Pilots aims to provide only the highest quality in aerial videography — and help create a positive drone-flying community while doing it."

This isn't a tagline. It's the reason John started flying in 2016 and the reason he still personally leads every engagement today. Quality is non-negotiable. From the equipment used to how quickly your aerial data arrives — every detail is treated with the same care as the flight itself.

The drone industry is still young, and John believes the people flying commercially have a responsibility to represent it well: safety-first, legally compliant, professionally run. Every Top Gun Drone Pilots flight is a fully insured, FAA-authorized operation — protecting both the client and the public. That's not a checkbox. It's the foundation.

On Location

In the Field

John Johnson operating drone at AT&T Stadium plaza in Arlington Texas

AT&T Stadium, Arlington TX

DJI Inspire 2 on landing pad at Huntington Beach

DJI Inspire 2 · On-Site Setup

Huntington Beach Pier aerial drone shot at dusk

Huntington Beach Pier · Dusk

Huntington Beach waterfront home aerial real estate photography

Waterfront Real Estate · HB Canals

Aerial wedding ceremony photography Southern California resort

Wedding & Event Coverage

Credentials & Standards

Why You Can Trust Us

✓

FAA Part 107 Certified

John holds an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — the federal commercial drone license required for all paid aerial work in the United States. Fully legal on every flight.

🛡

Fully Insured

Every engagement is backed by full commercial drone liability insurance. Whether you're a homeowner, broker, wedding planner, or construction firm — your project is protected.

⚡

Fast Data Delivery

We deliver high-quality results quickly, ensuring your projects are completed efficiently and your aerial data is promptly shared. Real estate listings can't wait — and neither do we.

★

Industry-Proven

From intimate weddings to NFL stadiums, from HB canal homes to statewide construction monitoring — Top Gun Drone Pilots has operated at every scale and delivered every time.

Huntington Beach pier at pink sunset aerial photography

Huntington Beach pier aerial daytime drone photography

The Equipment

Professional Grade.
Every Flight.

John flies the DJI Inspire 2 — a professional-grade cinema drone with a gimbal-stabilized camera system capable of footage that holds up in broadcast, advertising, and commercial production.

This isn't a consumer drone with a GoPro. The Inspire 2 is the tool of choice for professional aerial cinematographers worldwide — and it's what makes the difference between footage that looks good and footage that looks extraordinary.

DJI Inspire 2 — pro cinema drone, interchangeable lens system
High-resolution stills — sharp enough for large-format print and real estate marketing
4K cinematic video — broadcast-quality footage, smooth and stabilized
Full safety setup — landing pad, traffic cones, pre-flight checklists on every job

How We Work

The Top Gun Way

John's clients describe him the same way, over and over: professional, punctual, easy to work with, and great quality. That's not an accident — it's the result of treating every single job, regardless of size, with the same preparation and care.

"When you're working with John, it will be obvious that you are working with someone that is experienced and understands the needs of his clients."
— Josh Friedman, One Zero Digital Media

Before any flight, John checks airspace restrictions, files the appropriate FAA authorizations, reviews the shooting location, and sets up a proper safety perimeter. None of this is visible to the client — but it's what makes the difference between a smooth professional operation and a legal or safety problem.

After every flight, footage is processed and delivered promptly. Your aerial data arrives when you need it. For real estate, that means listings go live faster. For construction, that means your records are current. For weddings, that means your memories arrive before the flowers fade.

Top Gun Drone Pilots operates as a legal, safe, licensed drone media service — because the industry deserves operators who represent it well, and because your project deserves nothing less.

What Clients Say

Trusted Across Every Category

Residential & Commercial

"When you're working with John, it will be obvious that you are working with someone that is experienced and understands the needs of his clients. He is professional, punctual, and delivers great quality work. He's also a lot of fun to be around."

Josh Friedman

Owner, One Zero Digital Media

Large-Scale Commercial Operations

"John Johnson of Top Gun Drone Pilots was brought out to work on the largest Drone Project in the history of the industry. He performed well beyond the expectations of our clients, working in treacherous conditions across California, day in and day out."

Daniel Herbert

Owner, Skygear Solutions

Weddings & Events

"I love working with John. I use him for my Wedding and Commercial projects. His drone piloting skills are excellent, and the footage received has been jaw dropping. Can't wait for our next project together."

Anh Vu

Owner, Anh Vu Studios

Meet The
Pilot

Born to Fly.
Built to Deliver.