Focus points for flyover?

We are going to have a military flyover in our town this afternoon as a "thank you" to healthcare/first responders. I have never tried to airplane in flight shots. Flyover is supposed to be between 700-1000 feet. I wonder if it is best to use AF Servo with all focus points active for a shot like that?

Yes, AF Servo mode. With flying aircraft I have used zone, large zone, and all AF points, and have got good results.

For multi plane formation flight I'd use large zone or all AF points. If these are the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds you can use a fast shutter speed.

Thank you!

It is one of the bigger planes, not the fast movers

Planning to use the Canon 100-400

In addition, take bursts of images for each shot. Sometimes the focus just misses on one but another is fine. You don't need a lot per image, but a few are nice. As this is just a fly over, make sure you have all the settings pre-set before hand. Best set set things manually and take a few test shots before the fly-over. You have one change and it doesn't take long for them to pass. Scope out your spot, manually set up the camera checking histograms to make sure you are not under/over exposing. Set it to burst mode and AF Serve. Then wait. Take a few when they are still a ways off just for a sanity test and make quick adjustments if needed. As the pass, you have maybe 10~15 seconds so mash the button for a burst a few times as they pass.

Thanks.

Uniformly grey overcast here today and is supposed to remain so.

If the CLOSEST would be 700' almost directly overhead, all the other distances would by in excess of 700'...IOW putting the lens at Infinity and not bothering to try to focus AT ALL can be a very effective way to get all shots...the longest marked distance on the 100-400mm is 20m or 65'

Wilt wrote in post #19062502
If the CLOSEST would be 700' almost directly overhead, all the other distances would by in excess of 700'...IOW putting the lens at Infinity and not bothering to try to focus AT ALL, could be a very effective way to get all shots.

That would be a very effective way to get all shots blurred.
700 or even double or triple that distance is not the same as infinity. AF is needed.

Thanks for all the responses.

Because of low clouds/misting, the flyby was canceled this afternoon. Bummer after I got all this great advice from POTN!