The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
- JetRangerJunkie
- Silver Wings
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Jul 2012
The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Hi Bladeslappers,
As part of theI research for my forthcoming book I need a bit of background info on the use of helicopters by the Australian media (particularly TV stations)
I am wondering which TV station first used a JetRanger in an E.N.G. role.?
Were any TV station choppers fitted with WESSCAMS ?? If so which ones ?
If Roger Dundas or Tony Scolari are still flying and read this can they contact me.??
As part of theI research for my forthcoming book I need a bit of background info on the use of helicopters by the Australian media (particularly TV stations)
I am wondering which TV station first used a JetRanger in an E.N.G. role.?
Were any TV station choppers fitted with WESSCAMS ?? If so which ones ?
If Roger Dundas or Tony Scolari are still flying and read this can they contact me.??
- Heli
- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mar 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
JetRangerJunkie wrote:If Roger Dundas or Tony Scolari are still flying and read this can they contact me.??
Sadnud is too dyslexic to understand Squirrel may be around, he spent 4 months on the Japanese Antarctic gig and still has nightmares about sushi.....
Re the first JR, I'd lean toward Channel 7 in Melbourne but Sydney would have been way earlier and was probably Channel 9. None of the media ships had Wescam, it was far too heavy to be permanently mounted on a TV JetRanger plus too expensive. Most media machines were used more for personnel transport than news gathering, so that allied with the cost of camera mounts meant that we generally trailed the rest of the ENG world.
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- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 601
- Joined: May 2010
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
How far back was that. 70's sometime? With those sexy brown interiors?
- Twistgrip
- 4th Dan
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
I used to work for NBN tv news from 99-2003 in a 206A VH-AAL prior to that machine was VH AND (also a 206 which went to CH10 later on flown by Tom Partridge). and even earlier an AS350 VHNBN in the late 80's i believe. We also operate this rego to this day.
I remember the VH AND used to pick up and drop off the owners of NBN tv everyday from Mona vale to Newcastle and return and that was not withstanding any news ops during the day.
All ops were shot off the shoulder with sliding door. We used to do 2-3 hours a day everyday covering most parts of regional NSW. Then amalgamation came and the majors took over the regionals as far as rotary wing ops go.
I remember the VH AND used to pick up and drop off the owners of NBN tv everyday from Mona vale to Newcastle and return and that was not withstanding any news ops during the day.
All ops were shot off the shoulder with sliding door. We used to do 2-3 hours a day everyday covering most parts of regional NSW. Then amalgamation came and the majors took over the regionals as far as rotary wing ops go.
"You can watch things happen, you can make things happen or you can wonder what happened"
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- 3rd Dan
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
I'll try to find the pics. Pretty sure I've got a shot of a channel 9 JR they sold in very early 80's.
Then again, could be the memory playing tricks on me.
Then again, could be the memory playing tricks on me.
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- Silver Wings
- Posts: 18
- Joined: May 2010
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
I know VH-LEC from Commercial Heli's at mudgee was used for tv work quite a few years ago, how early I don't know. It was also used for the filming of Mad Max back in the day. The old girl is still alive and kicking used mainly for Ag now..
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- Silver Wings
- Posts: 21
- Joined: May 2012
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
i wonder what billy lee {ex ch 10 pilot at nudawading } is up to these days he was a great pilot.
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- Gold Wings
- Posts: 103
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Chief Pilot ADA Aviation. He maybe retired from CP but still working there
- Eric Hunt
- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sep 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Why don't you just ring the TV stations? The pilots would be glad to talk to somebody normal for a change.
Ch 7 in Sy (F V-R) or 10 (TJH) would know the details as they were in from the early days. Sadly Gary Ticehurst isn't here, he could have given you the good gen, having been with Ch 2 from the very early days.
My swiss-cheese brain sort of recalls that an old rival (now deceased) John Barnao talked Ch 9 Sydney into hiring him as their first helicopter pilot in a Long Ranger, and he had 39 hours total! This was late 70s or early 80s. Converted from a fixed wing licence. Used to strut around the station wearing 4 gold bars.
Ch 7 in Sy (F V-R) or 10 (TJH) would know the details as they were in from the early days. Sadly Gary Ticehurst isn't here, he could have given you the good gen, having been with Ch 2 from the very early days.
My swiss-cheese brain sort of recalls that an old rival (now deceased) John Barnao talked Ch 9 Sydney into hiring him as their first helicopter pilot in a Long Ranger, and he had 39 hours total! This was late 70s or early 80s. Converted from a fixed wing licence. Used to strut around the station wearing 4 gold bars.
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- Silver Wings
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Call Graham Gillies, he'd probably know
Cats have nine lives. Which makes them ideal for experimentation.
Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr
- black duck
- Capt Poppet
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Twistgrip wrote:I used to work for NBN tv news from 99-2003 in a 206A VHAAL.
If my fuddled brain recalls correctly, I remember Bill Vowell saying that AAL was the oldest and first Jetty on the Australian register. At the time (mid eighties) she was the Mornigton Peninsula Angel of mercy. Sh*t... I broke my avatar.....bugga. ....I fixed it!!!!! woo hooo!!
"It's wabbit seathon! It' duck seathon! I dare you to shoot me now!"
- Heli
- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 525
- Joined: Mar 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
I started with ABC Melbourne, HSV7 and 10 back in 1984, all were JetRangers then. Seven's JR had an accident when it was a Jayrow operated aircraft in the late 70's/early 80's. ABC Sydney had a single Squirrel (Gary) and before that AFV, which was then pushed over to Melbourne, so AFV would have started in Sydney probably very early 80's.
- Twistgrip
- 4th Dan
- Posts: 1169
- Joined: Sep 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
If my fuddled brain recalls correctly, I remember Bill Vowell saying that AAL was the oldest and first Jetty on the Australian register. At the time (mid eighties) she was the Mornigton Peninsula Angel of mercy.
From memory Black duck it was SN 606, i did a heap of hours in the ol girl she had a few livery changes in her day but sad to say that she passed away a few years ago in a crash up near yamba somewhere.
Ive got a heap of 6X4'S at home but here are a few off the web.
2003 pic Newcastle
2001 at Scone airshow
90's-2000 Paintjob at old heliport a Wickham Newcastle
1971 at Phillip island
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7347082&nseq=12
"You can watch things happen, you can make things happen or you can wonder what happened"
- black duck
- Capt Poppet
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Tyabb waaaaay back, ya gotta love google.
"It's wabbit seathon! It' duck seathon! I dare you to shoot me now!"
- Twistgrip
- 4th Dan
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- Joined: Sep 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Wow....thanks Duck... hadnt seen those before , she was a good old clunker i have many happy memories in her
"You can watch things happen, you can make things happen or you can wonder what happened"
- black duck
- Capt Poppet
- Posts: 734
- Joined: Oct 2009
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Twistgrip wrote:Wow....thanks Duck... hadnt seen those before , she was a good old clunker i have many happy memories in her
Everyone that new her had a soft spot for her. I was gutted when I saw a Cessna 195 at the 2011 airshow with AAL on the side.That was the first I new about her demise. I told a mate that use to fly her back in the 70's and early eighties. I swear he had a tear in his eye.
"It's wabbit seathon! It' duck seathon! I dare you to shoot me now!"
- hoverthrust
- Gold Wings
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Aug 2010
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
VH-ATS was an early ENG Red Jet Ranger used by Channel 7 in Sydney the famous "chopper that chills me to my feet" in a Redgum song. ATS-Amalgamated Television Services. I would like to know where it is these days. I heard that it went to Commercial Helicopters (maybe its VH-LEC as in a previous post?) but cant confirm that, and took a call sign change.
Long before gimbal mounted cameras were used, the cameraman held in by a harness shooting old style hand held.
Long before gimbal mounted cameras were used, the cameraman held in by a harness shooting old style hand held.
- Eric Hunt
- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sep 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
ATS became JAK, and was owned privately for many years before being traded on a brand new 206.
As JAK it travelled to lots of interesting places around Australia, as well as touring Tasmania, being stuck in a blizzard in Charlotte's Pass, and even flying to New Zealand and back via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
Good old bird
As JAK it travelled to lots of interesting places around Australia, as well as touring Tasmania, being stuck in a blizzard in Charlotte's Pass, and even flying to New Zealand and back via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
Good old bird
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- hoverthrust
- Gold Wings
- Posts: 152
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Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Is JAK the same bird that was ATS today at Commercial Helis? or is the current JAK a new one?
i think ATS was a 1978 model, a d would have been pretty much up there with the first ENG choppers.
I spent many hours in that bird
i think ATS was a 1978 model, a d would have been pretty much up there with the first ENG choppers.
I spent many hours in that bird
- Eric Hunt
- 3rd Dan
- Posts: 914
- Joined: Sep 2006
Re: The first Australian media (ENG) Jetranger.??
Well, if the paint job is the same as above, it is the original ATS. Open the Xmsn cover and see if the inside of the door is still painted Channel 7 Red.
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