Chopper Squad

*Chopper Squad*
Chopper Squad
Genre	Drama
Written by	Everett De Roche (pilot only); Denise Morgan; Don Battye; and others
Directed by	Simon Wincer; Rod Hardy; Graeme Arthur; and others
Starring	Dennis Grosvenor; Robert Coleby; Eric Oldfield; Graham Rouse
Theme music composer	Mike Perjanik
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26
Production
Producer	Don Battye
Cinematography	Paul Onorato
Running time	50 minutes
Production companies	Reg Grundy Organisation (series); Network Ten (pilot)
Original release
Network	Network Ten
Release	5 November 1976 –; 18 February 1979

Chopper Squad is an Australian television series produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the 0-10 Network (as it was then known).^[1]

The series recounted the work of a helicopter rescue team operating on Dee Why beach in Sydney.

Production

Pilot

The original pilot was made in 1976, airing in Melbourne in November 1976 and Newcastle (NSW) in August 1977. There was quite a time lag between the pilot and the series going to air in April 1978.

As with many series there were changes between the initial pilot and the series. Three actors from the pilot did not continue into the series - Rebecca Gilling, Max Osbiston and Tony Bonner. Additionally, the surnames of characters Phil and Tim were changed.

Series

The pilot was followed by two series with a total of 26 episodes airing between 1978 and 1979. Shortly after the show began, the " rescue helicopter base" moved its operations from Dee Why Beach Surf Life Saving Club to Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

During 1988 Ten network Sydney replayed a select few episodes of the first season 1978 series during a Saturday or Sunday afternoon usually around the 4pm time-slot again trying to capitalise on a nostalgia period as a lead in to 5pm Eyewitness News. After so many weeks it was replaced by another 1970s TV series classic Fantasy Island. Complete series rescreened weekday mornings at 5am for the final time during the early 1990s era and has not screened in Australia since that time.

Cast

Main cast

Dennis Grosvenor as Jebbie Best
Robert Coleby as Barry Drummond
Eric Oldfield as Phil Trayle
Jeanie Drynan as Georgia Beattie
Graham Rouse as Roley
Tony Hughes as Tim Gray

The helicopters

VH-UCH

VH-UCH, a Bell 206A, only appeared in the pilot.

VH-FHF

VH-FHF was used for the main series. In real life VH-FHF a Bell 206B "Jet Ranger II" was initially used from approximately 1977 by Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, that was established by Surf Life Saving Australia in 1973 on an initial sponsorship of $25 000 from the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac).

After serving the Wales rescue team, VH-FHF was bought by PHS, professional helicopter services. It's still in operations serving the Government of Victoria as Firebird 301 and does tourist flights at Uluru.^[2] The JetRanger VH-FHF became registered VH-PHF.

VH-FHF registration number was given to a MBB Kawasaki BK-117B-2. The "new" VH-FHF is operated by the NSW Rural Fire Service.