5.7 /10 3 Votes
6/10 TV Country of origin Australia No. of seasons 2 First episode date 5 November 1976 Number of seasons 2 Number of episodes 26 | 6.6/10 IMDb Original language(s) English No. of episodes 26 Final episode date 18 February 1979 Network Network Ten | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Dennis GrosvenorRobert ColebyEric OldfieldGraham Rouse Cast Similar The Flying Doctors, Heartbreak High, Special Squad, Home and Away, A Country Practice | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chopper squad
Chopper Squad is an Australian television series produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the 0-10 Network (as it was then known).
Contents
The series recounted the work of a helicopter rescue team operating on Dee Why beach in Sydney. It has been said that the American series Baywatch was based upon Chopper Squad.
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 May 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.
Main cast
The leading cast members included Dennis Grosvenor who played rescuer Jebbie Best, Robert Coleby, Eric Oldfield, Jeanie Drynan and Tony Hughes.
Guest actors
Notable guest actors included Tom Richards, Rebecca Gilling, Vincent Ball, Christine Amor, Alwyn Kurts, Anne Haddy, Joanna Lockwood, Zoe Bertram, Adrian Wright, Normie Rowe, Carmen Duncan, Candy Raymond, Peter Bensley, Don Barker, Brian Wenzel, Belinda Giblin, Tina Bursill, Serge Lazareff, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Ian Gilmour, Vince Martin, Delvene Delaney, Patsy King, James Condon, Chris Orchard, Gordon Piper, Abigail, Nick Tate, Richard Moir, Vincent Gil, Elizabeth Alexander, George Spartels, Shane Porteous, Gerda Nicolson, Sigrid Thornton, Sean Scully, Briony Behets, Alan Cinis and Diane Craig.
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 aprx. 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.
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.