Telecopter

{{Short description|Television news helicopter}} A '''telecopter''' is a helicopter used to gather footage for television stations. It is a portmanteau of television and helicopter.

The KTLA '''Telecopter''' was the world's first television news helicopter, which first went into operation in 1958<ref>{{cite web | last = Joiner | first = Stephen | title = History of Flight: Zoom Shot | quote = One day in L.A., a helicopter changed television news forever | publisher = Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum | date = April 30, 2009 | url = https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/zoom-shot-57396049/ | access-date = June 6, 2022}}</ref> and was invented by John D. Silva.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Collection: John D. Silva papers {{!}} Archival Collections|url=https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/1440|access-date=2020-08-17|website=archives.lib.umd.edu}}</ref> The on-board video and audio equipment communicated with a line of sight KTLA transmitter receiver on top of Mount Wilson. The first helicopter was leased to KTLA by National Helicopter Service and Engineering Company in Van Nuys.<ref>{{cite web | title = Original press releases issued by KTLA regarding the creation of the "TELECOPTER" | quote = Photos taken during its construction in Dick Hart's backyard in North Hollywood | publisher = National Helicopter Service and Engineering Company | year = 1958 | url = http://www.nationalhelicopter.com/telecopter.html | access-date = 2012-02-25}}</ref> For several years, KTLA (channel 5) was the only TV station with a helicopter based TV camera crewed reporting platform.

The Telecopter was designed and introduced by KTLA chief engineer John D. Silva (1920-2012).<ref>"John D. Silva dies at 92; introduced news helicopter", Bob Pool, ''Los Angeles Times'', December 7, 2012</ref>

Today, KTLA's news helicopter is known today as "Sky 5" and it is used during breaking news coverage.

==Versions== The first three ''Telecopters'' were: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Version ! Year ! Helicopter ! Notes |- | 1 | 1958 | Bell 47G-2 | Equipment mounted externally |- | 2 | 1959 | Bell 47J-2 Ranger | Equipment mounted internally |- | 3 | 1969 | Bell 206 JetRanger | |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Helicopters Category:Television news Category:1958 establishments in California