When TV helicopter news gathering was ....different
 

Back in the 'infancy' of media flying, there were some interesting attempts at finding solutions.

This was actually low and slow above a runway but does that change the veracity of the action? New cameraman, military pilot freelancing, what could possibly go wrong ;)

https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...93&oe=57EBADB0

...and then he ducked through the other side for the "noddies" for the interview.

Achieved today with multiple GoPros on the dash.

Is that you flying John?

And still there are so many camera guys asking: will I get a safety harness so I can stand outside on the skids?

But where is the sound recordist?

Strapped to the tailboom, just out of shot

Bloody typical, we are always at the bottom of the pile!!!!

If it goes in nose first you'll be at the top!

Talking of being at the top, I always considered changing my surname to Ardvark so that my name was always top of the TV credits!

State of the art A model with low skids/spats and range-extender - oooooh the memories 😳

aardvark would get you there quicker ............!!

Nah, the engine cowling makes it a B-model.

Not that time: an RAAF pilot freelancing who ended up with a 28 day loss of licence when the photo appeared in the Green Guide and the DoT had a sense of humour failure. Led to years of distracting nonsense about the skids not being approved for supporting weight in flight with Bell wondering what the hell was in the water in the regional office :cool:

(The Green Guide is the weekly TV guide published on green paper every Thursday as an insert in The Age)