Whirlybirds (sometimes called The Whirlybirds or Copter Patrol) is
a syndicated American drama/adventure television series, which aired for 111 episodes — broadcast from February
4, 1957, through January 18, 1960. It was produced by Desilu Studios.
The program features the exploits of Chuck Martin (Kenneth Tobey)
and Pete "P. T." Moore (Craig Hill), owners of a fictitious helicopter chartering company, Whirlybirds, Inc., in
the American West. Martin and Moore sell their services to various clients at the fictional airport Longwood
Field.
The Whirlybirds series was, like I Love Lucy, a product of Desilu
Studios. One particular episode of I Love Lucy, Number 140, became pivotal to the Bell 47's public image as the
definitive light helicopter of the 1950s. In No. 140, titled "Bon Voyage" and first aired on CBS on January 16,
1956, Lucy Ricardo misses the sailing of her trans-Atlantic ocean liner and commandeers a friendly pilot of a
Bell 47G to fly her to the ship; Jack Albertson guest stars in this episode. Down she goes on the hoist, in a
studio sequence carefully staged using a 47G cabin mockup. Desilu Studios, intrigued by the Bell 47 and its
manufacturer, began discussions with Bell Aircraft about how the entertainment potential of the Bell 47 might be
further developed for a television audience. The result of this collaboration became The Whirlybirds.
T
obey and Hill did not fly the helicopters on the show. That task
was handled by expert helicopter pilots Ed Fuderich, Bob Gilbreath, and Harry Hauss of National Helicopter
Service, Inc.
After production of the series ended, Kenneth Tobey reprised his
role as Chuck Martin in episode #223 of the long-running television series, Lassie. Titled "The Rescue", the
Lassie episode was broadcast on October 2, 1960. Chuck Martin uses a Bell 47G to rescue a trapped Timmy Martin
(Jon Provost).
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