SKY 5 WRAL-TV News Helicopter as featured on AWARE, WRAL-TV public affairs program in 1982.

SKY 5 is the news helicopter at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C. This video, produced in 1982 for the WRAL-TV public affairs program AWARE with Waltye Rasulala - Public Affairs Director, documents how the helicopter is used to cover news, either via live coverage or shooting the story to be edited later for a newscast. The pilot at that time was Mike Allen, a veteran pilot with 12,000 hours flight time in helicopters. He served as a captain in the US Army flying Chinooks and flew in civilian helicopter aviation as well.
The first pilot was veteran pilot Randy Watkins, followed by Mike Allen, veteran pilot Frank Beall, Steve Wiley - current pilot as of 2011. Steve was the primary designer of the current SKY 5 - Bell 407. The first SKY 5 was a Hughes 500 D model (N8624F). The second SKY 5 was also a Hughes 500 D model with updated navigation and updated microwave capabilites. The third and current SKY 5 is a Bell 407 with onboard editing, multi-camera setup. During the early 1980s time period, there were only a few other stations using the helicopter/pilot model on air: WRAL, KPNX, WXIA, KUSA.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• WRAL-TV
• SKY
• News
• Helicopter
• Aerial
• Hughes
• 500D
• entertainment
• air
• flying
• WRAL
• Sky

[WRALdirector80s]

The closing music (with SKY 5 taking off into the sunset from the station's helipad) is from the movie "The Electric Horseman" as well.

[WRALdirector80s]

I used music from the soundtrack "The Electric Horseman" starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. Composer Dave Grusin. I can't remember the name of the album cut though.

[WRALdirector80s]

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Bruce Wittman, Jack Edwards, Paula Clark, Patty McQuillan, Paul Spradley, Willis Boyd, Terry Cantrell, Joel Sanders. Jay Jennings shot and edited the Tar Heel Regata segment.

PRODUCER-VIDEO EDITOR-WRITER: Pam Parris

[WRALdirector80s]

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Bruce Wittman, Jack Edwards, Paula Clark, Patty McQuillan, Paul Spradley, Willis Boyd, Terry Cantrell, Joel Sanders. Jay Jennings shot and edited the Tar Heel Regata segment.

PRODUCER-VIDEO EDITOR-WRITER: Pam Parris

[WLFP80]

I actually noticed that in the Tar Heel Regatta Segment The Music Played in it is Familiar. The Beginning is Played on the John Boy & Billy Big Show for the Big Show News Segment. Any Idea what it is?

[newstarcadefan]

This is very educational for those of use who don't realize how much a helicopter news gathering unit works.