Danger Man

Francis Gary Powers entered United States Air Force in 1950, trained as a pilot and was commissioned in 1952. In 1956, 1st Lieutenant Powers was released from the U.S.A.F. to participate in the Central Intelligence Agency’s Project Aquatone. His CIA position soon made Powers world famous when his Lockheed U-2A was shot down over Russia, in 1960. Powers was captured and held prisoner at the notorious Lubyanka Prison where he underwent sixty-two days of interrogation. 

But it gets worse.

On this day in 1977, Powers was killed, along with his photographer for KNBC, while piloting a Bell Ranger "Telecopter." Powers had 7,193 total flight hours, with 381 hours in the Bell 206. Unfortunately, Powers did not stop at two airports for refueling opportunities. Starved of fuel, the copter nose-dived into the ground, killing both instantly.

Technology Not Quite Ready

 

On this day in 1956, the prototype Piasecki Helicopter Company YH-16A-PH Transporter twin-turboshaft, tandem-rotor helicopter was returning to Philadelphia from a test flight, when the aft rotor desynchronized and struck the forward rotor and the aircraft broke up in flight and was completely destroyed. Test pilots, Harold W. Peterson and George Callahan, were tragically killed. At the time, the YH-16 was the largest helicopter in the world. The United States Air Force intended it as a very long-range rescue helicopter, while the U.S. Army expected it to serve as a heavy lift cargo and troop transport. A second YH-16A was modified during manufacture but the program was canceled.

Airport Shuttle Service

 

On this day in 1953, America’s first helicopter airline, New York Airways, began scheduled passenger service between the three area airports—La Guardia, Idlewild and Newark. There were sixteen flights per day at ninety-minute intervals. The first aircraft used was the Sikorsky S-55 (above), a commercial variant of the military H-19 Chickasaw. It carried 8 passengers and a cargo of U.S. Mail. The mail contract provided 75% of NYA’s revenue. As its popularity increased, New York Airways shifted to larger helicopters when they became available. In 1977, the landing gear failed while on the heliport of the Pan Am building in Manhattan. It rolled over and spinning rotor blades killed four waiting passengers. Broken blades then fell to the street killing a pedestrian and injuring several others. Its reputation severely damaged and fuel prices escalating, New York Airways filed for bankruptcy in 1979.

The Whirlybirds Greatest Hits

 

Whirlybirds is a syndicated American drama/adventure television series, produced by Desilu Studios, aired from February 4, 1957, through January 18, 1960. Desilu Studios was intrigued by the Bell 47 and its manufacturer and 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, the show's original title. 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. Their secretary was played by Nancy Hale as Helen Carter. The series was filmed originally on California's former Santa Susanna Airport in Simi Valley. The airport was near the Iverson Movie Ranch, used to film countless westerns. The entire area has long since been developed.

Professional pilots actually flew the helicopters with a cut-a-way mockup cockpit to film the stars. The two helicopter types used on the series, both classic Bell models, a 47G and the modified 47J Ranger. The 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use in 1946 and delivered to Helicopter Air Transport. More than 5,600 Bell 47s until 1974.