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Jax TV Chopper?

U

upstate29651

I remember when ABC 25 debuted, one of their big new toys was a news chopper. Do any Jax TV stations still have a chopper or not?

G
 
Not currently. But back in the 80's, choppers played heavily in the p---ing contest among 4, 12, and 17. All three had one.

The chopper battle--and its use in Jacksonville news gathering--unofficially ended when Chopper 12 crashed live on the air during a traffic report. I saw it live from home, and again on tape in my adult life, and it's probably the most disturbing thing I've ever witnessed. But I believe 4 may have already unloaded theirs by then. 17's faded away around that time as well.

The maiden launch of Sky 17 featured then-Mayor Godbold proclaiming, "We already know Jackonville is beautiful, but now from the sky, it will look even beautifuler."

Sky 17 was also infamously lampooned by independent channel 30 in a promo for 6pm Star Trek reruns, where the Starship Enterprise blasts an orange helicopter labeled "TV News" into smithereens.

Many years later, 25 unveiling its own chopper was a shock. My friends and I were like, "how much MORE are they going to spend and still be last place?!" It came in handy during the wildfires, but aside from that, I really don't know what else it was used for.

One of 25's other creative pieces of property was a "mobile weather lab": a Chrysler minivan outfitted with a weather station. An ex-employee told me most of its time on the road was running to and from the post office, lunch stops, etc.
 
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