Very well executed

A Brilliant Conflict

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Because of Whirlybirds TV show I dreamed of being a helicopter pilot just like Chuck & PT.Well that dream came true and I did become a commercial helicopter pilot.I have always wanted to watch Whirlybirds again on TV and had to go to the Radio & TV Broadcast Museum in NYC to view a couple of episodes.Well my wish again came true when I found a web site that had for sale all 111 episodes of Whirlybirds.They also had many other classic TV show DVD's for sale.Well for $79.95 plus $20.00 shipping I ordered Whirlybirds and gave my credit card info.For 3 weeks kept getting e-mails about how Whirlybirdes is out of stock and should be shipping soon.Well the day finally comes and the pack with 5 DVD's arrives.Of course I do not check the complete package but figured the 5 DVD's had all 111 episodes compressed on them.So occasionally I would watch an episode and I get to the 3rd DVD and it has 5 episodes of the TV show China Beach on it.Then I decided to check the rest of the discs.Out of the 5 which 1 had China Beach there was 7 episodes of Whirlybirds each on 4 discs.I called the customer service number and negotiated a return of $60.00 and I keep the DVD's.I have not received my refund and the customer service number is disconnected.So this is to warn my fellow Whirlybird lovers not to get burned like I did.

As a savvy producer, I am grateful to Lucile Ball (Desilu) for two television production's she risked on, notably the original 'Star Trek', and 'Whirlybirds' among others.'Whirlybirds' as a concept resulted originally from an 'I Love Lucy' (episode-140 "Bon Voyage") aired on CBS January 16, 1956, in which Lucy misses the sailing of her transatlantic ocean liner and commandeers a friendly Bell 47 helicopter to fly her out to the ship. Desilu Studios, duly intrigued by the Model 47 and its makers, began discussions with Bell Helicopters about how the entertainment potential of the Bell Model 47 might be further developed for a television audience.'Whirlybirds' propelled the Bell 47's look and sound to popular attention in the late 1950s. Kenneth Tobey and Craig Hill starred as 47 pilots Chuck Martin and P.T. Moore, who flew off into diverse adventures from their base at Whirlybirds Inc., in mythical Longwood Field, California.Tight scripting, pioneering location camera work at the old San Bernardino Airport and Republic Studio's Iverson Ranch supported the flying skills of National Helicopter pilots Bob Gilbreath, Harry Hauss, and Ed Fuderich. Together these airmen showcased the ability and utility of the 47G & 47 J models over 111 half-hour episodes. Some 39 episodes of the series were re-syndicated by CBS during 1958 under the name Copter Patrol. The Museum of Television and Radio in New York City houses a selection of Whirlybirds reference material, and a comprehensive set of episodes is on hand at the Library of Congress in Washington (16mm film). Excellent location and action visuals from the Whirlybirds set are now available for viewing at the National Helicopter WEB Site. I purchased from National Helicopter several of the actual television shows on VHS video tape. They brought back fond memories and are very exciting still to watch today. Entertaining Kenneth Tobey as no nonsense character Chuck Martin in those cool aviator shades!I selected episodes that highlighted the flying skills of the National Helicopter pilots. The helicopter flying skills shown are simply the very best stunt flying by helicopter ever done before or since! In 'Cycle of Terror' - Episode 29) flying in tight ravines more remembered for the countless western chases on horseback filmed there (Iverson Ranch) - the rotors between rock outcrops and trees while chasing the villain on motorcycle is still outstanding & truly incredible. The landing skids of the copter used to knock the cyclist off his bike! Stunts likely prohibited by any studio insurance today.Overlooked perhaps then by both dazzled kids and adults when seen today are the little charming slight of hands in production - as in 'Infrared' Episode 53, a Bell 47 J lands in a field before the camera, the National helicopter pilot climbs out of his front seat and slips down to the cockpit floor behind, and then it is actor Craig Hill seen exiting. A hint of the charming production values of those times.Among many of the best episodes were some directed by an up & coming Robert Altman, who would later use the Bell 47's again in his film he is most remembered for among many others - M.A.S.H.. Not surprising perhaps, in 1984, a Bell 47 was put on display (as an art form) at none other than New York's Museum of Modern Art.God I love this show. Sleeping Viacom could make a lot of money re-releasing these entertaining programs. I would purchase video disks of the entire series in a heartbeat! A baby boomer's fondest memories of his childhood in front of the television screen.Release 'Whirlybirds' on DVD damnit!Corfman

I loved the sound of the helicopter! From watching the show, one of my dreams was to fly in a helicopter. Finally, last year I flew in one over the Grand Canyon! It was fantastic!!!!! grew up in the States and am now living in Australia. I wonder how many of my favorite shows when I was a child are on Cable TV? Other shows I watched? Cannonball, Champion the Wonder Horse, Fury, Annie Oakley, Sky King, Rin Tin Tin, Mickey Mouse Club, Howdey Dowdey, My Friend Flicka (but it wasn't as good as Champion and Fury)Sea Hunt, (for awhile we didn't have a TV and I'd listen to shows from my bedroom window. Try figuring out what was happening while listening to Sea Hunt!!!!) Wagon Train and later on Bonanza. (Ah, Little Joe!!!)

I remember sitting on my father's lap while watching Whirleybirds in the late '50s. I suspect that I saw every episode, however, as I was so young at the time, the details have long since faded from my memory. What I do recall is my total fascination with the Bell helicopters that were used to accomplish such daring do and my father's lament that Hiller helicopters never seemed to appear in the series. (He had worked for Stanley Hiller as a project engineer in San Carlos, CA.) I'm sure the plots were naive and the characterizations were shallow, but for a 1950's geeky kid who also watched Mr. Wizard, it was heaven for the imagination.