The first aerial pictures were realized as recorded broadcast. Pictures were shot with a helicopter airborne argentic camera (i.e. 16 mm) and later broadcasted after processing and mixing. As a matter of fact, it was almost impossible to take a TV camera with a transmitter on board a helicopter due to the size and weight of that equipment.

It seems that the first direct broadcasts that were realized by ORTF from helicopters were achieved with huge Sikorsky's, notably S-58's that were hired from Belgian company SABENA.

Later, size and weight of television equipment were reduced and helicopters became more performant at the same time. So the Alouette III became the most popular helicopter used for TV aerial filming and broadcast relay in France.

SFP still used the Alouette III as it was done in the past with ORTF till the arrival of gyrostablized systems such as the Wescam "ball" that is installed on Ecureuil and Ecureuil 2 helicopters.

It is possible to see pictures of Heli-Union Alouette III's that were used by SFP for the 1982 et 1983 editions of "Tour de France" bicycle race in the "Gallery Section".

We have discovered this picture of a Heli-Union Alouette III that was equipped with a camera wearing the American ABC Television Network.

Unfortunately we don't have any further information about its use.