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• Robinson R66

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Baltimore viewers to benefit from R66 news coverage
TV station WJZ serves more than 2.8 million people in the Baltimore metropolitan area. Having operated a Robinson R44 since earlier this year, the channel has elected to progress to the larger R66.

Television station WJZ of Baltimore, Maryland has taken delivery of a factory-new Robinson R66 to assist with news reporting. Owned and operated by CBS, WJZ services the 2.8 million residents in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Sky Helicopters, a longtime Robinson dealer in Garland, Texas, has leased the helicopter to WJZ and will provide ongoing aviation and technical support. According to Ken Pyatt, president of Sky Helicopters, WJZ has been operating a Robinson R44 Newscopter since early 2019. Impressed with the R44's performance and reliability, the station elected to move-up to the larger, more powerful R66.

The aircraft was delivered with the latest ENG (electric news gathering) technology including an upgraded stabilised gimbal that houses an Ikegami HDL-F3000 ultra low-light camera equipped with Canon's HJ 40x10B lens, three two-way FM radios and a microwave system with a high gain directional pod. Other options included a HeliSAS Autopilot.

The helicopter is capable of providing three hours of continuous live TV coverage.

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