Medicopter 117
TV Series (1998-2006)
Also known as: Medicopter 117 - Jedes Leben zählt
Starring:
Manfred Stücklschwaiger (Thomas Wächter)
Serge Falck (Peter Berger)
Rainer Grenkowitz (Dr. Michael Lüdwitz)
Sabine Petzl (Biggi Schwerin)
Medicopter 117 is a television series about two teams of rescuers flying with a helicopter. Every episode has one or two rescue operations. It has a high count of spectacular stunts. Many of them are performed by the actors themselves.
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117-B2
Appears in various episodes.
The so-called "Medicopter 117" is the star of this series. D-HECE is the designation it also has in real life. Other designations visible throughout the series are D-HEOE and D-HEGE (both fake). In real life it is now used since 2011 as an offshore-rescue helicopter for the German company DL Helicopters. Between filming it was operated by DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht) and then later called I-HECE for operations in Italy. It became also famous for being used in the 2002 European floods.
Registration D-HECE, c/n 7244.
Episode 1.09
After hitting an illegal built cable car for material Transport, the Medicopter crashes on a steep slope. They used a real helicopter in original size but it is unknown which registration it had. Maybe it was an Eurocopter prototype without registration.
This scene became famous for being the most expensive minute on this television series and possibly the most expensive minute for a German television series.
Season 1
Robin DR400-180R
Episode 1.05
A pilot tried to commit suicide by crashing into a mountain. In last moment he changes his mind but the plane has run out of fuel and crashes into another mountain. The pilot managed to jump out, fell into a forest and survived. Co-pilot also jumped out, but missed the trees and fell onto a grade. Luckily he survived too. D-EDOF is a real designation. This plane is a Robin DR-400 owned in real life by Flugsportgruppe Neustadt a. d. Aisch e.V.
Eurocopter AS350 B3 Ecureuil
Episode 1.05
Chases the suicide pilot in the Robin. A psychology therapist onboard tries to convince the pilot to land the plane safely.
Registration OE-XKP c/n 3295.
Episode 1.07
It is the same helicopter again. This time it has fake Police/Military Registration. There are no 3-letter designations in Germany. They used Archive footage from Episode 1.05 causing a continuity error as the helicopter changes registration between shots.
Registration OE-XKP c/n 3295.
Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III
Episode 1.08
This helicopter is called a civilian freighter by characters but it has "Notarzt" (emergency physician) writing on it. After Medicopter pilot Thomas Wächter is poisoned by a snake Biggi Schwerin and Dr. Gabriele Kollmann chase the Medicopter which is flown by Ralf Staller who has taken over the steering. They use this helicopter so Biggi can teach Ralf over radio how to land the Medicopter.
This episode first aired on 2 March 1998 but the real OE-XTT crashed on 17 November 1997. After the helicopter lost power of engine it crashed in Ellmautal, Austria. The Pilot Johan Knaus, owner of Heli Austria GmbH, was killed and one passenger, his son, suffered serious injuries. It was owned by Heli Austria GmbH which had also this paint scheme used in that episode. Ironically (or the story was used for an episode deliberately) the cause of the crash was the same which was the cause of the Medicopter crash in Episode 1.09. In both cases the pilot hit a cable car for material transport.
There is a continuity error again. It changes country of registration from Austria to Germany. In some shots its clearly visible that it has two different registrations.
Season 2
Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil
Episode 2.02
Another Eurocopter was used in a hostage crisis inside a Hospital. This is not a real registration and not a police paint scheme.
Mil Mi-8
Episode 2.07 "Knockout"
Seen in background at the Medicopter base. Tail rotor is on the right side visible in Episode 2.11 making it a Mi-8.
Episode 2.09 "Gejagt"
Same Helicopter seen again as Peter Berger moves in to live inside.
Season 3
Aérospatiale AS350 B1 Ecureuil
Episode 3.07 and 3.08
Registration D-HHBP c/n 1973.
A group of corrupt cops use this helicopter to chase Ralf Staller and Julia Neuhaus (a callgirl). Character confirms its an Ecureuil AS350. D-HHBP is currently in use by Helicopter Travel Munich.
Piper PA-28 Arrow
Episode 3.08
A man with an important hard disk is chased by corrupt cops. They shoot his plane down.
This plane registered D-EGEN uses what seems a false registration as in fact it is linked to a Piel CP-301A Emeraude (seen at Berlin ILA 2012). The retractable landing gear identifies it as one of the Arrow variants of the PA-28.
Cessna T303 Crusader
Episode 3.08
Registration D-IGPS c/n T303-00308.
D-IGPS is currently in use by Terra Bildmessdienst in Austria.
MD Helicopters MD520N
Episode 3.13
Registration OE-XKI c/n LN033.
Only seen in a flashback. OE-XKI is currently in use by Heli Austria, owners of the heliport were the Medicopter base is located.
Season 4
Short SC.7 Skyvan 3-100
Episode 4.01
Registration OE-FDE c/n SH.1886
During the episode its always called DE-FDE which is a faked German registration. For filming a German flag was painted on the plane. OE-FDE is currently in use by Pink Aviation Services nicknamed "Nemo". At time of filming nickname was "Pink Skyvan" and its often used for Parachuting.
Eurocopter EC 120 B Colibri prototype
Episode 4.04
Registration D-HHKD c/n 1007
That was a EC 120 B Colibri prototype before it was crashed in this episode. Doctor Lüdwitz is chased by Russian Mafia with this helicopter. The Medicopter intervenes the chase and is then chased by the Mafia itself. But they can obscure the pilots view so the mafia pilot crashes into a mountain.
Aérospatiale AS350 B1 Ecureuil
Episode 4.04
Registration D-HHBP, c/n 1973.
Learjet 45
Episode 4.04
Registration OE-GDI c/n 45-037.
This plane is owned by MAP Executive Flightservice.
Short 360-300
Episode 4.09
Registration D-CF?? of Express Airways, operating for FedEx Feeder. Possibly D-CFXH, c/n SH.3742.
Agusta-Bell 412
Episode 4.12 Kamikaze
Registration D-HAFV C/N 25509 ex AF-401
Originally it was build for Uganda Air Force, then came to Knaus Helicopters and is currently with Agrarflug Helilift .
MD Helicopters MD520N
Episode 4.12 Kamikaze
Registration OE-XKI c/n LN033.
A rescue pilot on a revenge tour tries to crash into the Medicopter. It has the fake registration D-HTGN and is also falsely radio called D-HGTN.
OE-XKI is currently in use by Heli Austria, owners of the heliport were the Medicopter base is located.
Season 5
Aérospatiale AS350 B2 Ecureuil
Episode 5.02
Registration D-HECS c/n 2361.
D-HECS is the sister helicopter of D-HHBP, also used by Helicopter Travel Munich. This helicopter was used for filming the famous jump of Felix Baumgartner.
Episode 5.03
Either D-HECS or D-HHBP of Helicopter Travel Munich.
Airbus A320
Episode 5.02
PZL-Mielec An-2TD
Episode 5.05
Registration HA-ANP, c/n 1G224-09.
Privately owned An-2TD license-built by PZL-Mielec. Despite the Hungarian registration, its currently standing in Wismar-Müggenburg (Germany).
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