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.