Patrol Helijet – from ‘Thunderbirds‘ created by Gerry Anderson

Helijets are a unique invention created for ‘Thunderbirds’. Serving two masters - as everyday aircraft that are more advanced than Helicopters of today. And a practical solution to the problem of creating and filming model Helicopters.

In the episode ‘Brink of Disaster’ there is an advanced Monorail system owned by Warren Grafton, an unscrupulous ‘business-man’. The system involves trains that are completely automated - and carry no crew - and run on automated tracks. A fleet of Helijets is constantky airborne to survey the track for any potential trouble. The two helijets that we see are quite small, 2 seater aircraft, with a winch, but apparenly little else in the way of equipment to deal with emergencies. During a heavy storm, Helijet 304 is struck by lightning and crashes into a railway bridge..

Like the larger Helijets seen in Pit of Peril and End of the Road, the bulk of this model is made form the Hawk 1/32nd scale Husky helicopter model kit.. with a B-58 fuselage for the tail boom.

 I wanted to show the canyon and a monorail bridge and show the Helijet from a different angle to the familiar ‘profile’ view often seen in Thunderbirds. 

Most likely designed by Mike Trim