Cafe Unknown looks at Portland's first news helicopter, when the Oregon Journal (RIP) acquired its Newsroom Dragonfly, "the first helicopter in the country used by a newspaper for news coverage":
It was an instant success, a news story in itself as well as a revolutionary news gathering tool. Launched from the helicopter pad from the Oregon Journal’s huge building (the former Public Market) on the waterfront, it could reach stories around town in minutes, covering fires (even one at the Oregonian Building), train wrecks, and floods state wide. ...
The Oregon Journal devoted a full page in "The Newsroom Dragonfly" to this picture of a fire at the Oregonian’s headquarters at Sixth and Alder.
“With the appearance of the dragonfly at the scene, one Oregonian employee turned to another and said, "Here comes that Journal helicopter like a vulture. I’ll bet it pours gasoline on the fire."
If you're unfamiliar with the Cafe Unknown blog, it's delightful--a delve into Portland history with essays and photos. Anyone who loves this town should be reading it.
Nice photo, good reminder that TV news did not invent helicopter coverage. KALE radio, (clearly seen on the chopper), then Portland calls, now belong to Tri-Cities, Washington.
On a similar train of thought, who was the first Portland station to provide live copter coverage? I know KIRO in Seattle kind of set the pace in that market around 1978-79 if I'm not mistaken. (so much so, that in the news open they included it with the same importance as the anchors!) L.A. stations even earlier...