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GB Helicopters co-ordinates celebrity Twin Squirrels
Flown by Will Banks with camera operator Mike Parker, the GB Helicopters team directed a formation of AS355s as they captured all the required shots for the opening episode of TV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here.
Few UK operators had sufficient numbers of Twin Squirrels to complete the mission – GB was selected.
Read this story in our January 2021 printed issue.

In November, UK TV's long-running TV show 'I'm A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here' returned to the screens. In the opening episode, viewers saw five black Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrels, flying in formation, carrying the show's contestants to their first challenge. The flights were organised by GB Helicopters.

The events of this year saw the show move from the Australian jungle to Gwrych Castle in Wales. This opened the door for the opening sequence to be performed and, since GB Helicopters is prominent in the film and TV industry and one of only a few operators in the country with a large enough fleet of Twin Squirrels, it was a good candidate. “It was a fantastic project to work on and it is rare to have so many aircraft flying together in one production,” says company director and chief pilot Will Banks.

The production company sought a high impact opening sequence for the programme, which included the back drop of Snowdonia National Park. The sequence was filmed by GB Helicopters' H125 fitted with a GSS UHD stabilised camera system. Flown by Banks with camera operator Mike Parker, the team directed the formation of AS355s as they captured all the required shots for the opening episode.

Alongside the company's filming work, GB Helicopters has provided charter and aerial utility services for over 10 years. During that time, it has grown continuously and this month it has added a new aircraft to its AOC, an Airbus H155. Based out of Stansted airport, the VVIP helicopter will cater for increased demand from London-based clients. With its recently refurbished interior, it is expected to be in high demand for major annual sporting and social events.

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