STOP PRESS, MARCH 2008

You may have heard, or might hear through the grapevine, news about Western Australia's premier Robinson operator, Jandakot Helicopters.
The company was declared bankrupt. All training and charter operations are now carried out by Rotorvation Aerial Services, headed by Chief pilot David Adamson.
The bankruptsy came as a huge blow to everyone, as you may remember this was the company who commissioned the 'Robbie' publishing project of which you were all involved, in the first place. My heart sank when I thought of what this might mean to everyone involved.
As fate would have it though, this has been a blessing in disguise. My company Eye in the Sky Productions now owns sole publishing rights to the project.


David Adamson of Rotorvation Helicopter Services
mustering with an R22, on an outback farm in Western Australia.

So you can rest assured that either way, this amazing book WILL happen! We plan to release the book for Christmas 2008. So over the next few months you will be contacted by myself, or my colleagues from Eye in the Sky, Alexis Bachofen, and Robin Olson with regards to text corrections, or just to keep you up to date with progress. So please ignore anything you may hear about Jandakot Helicopters and its legacy in relation to this project, from any other source.
We are all looking forward to seeing this great work in print.
Kind regards
Jon

Introduction

A new sumptuous coffee-table book that looks at operators of Robinson helicopters around the world. Top aviation photographer Jon Davison, will travel the world seeking operators of Robinson helicopters who fly in the most remote, or unusual places. He will interview and photograph to reveal their stories, that show just what these versatile very mission capable machines can do.


An R44 Raven II at Lake Wanaka NZ


The Kilauea Caldera lava flow, Hawaii


Keith Essex from Alpine Air, Alaska over a glacier
ice field


Maria Langer hovers near a Saguaro Cactus in the
Arizona desert


John Bassi in his R22, near Kroonstad, South Africa

Jon's powerful images, also reveal the often spectacular and dramatic environments that the
pilots of R22 and R44 helicopters work within. The book covers the R22 Beta, R44 Raven, R44 Raven
II, R44 Clipper I, R44 Clipper II.


East Coast Aero Club's R44 off the New England coast, near Rockport Massachusetts.


(click for larger view)
Photo of Jon on location in South Africa by Elise de Villiers



Photo of Jon on location in Arizona, flying in Dave
Monaco's Hughes 500, by Michael Chilingerian

Cover ideas (proposed only)


The Site
This web site is available as a resource during the production of the above book. It is designed for all contributors to be able to view the photo shoots that Jon has taken, plus to view the edited interviews prior to placement in the design process.

The Book
Planned for a Fathers Day 2008 release, this book brings together for the first time, the diverse range of pilots who for a living, fly the Robinson family of utility helicopters (R22 Beta, R44 Raven, R44 Raven II, R44 Clipper II). Their diverse operating locations are revealed in spectacular images by leading aviation photographer Jon Davison.


R44 over a Hawaiian waterfall

The Property
As book producers, ESP is offering this property as a developed package of digital camera ready artwork (images & design on CD). Publisher markets, prints & distributes.

Like ESP's previous titles such as, 'Beneath Southern Seas' 'R' follow the same style of using candid and thought provoking interviews to tell the fascinating story of the Robinson helicopter in daily use around the world.
The book sets out to discover, through 40 interviews, what the relationship is between an operator of helicopters and their environment.

Please contact Jon Davison at Eye in the Sky for
further information should you wish to know more about this exciting new title. Contact Jon

About Jon
Jon Davison is a leading aviation/military photographer. He has self produced 15 books and been commissioned to provide exclusive photography for 60 books for publishers such as Lonely Planet. Berlitz and others. Jon's photography is a magical blending of journalism and graphic, honest portrayals of environments.



Jon has had extensive experience with the armed forces,he also has a large network within the aviation and maritime heritage community. In association with the WA Maritime Museum, he has produced web sites ranging from the WW2 attack on Broome, aviation archaeology, to the French explorers, a slave ship and the famous 'Pirate & Hydrographer' William Dampier. He also co-produced with Dr Michael Macarthy, a new web site on Worldwide Aviation Archaeology. See Jon's Publishing history.

Jon, together with co-author Tom Allibone, recently produced;
1. 'Beneath Southern Seas
- the Silent Service. RAN submarines' and
2. 'Beneath Southern Skies
- 100 years of Australian Aviation'.
A third book in this series is in production
3. 'Upon Southern Seas - life on an Australian Frigate'.

His father was a submariner with the Royal Navy during the Second World War. George Davison DSM was Chief Chief Petty Officer on board HMS Thrasher, during its Mediterranean missions and then HMS Tantalus while based in Fremantle 1943-46.The Thrasher received 2 Victoria Crosses, plus performed the famous night rescue of Australian and NZ troops from the German occupied Greek island of Crete. Prior to his 7 years in submarines, George served on aircraft carriers with the Royal Naval Fleet Air Arm.

Contents (shot August to November 2007)

AYERS ROCK (Aust). Ayers Rock Helicopters
BARRIER REEF (Aust). HeliReef Helicopters
PRETORIA (S Africa). Bassair
STAVANGER (Nor). NorCopter
OXFORD (UK). Russell Harrison Plc
BOSTON (USA). East Coast Aero Club
PHOENIX (USA). Flying M Air/Maria Langer
LA - TORRANCE (USA). Robinson Factory
ALASKA (USA). Alpine Air
HAWAII (USA). Mauna Loa Helicopters
WANAKA (NZ). Wanaka Helicopters
MARLBOROUGH (NZ). Windhawk Helicopters
TAUPO (NZ) HeliStar Helicopters
AUCKLAND (NZ) Ardmore Helicopters.

2008. PERTH (Aust). Rotorvation Helicopter Services
TBA: PHNOM PHEN (Cambodia). The Helicopter Company
TBA: KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia).


Ben Barnett of Windhawk Helicopters over rural
New Zealand


An Ardmore Helicopters R44 over Waiheke Island,
Auckland NZ

The Windhawk R44 approaches Highfield Estate Winery,
Marlborough, NZ (still to upload)


The Pillars, boutique retreat Lake Taupo, NZ
(To complete shooting)


Ayers Rock Helicopters, Australia


The Meteorite Crater in Arizona


'The Viking Swords in the Rock', sculpture on
the shores of Hafrsfjord. Stavanger, Norway.


UK based Russell Harrison's R44 Raven II at his home
in the Cotswolds. And below, at a Cotswold Manor
hotel.








David Adamson putting an R22 through its paces.


A dawn sortie over Australia's Uluru (Ayers Rock). Ayers Rock Helicopters


Aboriginal entertainer & presenter Mark Bin Bakar (Alias 'Mary G') in an R44 Astro over Perth's northern beaches.


Red Hartbeast, South Africa. Bassair Aviation

Specifications
Format: Portrait 30 x 25cm (proposed).
Pages: 232 (14 sections of 16 pages, plus 8).
Binding: Case bound with dust jacket (135 G/2m).
Finishing: D/J gloss laminated one side.
Stock: 150 G/2m gloss art.
Colours: 4 colours throughout w duo tone.
Text: First person narrative and anecdotal information.
Prelims: Foreword, Introduction, Preface, Contents.
Endlims: Index, Glossary, Timeline/Chronology, photog notes, schematics, acknowledgements.

Production team
Working title: ‘Robbie’
Sub title: A celebration of the Robinson helicopter
Author/photographer: Jon Davison
Technical advisor: David Adamson
Editor: Betty Durston
Production supervisor: Jon Davison
Studio consultant/Pre Press: Ian Morin
Production company: Eye in the Sky Productions (ESP)
Printer: Everbest printing Co, China
Publisher: Eye in the Sky Productions
Publishing Executive: Alexis Bachofen
Sales and Marketing: Robin Olson

This publication is not sponsored by, nor is in any way
associated financially with the Robinson Helicopter Company.

Go to Jon's Eye in the Sky web site