Chopper One

Episode 0

Unaired Pilot

In the original unaired cut of the pilot, a number of deleted or altered scenes are featured, as well as an entirely different score (presumably also by Frontiere, based upon how it sounds), and no opening theme is used or closing credits presented.

Episode 1

Pilot

Thu, Jan 17, 1974 30 mins

A swanky fourteen story hotel is being robbed downtown. The team plot the arrests and how best to use the helicopter.

Episode 2

Strain of Innocence

Thu, Jan 24, 1974

The copter becomes a delivery room when a baby is born on the way to the hospital. Don and Gil answer a call to check out a burglary at a drive-in and find a pregnant girl, whom Don had once befriended, being held against her will.

Episode 3

Bust-Out

Thu, Jan 31, 1974

Don and Gil find themselves in a dangerous predicament when their helicopter is taken over by armed gunmen.

Episode 4

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Thu, Feb 7, 1974

An invalid creates havoc when he uses a ham radio to call in fake emergencies.

Episode 5

The Informer

Thu, Feb 14, 1974

Don and Gil are asked to help secure a witness by using the chopper to transport him to the safe house. But when they get there, the man calls his wife and tells her where he is. So she goes there not knowing that the people who want to kill her husband is following her.

Episode 6

The Drop

Thu, Feb 21, 1974

When the daughter of a doctor is kidnapped. The kidnappers then call her father to tell him of their demands. And it seems he wants the police to make the ransom drop using a chopper so Don and Gil are told of this. The father only wants her daughter back, so Don makes a suggestion that he parachute out of the chopper after Gil makes the drop. So they do it.

Episode 7

Ambush

Thu, Feb 28, 1974

A group of militants is zeroing in on Chopper One. They're offering a $2000 bounty to anyone who will shoot the helicopter down.

Episode 8

The Copperhead

Thu, Mar 7, 1974 30 mins

A veteran police sergeant is suspected of selling confiscated weapons to a criminal element.

Episode 9

Killing Time

Thu, Mar 14, 1974

Mitch's wife has been abducted. The kidnappers contact Mitch, they want Chopper One grounded until 2:00PM. Mitch disables the helicopter, it cannot be flown. He blames it on an electrical problem. Officers Gil and Don suspect something; they confront Mitch. He tells them about the kidnapping of his wife. They go to Captain McKeegan, who determines that Organized Crime is behind it. The bad guys want the chopper grounded, to keep it from providing aerial cover for a motorcade. A powerful prosecutor is in the motorcade; the kidnappers plan to assassinate him. With a clue provided by Mitch, the officers learn where the bad guys are holding Mitch's wife, and where the assassination attempt will occur. Chopper One to the rescue.

Episode 10

Deadly Carrier

Thu, Mar 28, 1974

Gil and Don are working on a case involving illegal aliens. But they learn that one of the aliens is carrying a contagious disease, so a doctor is assigned to accompany them. And Don doesn't get along with her.

Episode 11

Undercover

Thu, Mar 21, 1974

Three thieves use motorcycle races to cover their tracks. Gil goes undercover as a racer to break the case.

Episode 12

Downtime

Thu, Apr 4, 1974

On ground duty while their chopper is down for repairs, Don and Gil go after an extortionist who's threatening to set off a bomb that could kill thousands.

Episode 13

The Hijacking

Thu, Apr 11, 1974

Gasoline tankers are being hijacked and it's up to Gil and Don to crack the case.