- Born
- Died
- Birth namePeter John McKernan
- When retired Marine Corps jet pilot Peter McKernan purchased a helicopter to support his real estate business, little did he know that his investment would morph into something bigger. A request by ABC News (1956) to cover a flood and later, last minute request to support an episode of Hart to Hart (1979) inspired him to start a helicopter/aircraft chartering business, plus support of Hollywood productions.
His company, Jetcopters, Inc. provided many aerial scenes and support for TV shows plus motion pictures like, Blue Thunder (1983), Airwolf (1984), Commando (1985), and many others. McKernan, his staff of full time and part time pilots, plus his son, Peter McKernan, Jr. all performed the stunt flying.
Born in Brookhaven, New York, after Marine Corps retirement, Peter McKernan spent the rest of his life in California briefly flying for United Airlines, then subsequently running his real estate and aerial charter businesses.
- IMDb mini biography by: Lonely Soldier Boy
- Children
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a jet fighter pilot attaining the rank of Major (his tombstone indicates Major, though some sources say his highest rank was Lieutenant Colonel). In a twist of irony, he avoided (flying) helicopters like the plague while in the USMC; his later venture/career as owner/operator of Jetcopters, Inc. he flew them for a living.
- Owned and operated Jetcopters, Inc. which operated out of Van Nuys Airport, California. His company began as specializing (mainly) in aircraft rental, charter and leasing. Later on, his company was notable in supporting many television and motion picture productions with the use of his aircraft and facilities. His Van Nuys Airport Jetcopters facility stood in for "Santini Air" in the helicopter adventure series, Airwolf (1984).
- Initially, he purchased a helicopter for his real estate company: he decided in 1979 it would be easier to fly than drive to Ventura County to attend to his real estate holdings and oversee construction sites. A request by ABC News (1956) for use of his helicopter to help cover a flood in Hemet, CA in 1979 inspired him to pursue a private chartering business of helicopters.
- McKernan was doing well in the private charter/news media business and not thinking much about helicopters for movies and TV shows. Then a last-minute call to support a Hart to Hart (1979) episode cemented his upcoming major involvement in Hollywood TV and motion picture productions.
- At its height, McKernan's Jetcopters, Inc. was the largest one of its kind in the West Coast. Jetcopters had 23 helicopters employed with14 full-time pilots, several part time pilots, and McKernan's son Peter McKernan, Jr., the vice president of administration who ran the company when his father was gone on other assignments.
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