How does Local 4 get riveting pictures of fires, traffic, weather and breaking news stories? Chopper4 is responsible for gathering those eye-popping pictures.

WDIV's Chopper4 is a Bell Jet Ranger III with a turbine engine that has been outfitted as a state-of-the-art electronic news gathering tool.

Utilizing a 36X gyrostabilized camera, WDIV is able to produce excellent pictures. It's also capable of receiving microwave shots.

The nose-mounted main camera (pictured at left) is a technological marvel. Gyro-stabilized on five axis, it provides rock-steady 360 degree viewing. The Fujinon lens is capable of reading a license plate on a car from 1,500 feet in the air.

Because of a 400 mile cruising range and a top air speed of 155 knots, Local First News crews can bring back live video from breaking news stories almost anywhere in Michigan.

With an onboard microwave transmitter and omnidirectional transmitting antenna, we have the ability to "go live" using the Ultra Media and an "Elmo" camera. The Elmo is a small camera that is mounted in front of the left-front passenger that is used to show the Ultra Media operator or Local First News reporter.

When performing a liveshot, the reporter's audio is taken from the boom mike in the left front seat.

Full communication with the station is accomplished using two on-board 2-way radios which have been pre-programmed with WDIV's frequencies including UHF Pro IFB.