Helicopter History: Blast to the Past with Project Sky Knight

If you’re familiar with Long Beach Airport, you’ll know what it looks like to fly from there. But what if we took a short history lesson (and checked out some sweet archival footage)?

Let’s take a trip back to Lakewood, CA in 1966 to meet Sky Knight, the first aerial law enforcement program to fly regular patrols!

As an effort to curb crime, the city of Lakewood began using city-owned helicopters for their first helicopter support team out of LGB, in partnership with contracted law enforcement services from the LA County Sheriff’s Department. Almost immediately, Lakewood crime dropped by 11%!

These days, pilots are city employees while observers are sworn deputies. However, one of the first Sky Knight pilots was actually LASD Deputy Richard E. Waldow, a Long Beach resident and Korean War veteran who was experienced in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

Learn more about Project Sky Knight in this archival footage from LASD.

Back in the present, our very own Chief Pilot James Baker flies to LGB and helps the city of Lakewood keep the Sky Knight team current on their emergency training.

See how Sky Knight has evolved in this video from the City of Lakewood. You’ll recognize their R44s!