KPRC Local 2 covers the news from the air with SKY 2, formerly known as Newschoppper2.

SKY 2 was built by Bell Helicopters, a division of Textron Industries of Arlington, Texas.

The helicopter is a 206L IV, also known as a long ranger, which is part of the jet ranger series.

SKY 2 is in the electrical news gathering industry, (television, radio, traffic and broadcasting) or an ENG helicopter.

The chopper can hold a maximum gross weight of 4,450 pounds, and carries 110 gallons of jet fuel. It's staffed with a pilot, photojournalist and reporter.

The maximum speed of SKY 2 is 126 mph, and it can fly for a maximum of three hours on one tank of fuel.

The current SKY 2 began service for KPRC on July 1, 2003. It was manufactured in July 1996 at the Bell Textron Plant in Marabel, Canada.

Before joining KPRC, it was a corporate air limousine in Dallas and purchased by Helicopter Inc. (the air provider for KPRC Channel 2).

The chopper was flown to Helicopters Inc.'s base of operations in Cahokia, Ill. and completely disassembled, rebuilt (like new), with the ENG equipment installed and painted per KPRC specifications.

For more information on Helicopters Inc., visit www.heliinc.com.