Nebraska boring, flat? Copter's HD footage shows state's diverse landscapes, attractions

7 Aug 2013


State News

By David Hendee   |   World-Herald Bureau   |   Published Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 1:00 am / Updated at 1:28 pm

 

LINCOLN — Nebraska. Flyover state.

The pejorative image of Nebraska as one of the interior states best seen from 30,000 feet in the air by transcontinental flights is about to be brought down (closer) to earth.

The early results of using a low-flying and hovering helicopter to capture high-definition aerial footage of the state's diverse landscapes, monuments, people and attractions are available for viewing on YouTube.

Among the dozens of scenes are an airboat on the Platte River, St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha, re-enactors at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, cowboys and golfers in the Sand Hills, small towns, farms, boaters on reservoirs and paddlers on rivers and more.

The footage was shot July 3-10 by Skyworks, a London-based aerial filming specialist. Skyworks has produced footage for the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel and the British Broadcasting Corp.

The Nebraska Tourism Commission, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and NET, the statewide broadcast network, collaborated to hire Skyworks to acquire the footage. The images will become part of a collection the agencies can draw from for websites, commercials, documentaries, publications and live presentations.

Kathy McKillip, director of the Tourism Commission, said in addition to having highlights available on YouTube to generate interest in Nebraska, the agency will receive many hours of raw footage to incorporate into the new advertising and marketing campaigns.

Christy Rasmussen, a Game and Parks spokeswoman, said the project gives the agency a new way to showcase Nebraska's outdoor amenities.

 

To view this article and the video, click here.