I think we all know this shot. It's become VERY common. Even stuff like the opening of Late Night with David Letterman used this shot.

Question is, what was the first film that did it? I recall first taking note of it in The Fugitive, the Harrison Ford version.

P.S. Sorry about misspelling helicopter in the title.

I take it you're differentiating between a helicopter shot and an airplane shot.

I guess I should post a clip to clarify what I'm talking about.

I know the shot. But they can also be filmed from an airplane.

Shots like this: http://www.shutterstock.com/video/cl...j4evD_A:1:9/gg

That one is kind of slow. Typically the camera moves a little faster.

So in The Fugitive for instance, did they use a helicopter or an airplane?

Nevermind. I said I know the shot. Could've been done with an airplane with a zoom and slowed down. Anyway, hope you find your answer.

Didn't West Side Story open up like this?

Yeah. that shot has been around. I know I've seen some 1970s flicks w/ that. Unless I'm wrong.

The one in Peter Jackson's King Kong was the first (and only) one that actually made me feel a bit ill when viewing.

I'm sick of establishing shots too Also, fade-outs (but not fade-ins)

Pretty sure the opening of "The Shining" is a helicopter shot!!

There's a nice shot like that of NYC near the beginning of Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), including a dizzying direct flyover of the tip of the needle on either the Empire State Building or the Chrysler building (can't remember which). Not sure if that was the first of its kind, but it was the earliest I can recall seeing. By the time of The Fugitive it was pretty old hat, and now it's pretty much everywhere. Kinda miss the days when shots like these really grabbed your attention. Now anyone with a drone can probably grab them on the sly.

Yes, but that's not what I'm talking about.

Yeah, West Side Story 1961, opened with whole aerial sequence from copter looking straight down at Manhattan skyline before zooming down to West side playground and shot of the Jets.