The Flying Doctors 1986
What is The Flying Doctors?
The Flying Doctors is an Australian medical drama series that aired from 1986 to 1992, produced by Crawford Productions. The show focused on the lifesaving work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, depicting the challenges faced by medical professionals serving remote outback communities.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1986
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 221
- Runtime
- 50 minutes
- First aired
- May 15, 1986
- Last aired
- Oct 6, 1992
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- AU
- Networks
- Nine Network
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
Where to watch
With ads
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 221 episodes and an average 50-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The Flying Doctors is an Australian medical drama series that aired from 1986 to 1992, produced by Crawford Productions. The show focused on the lifesaving work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, depicting the challenges faced by medical professionals serving remote outback communities. It originated as a 1985 mini-series set in the fictional town of Cooper's Crossing, featuring Andrew McFarlane as Dr. Tom Callaghan. Due to the mini-series' success, it returned the following year as an ongoing television series. McFarlane departed during the first season and was replaced by Robert Grubb. Liz Burch also joined the cast as Dr. Chris Randall. The program highlighted the critical role of the Flying Doctor Service in delivering medical care across vast and isolated regions of Australia. The series was broadcast on the Nine Network and ran for multiple seasons, showcasing the dramatic and often perilous situations encountered by its characters. It starred actors including Lenore Smith, Maurie Fields, and Val Jellay.
Should you watch it?
“A medical drama following heroic doctors in the Australian outback.”
- authentic portrayal of rural medicine
- strong ensemble cast
- based on a real-life service
- occasional melodrama
- some dated production elements
you enjoy medical dramas with scenic Australian backdrops.
Suitable for general audiences, with mild medical scenarios.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 26 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Will to Survive May 15, 1986
- E2 Trial By Gossip May 22, 1986
- E3 Hot Enough For You May 29, 1986
- E4 Dreams of Sand Jun 5, 1986
- E5 Public Property Jun 12, 1986
- E6 Is Nothing Sacred Jun 19, 1986
- E7 Square Pegs Jun 26, 1986
- E8 Sins of the Fathers Jul 7, 1986
- E9 Rally to the Cause Jul 14, 1986
- E10 Talk of the Town Jul 21, 1986
- E11 Do You Read Me Jul 28, 1986
- E12 E.T. - New Girl in Town Aug 4, 1986
- E13 A Choice of Enemies Aug 11, 1986
- E14 Departures Aug 18, 1986
- E15 A Lost Generation Aug 25, 1986
- E16 Someone Special Sep 1, 1986
- E17 Return of the Hero Sep 8, 1986
- E18 Eye of the Beholder Sep 15, 1986
- E19 Million-acre Prison Sep 22, 1986
- E20 Like a Death in the Family Sep 29, 1986
- E21 Fearless Frank Oct 6, 1986
- E22 Forgiveness Oct 13, 1986
- E23 Acceptance Oct 20, 1986
- E24 The Show Goes On Oct 27, 1986
- E25 To The Rescue (1) Nov 3, 1986
- E26 Into The Future (2) Nov 10, 1986
Season 2 · 24 episodes
- E1 Good Day For It Jul 7, 1987
- E2 Horses For Courses Jul 14, 1987
- E3 The Unluckiest Boy in Town Jul 21, 1987
- E4 It Isn't Cricket Jul 28, 1987
- E5 An Only Child Aug 4, 1987
- E6 A Love Story Aug 11, 1987
- E7 Keeping Up Appearances Aug 18, 1987
- E8 All Things Bright and Beautiful Aug 25, 1987
- E9 My Name is Sky Sep 1, 1987
- E10 Bachelors & Spinsters Sep 8, 1987
- E11 Fifty-two Hours Straight Sep 15, 1987
- E12 A Friend of a Friend Sep 22, 1987
- E13 Friends and Lovers Sep 29, 1987
- E14 Realms of Gold Oct 6, 1987
- E15 The Hometown Hero Oct 13, 1987
- E16 A Distant Echo Oct 20, 1987
- E17 No Laughing Matter Oct 27, 1987
- E18 No Quarter Asked Nov 3, 1987
- E19 Myths & Legends Nov 10, 1987
- E20 The Hitch-hiker Nov 17, 1987
- E21 Give a Dog a Bad Name Nov 24, 1987
- E22 Everyday a Gift Feb 11, 1988
- E23 Bearing Gifts Feb 18, 1988
- E24 Repeat Performance Feb 25, 1988
Season 3 · 26 episodes
- E1 The Noble Art Mar 3, 1988
- E2 Sapphire Mar 10, 1988
- E3 Cries From The Heart Mar 17, 1988
- E4 All In A Day's Work Mar 24, 1988
- E5 Out Of A Clear Blue Sky Mar 31, 1988
- E6 Affirmative Action Apr 7, 1988
- E7 Figures In A Landscape Apr 14, 1988
- E8 The Devil You Know Apr 21, 1988
- E9 Operating Solo Apr 28, 1988
- E10 The Path Of True Love May 5, 1988
- E11 The Kid May 19, 1988
- E12 The First Step May 26, 1988
- E13 Hopscotch Jun 2, 1988
- E14 Jacks High Jun 9, 1988
- E15 Clapped Out Jun 16, 1988
- E16 Private Lives, Public Faces Jun 23, 1988
- E17 Wedlock Jun 30, 1988
- E18 The Wrangler's Daughter Jul 7, 1988
- E19 Borrowed Time Jul 14, 1988
- E20 The Forbidden Jul 21, 1988
- E21 She'll Be Right Jul 28, 1988
- E22 One Final Request Aug 4, 1988
- E23 Roxanne Aug 11, 1988
- E24 Don't Tell Anybody Aug 18, 1988
- E25 No Way Back Aug 25, 1988
- E26 Johnnie Come Home Sep 1, 1988
Season 4 · 24 episodes
- E1 Look, Up In The Sky Sep 8, 1988
- E2 Preacher Man Sep 15, 1988
- E3 The Fear (Part 1) Sep 22, 1988
- E4 The Fear (Part 2) Sep 29, 1988
- E5 Fair Go Oct 6, 1988
- E6 Broken Airwaves Oct 13, 1988
- E7 Bed And Board Oct 20, 1988
- E8 Breaking The Drought Nov 3, 1988
- E9 Family Secrets (Part 1) Nov 10, 1988
- E10 Family Secrets (Part 2) Nov 17, 1988
- E11 All You Need Is Luck Feb 9, 1989
- E12 The Silly Season Feb 16, 1989
- E13 Every Situation Feb 23, 1989
- E14 The Storyteller Mar 2, 1989
- E15 The Choice Mar 9, 1989
- E16 A Shade Of Doubt Mar 16, 1989
- E17 Mick & Julia Mar 23, 1989
- E18 The Deal Mar 30, 1989
- E19 A Thing Of Beauty Apr 6, 1989
- E20 Cadenza Apr 13, 1989
- E21 Mates Apr 20, 1989
- E22 The Child Apr 27, 1989
- E23 Next To Go May 4, 1989
- E24 Gotta Have Friends May 11, 1989
Season 5 · 26 episodes
- E1 The Gift Aug 31, 1989
- E2 Second Chance Sep 7, 1989
- E3 Not The Malarvys Sep 14, 1989
- E4 The Adventure Sep 21, 1989
- E5 No Man's Land Sep 28, 1989
- E6 Rising Sundown Oct 5, 1989
- E7 Man And Boy Oct 12, 1989
- E8 The Longing Oct 19, 1989
- E9 Bitter Harvest Oct 26, 1989
- E10 The Instrument Nov 2, 1989
- E11 Word & Deed Nov 9, 1989
- E12 All That Glitters Nov 16, 1989
- E13 Fly Past Nov 23, 1989
- E14 The Last Rodeo Nov 30, 1989
- E15 Sky Above, Earth Below Dec 7, 1989
- E16 Lucky Lady Dec 14, 1989
- E17 The Chips Are Down Dec 21, 1989
- E18 Guardian Angel Dec 28, 1989
- E19 Battlers Jan 4, 1990
- E20 No Tears Jan 11, 1990
- E21 A Doctor's Dreaming Jan 18, 1990
- E22 Blues For Judy Jan 25, 1990
- E23 The Claim Feb 1, 1990
- E24 A Rhyme For Reason Feb 8, 1990
- E25 Dad's Little Bloke Feb 15, 1990
- E26 A Sporting Life Feb 22, 1990
Frequently asked questions
Is The Flying Doctors based on a true story?
Yes, it is based on the real Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
When did the series first air?
The ongoing series began in 1986 after a 1985 mini-series.
Who were some of the main cast members?
Main cast included Robert Grubb, Lenore Smith, and Nikki Coghill.
How many seasons are there?
The show ran for multiple seasons with over 200 episodes.
Where was the show set?
It was set in the fictional outback town of Cooper's Crossing.