The Flying Doctors

Set in the fictional outback town of Cooper's Crossing, The Flying Doctors follows the real Royal Flying Doctor Service as its crews handle medical emergencies across vast distances while life in town goes on. The show mixes standalone rescue calls with longer-running personal stories, like the developing relationship between Dr. Geoff Standish and Sister Kate, and the comings and goings of pilots, mechanics and local police. Characters contend with isolation, scarce resources and tough choices, but there are lighter moments at the Majestic pub too. The series began as a 1985 mini-series and expanded into a regular drama that balanced medical action with small-town drama over multiple seasons.

Produced by Crawford Productions, the series moved from a successful 1985 mini-series into an ongoing TV show in 1986, running nine seasons and finding audiences beyond Australia, with Robert Grubb, Lenore Smith and others joining the core cast.

The show became widely associated with the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the public imagination, making Cooper's Crossing an iconic TV outback setting. Its frequent on-air portrayals of bush medicine and air rescues left a lasting impression on Australian pop culture and helped export a particular image of rural health work to international viewers.

Critical and audience reactions were mixed to positive, reflected in modest fan ratings and an enduring viewer base rather than runaway critical acclaim, vote average around 6.3 out of 10 in some listings. Major themes include the strains of remote medicine, community ties, and ethical dilemmas that arise when resources are limited, while recurring personal relationships provide the emotional center that keeps viewers coming back season after season.