R.F.D.S. is an Australian drama TV series produced by Crawford Productions which was a spin-off of the long running series The Flying Doctors. It revolves around the everyday lifesaving efforts of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The series ran for one season on the Nine Network from 1992 to 1993 and screened internationally.
The three-part miniseries The Flying Doctors, set in the fictional Coopers Crossing, screened in 1985 with the continuing series running from 1986 to 1991 for 221 episodes. The ratings were in decline and few original characters remained in the cast so the show was revamped.[1]
In 1993, this spin-off series R.F.D.S. was created. The setting was changed to the real life location of Broken Hill, New South Wales and of the cast only original cast members Maurie Fields and Val Jellay. The storyline involved their characters, formerly publicans at the Coopers Crossing pub, moving to Broken Hill. The only other character retained from the original show was Penny Wellings, played by Sophie Lee. The series lasted just one season in this new incarnation.[2]
Australian pay-TV channel FOX Classics secured the rights to the program from 3 July 2006.