Born at Ninmi, Helicopter learnt from a young age the location of water sources and how to hunt for bush food. Helicopter is a 'Maparn' (traditional medicine man) and people travel hundreds of miles to see him for healing. He is also a respected painter alongside his wife Lucy Yukenbarri. In the early 1990s he painted with his wife, not seeking any acknowledgement.

Since 1994 Helicopter has been painting on his own in a distinctive linear style that emanates from the central feature of a soak water. Helicopter travelled widely during the mission days to pick up supplies (Broome, Alice Springs, Wyndham). There are many stories of the endless tasks performed on the Mission; drilling for water, cutting timber for fencing, fixing the windmill. More recently, Helicopter has travelled with his paintings to Darwin, Adelaide and Melbourne. He remains dedicated to painting his country and the country of his mother and father where he lived a nomadic life as a young boy.