Yorkshire Air Ambulance's new helicopter almost ready to fly

A new £6m helicopter will take to the skies with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance next month after years of planning and fundraising.

The charity has invested in two Airbus H145 to replace its current ageing fleet of MD902 Explorers.

The first one will start operating from the charity’s base on the Nostell Priory Estate on the first weekend in September. The second aircraft, at the YAA’s other airbase at RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk, is expected to be in action before Christmas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Staff are now in the final stages of training ready for the new helicopter’s launch.

Chairman Peter Sunderland said: “This is such an exciting time, not only for the charity, but we hope for the people of Yorkshire too. We have been building up to this for such a long time now, and to think we are only a few short weeks away from commencing operations in the H145 is just fantastic. As a charity we have been working towards this day for so long. Many years of careful planning, researching, saving and budgeting have gone in to the process to ensure we have chosen the correct helicopter type for the people of Yorkshire, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we have definitely chosen the right one.”