Air ambulance charity to get second helicopter
BBCAn air ambulance charity is set to double its fleet after placing an order for a new £7m helicopter.
The Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance (LNAA) has secured a spot on the production line for an 177mph twin-engine AW109 GrandNew after raising an initial £4m.
The air ambulance should be delivered by manufacturer Leonardo in summer 2027 and responding to incidents by the autumn, the charity said.
Karen Jobling, chief executive officer, said the addition would be "life-changing" for the service.
"A second helicopter means that we can reach more patients quicker and save even more lives across the two counties," she added.
"We're tasked on average four to five times every day at the moment, and we know that there are more patients out there that need us.
"It's certainly not every day you buy a helicopter. Everyone's super, super excited.
"We've placed the order, we are committed, and we will be bringing that second aircraft in in two years' time in order to better serve the people of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire."
Based in Lincoln
The new helicopter has been funded through donors and a fundraising campaign named Mission Possible 2.
While the order has been placed, a further £3m needs to be raised.
The LNAA said the model being delivered was compact in comparison to its existing AW169 model, so "ideal for landing in tight landing areas" and able to fly "in a wider range of conditions".
It will be based in Lincoln initially, and serve about 3,500 square miles across the two counties.
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