A Couple of Photos of LifeFlight (ex CareFlight) Bell 412EP VH-XCY at Gladstone Airport

We were recently sent a couple of photos of the locally-based LifeFlight (ex CareFlight) Bell 412EP VH-XCY at Gladstone Airport.

Photo taken by 'Mick'  ©

Photo taken by 'Mick'  ©

For Gladstone and Curtis Island residents, the LifeFlight / CareFlight medical retrieval contract is nearing completion with the final day of operations reportedly next Sunday 11 September.

Of interest, the rapidly growing organisation celebrated it's 35th anniversary and changed its name from CareFlight Group to LifeFlight in July this year.

In July 2013, LifeFlight merged with the iconic Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service (SCHRS) operating out of Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast.  Agusta A109E Power VH-ZCF "Rescue 522" was shown recently completing an airlift from Monto Hospital to Bundaberg Hospital.

https://www.facebook.com/LifeFlightOfficial/

In the last or so, LifeFlight also acquired a pair of Agusta Westland AW139 helicopters - VH-XIJ is pictured below and is a frequent visitor to CQ from their Brisbane Airport base as "Rescue 533".

Photo taken by Lloyd Fox  ©

Finally, at this year's Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka) LifeFlight's Eurocopter AS.350BA Squirrel helicopter VH-XCE "dropped in" for a visit during the evening's entertainment programme at the main ring at the Ekka.

https://www.facebook.com/LifeFlightOfficial/

The organisation maintains RACQ as naming rights sponsor, donating vital funds to help keep the service airborne. The partnership has lasted more than two decades and is one of Australia’s longest sponsorship agreements.