Essex and Herts air ambulance buys £6 million Agusta Westland AW169

The Essex and Hertfordshire air ambulance has purchased a £6 million Agusta Westland AW169. A 10-year contract to lease an MD902 Explorer has also been approved and the service will take delivery of the aircraft early next year and the Agusta Westland will be ready to fly in June 2017.

The purchase of the helicopter will be the first time that the organisation has owned its own aircraft and it was supported by the Essex and Hertfordshire air ambulance’s successful bid for £1.5 million from the government’s Libor fund.

Rob Forsyth, chairman of the Essex and Hertfordshire air ambulance, said: “We simply couldn’t have reached this magnificent milestone were it not for the tremendous support we receive from the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire.

“The new Agusta Westland AW169 will truly be their aircraft and we look forward to unveiling the new helicopter once it’s equipped, branded and ready to fly with us next summer. The Libor funding gave us the extra support we needed to secure the purchase and so a huge thank you to everyone involved.”