| 
The helicopter
used by the service is a McDonnell Douglas 902 Explorer, which draws
the crowds whenever it turns up at events. It’s a twin-engine
helicopter that has no tail rotor, cutting down the noise produced
in flight.
It is capable of a ground
speed of around 140mph and can fly, in its current configuration,
for an average of one-and-a-half hours. It can seat six people in
the rear and two in the cockpit, although it normally only has two
seats in the rear to make room for a permanent stretcher.
The aircraft is leased
from a company called Police Aviation Services. The arrangement
works well with PAS responsible for sending pilots to cover for
sickness and providing a replacement helicopter if the Explorer
needs repairs. |