Wiltshire’s Air Ambulance was formed in April 1990 as a joint venture between the Wiltshire
Ambulance Service and Wiltshire Police. The
Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal was formed
in 1993, and has successfully been raising the
necessary funds ever since. The Appeal is funded
entirely by the people of Wiltshire who donate in
excess of £500,000 per year, which helps contribute
towards the operational costs to keep the
helicopter flying.
In the history of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance the helicopter and
crew have attended over ten thousand incidents, saving countless
lives. In 2009 we conveyed 306 patients to hospital and attended
more than 650 medical incidents with the aircraft. The helicopter, a
McDonnell Douglas MD902 Explorer, is leased from Police Aviation
Service (PAS), which has no tail rotor so produces less noise and is
safer to land in more densely populated areas. The helicopter can
reach speeds of 150mph and can fly for an average of 1.5hours.
We can cover an area of approximately 2160 square miles, and
has proved to be invaluable in the more rural farming communities.
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance is the only Air Ambulance in the
UK that is able to fly 19 hours a day, from 8am to 3am, 365 days
per year, as a result of the
thermal imaging camera
which is used on the
aircraft.
2010 is our 20th
anniversary year, and to
help us celebrate this
momentous occasion
HRH The Duchess of
Cornwall agreed to
become our first Patron, as
well as the helicopter having received a new livery.
In order to thank the public of Wiltshire for
their ongoing support we held an event on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May 2010.
This two day event was hosted at Castle Combe Race Circuit
and coincided with the annual Castle Combe Steam Rally which
continues to be one of the major contributors to the Air Ambulance
Appeal. Over the years the Organisers of the Castle Combe Steam
Rally have raised ten’s of thousands of pounds for the Appeal and
we are, as always, eternally grateful for their efforts in assisting us
to celebrate this momentous occasion with the
people of Wiltshire.
From everyone at the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal – Thank You for your continued support.
Without you we would be grounded!
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