My sources have told me that the ARHT have a new (2nd hand) BK-117 that they are converting to a single pilot IFR machine.

Though they were hoping to get a Bell 412 the funding wasnt there and a BK-117 was decided to fill the role till they have raised the funds needed to buy the Bell 412.

Prior to looking at another Bk they looked at a Sikorsky S-76 and a AS365N2 (Dauphin) as a possible rescue helicopter but the final vote went to the BK.

Im not 100% sure when this machine will go on display or where it is even being converted at this stage this is still just a rumour but it has come from trustworthy sources.

Scott

You heard it first here people!

Video of ZK-HKZ Arriving / Leaving Hamilton 15 Dec 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek3Mgh3BGzE&hd=1

a couple of screen grabs

i'm guessing that this was Waikato Hospital. According to there website they were transporting a motorcycle rider who had a fall from huntly.

If anybodys intrested if you go to the ARHT website highlit news then click news missions it tells you what missions have been done in the month pluis the previous months as well. it also show which chopper repsonded as well.

zthis might seem like a stupid question but is this a 2 pilot machine

Single pilot mate

ARHT WESTPAC ZK-HLN at Waikato Late this afternoon.

Great shots Ham......you are always in the right place at the right time ....BK177 will like these....thanks for posting.

Thanks Marty Hope things are all well way down south

a few more of HLN - pLease excuse the bad resizeing:

























HLN Departing Hamilton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjfOL1SxH5s&hd=1

Chopper bound for hotspot

Emergency services in the holiday hotspot of Coromandel have been stepped up this year with Auckland's Westpac Rescue basing a helicopter in Whitianga.
The Auckland crew will work a rotational roster from December 26 until the end of January from their Whitianga base.
Each crew will consist of a pilot, crew member and advanced paramedic, who will assist St John Ambulance in transporting patients from remote areas and also working with surf-lifesaving teams along the peninsula's east coast.

Full Item Located here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/...und-for-hotspot

Nice pic's as always

If the Auckland guys are flying patient transfers then they will generally fly IFR which will require two pilots.
Sometimes though they just chuck the paramedic or camera man up front.

Just watching that clip amazes me as to how such slowly rotating blades can generate so much lift !!!!!!

Awesome !!!

Thanks for posting these shots.

Even tho I'm long way aways (Perth WA), I have a keen interest in ARHT.

My brother Barry is chief Paramedic with this outfit, and starts the Whitianga rotation shortly.

Will ask him to get a few shots of theirs ops, if possible.

Cheers

TonyM

Ham....great detail shots that (our, chc) BK has been busy today....saw him land at the hospital at least 3 times this afternoon with pax. They do a great job those guys and all the support team (like our own forum BK-117)

Keep posting

ZK-HKZ Back At Ham this afternoon will throw up some more pics later:

[quote name='HamiltonWest' post='8272533' date='Dec 20 2010, 06:35 PM']ZK-HKZ Back At Ham this afternoon will throw up some more pics later:




Awesome shot

Bring em on

o why not.. a couple of my own. (Rather large sorry)

[quote name='BK-117' date='Dec 20 2010, 10:35 PM' post='8272553']
o why not.. a couple of my own. (Rather large sorry)

Thanks you very much for shareing those photo's BK-117 they are all rather awesome - very cool cheers.

WOW , Richard , Bloody Amazing Action Shots , And Ham , with these , your photos , no excuse for a superb paint , Great photos both off you guys

Now all we need is a decent model

Zk- HLN Today:











the Sun was directly above The Heli in this photo.

Jeepers 'Ham' , i thought you had brought HamiltonX from those photo,s

Might be of Interest to someone?
ZK-HZQ

this is TAURANGA's AS350 TECT TRUSTPOWER RESCUE HELICOPTER AT Present ZK-IDQ

All These Photo's HZQ/IDQ seem to have a Mini Tractor thing going on.

Cool shots Ham , extra reference for painters

You wouldn't happen to be the agent for Kubota tractors

Darn - My Master Plan to Sublimable Campaign NZFF members to by Mini Tractors has been revealed

Peninsula chopper service may expand

A decision to base a rescue helicopter on the Coromandel Peninsula during January has been heralded a massive success – with plans to extend the service to future public holidays.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust team completed 66 missions from their base in Whitianga and helicopter manager Greg Brownson said there was already a commitment to return in January 2012.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/...vice-may-expand

Great shots Ham......I dont know why, but Im off to buy a Kubota

I don't know how he managed it, but I've already got kubota engines in both the tractor and the lawn mower.
He must of done some sort of mind trick in the past, to influence my dad to buy them.
Kubota's are taking over I tell you!

Last thing you would want here is a Grrrrrr .. CLUNK , be an ideal mission for the Chopper Nuts out there using Mikes Hamilton scenery

Hehe funny thing about Kubota tractors. In the late 70's my Dad wanted to import the mini tractor Kubotas for orchard work in and around Te Puke, but it was against the law as there were strict rules about what you could import, and the government wanted to protect Power Pony (for those of you old enough to remember them!).
Anyway, long story short, Dad got a couple of the little Kubota's "imported" (smuggled) and drove to his MP with a little Kubota and a Power Pony on a trailer to show him the difference and get the law changed. Which it was. Boy did they sell fast!

Back to the thread, I'm glad the boys in red and yellow didn't get a Bell 412. What a piece of *&#(^&$&#* they are!! Stick with the BK until you can justify an AW139

Real kiwi attitude .....Yellow and Red Bells , BKs and AW139s , i don't care as i'm not riding in the stretcher

WWAA Bell 222B ZK-HZQ LANDs Waikato 22 April 11

HKZ landing 23 April 11

HLN go Around? 24 April 11

Flying visits part of appeal
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/5031711/Fl...part-of-appeal/

Some Useless Info: ZK-IDQ is now owned by it's original ZK owner vela fishing who also own EC130s ZK-HPV & IPV + Gulfstream G200 N533GA.