Air-Med retires Helo #206

[qlajlu]

ABC4 News and Video Source

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - After 22 years of service, Air-Med's oldest helicopter is being retired.

University Health Care has four choppers in service, but on Thursday, the smallest one moved on.

Air-Med's 206 helicopter has flown roughly 11.4 million miles, spent 8,800 hours in the air, and transported an estimated 8,000 patients.

At a retirement celebration Thursday, flight staff and former patients shared their stories of "The Little Helicopter that Could."

Vaughn Kinder, a former patient of Air-Med 206, said, "We are very indebted to that little machine. It really tugs at our hearts just to see it."

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Follow the link to the ABC4 Web site for a small history and some of the feats this machine accomplished.

 

[Utah_Viper]

Saw a blue and white larger heli this week flying around. Had no markings but looked like a med type chopper. Could maybe be the replacement?

 

[Observer1]

No, Air Med has been flying that Bell 430 for over 2 years, it's far from new

The article was actually incorrect.

Air Med has been flying 5 helicopters for the last 2 years.

1 Bell 206, Tail Number N206UH

2 Bell 407's, Tail Numbers N407UH and N408UH

2 Bell 430's, Tail Numbers N430UH and N430Q. The Blue and White one is N430Q.

 

[fastattackus]

AirMed is contracted with Air Methods, a private company that leases them the pilots and some of the aircraft they use. The unmarked blue and white is one that comes here often when they had a helicopter down for service. It also gets used many other places so they don't have any markings on it other than small ones that say air methods. They will be getting a full time replacement soon. I'm not sure if they decided on another 407 or 430. We'll have to wait and see.