Originally Posted by
helispotter
Media reports this week made me aware of the 50th Anniversary of the 'Westpac Lifesaver' Helicopter Rescue Service. .... The service commenced on 29 September 1973. I understand this was initially using an Airfast Bell 47G-3B-2, VH-CSW. It is reported that this is now the longest serving civilian based rescue helicopter service in the world.
Swiss Air Rescue (REGA) was founded in April 1952 in Twann / Switzerland as a private foundation for air rescue. The foundation still exists (it now has > 3'500'000 supporters), and they flew their first helicopter rescue in Dec 1952 in Davos / Switzerland, using a Hiller 360 with an external balloon car attached for transporting the injured. In 1957 the first Bell 47 joined the REGA, and in 1966 they started rescueing people without the helicopter actually landing (mountains / alps). In 1971 they started rescueing people from "impossible" locations such as the
Eiger-Nordwand (
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eiger-Nordwand). Many milestones were following, and today 21 helicopters plus 3 ambulance jets (Challenger 650) are in daily operation. On average, nearly 60 rescue operation per day are flown (2022).
S