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Old 22nd Jan 2009, 20:48
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BigMike
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Wild West... and Oz
Posts: 866
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Wasn't the Wellington Hospital helipad originally built by the late Peter Button and his son? (For non Kiwi's pilot Peter Button was the force behind the establishment of a rescue service in Wellington many years ago) Who began using it with a Jetranger...

Note: by 'built' I mean the guy hired a concrete mixer and constructed it himself.

From Westpac Rescue History:

"Rescue Helicopter history: 1975
Pioneer helicopter pilot Peter Button started the first rescue helicopter in Wellington. Button set up commercial helicopter company Capital Helicopters in 1975, making it available for emergencies.

Rescue Helicopter history: 1981
Button aimed to provide a dedicated rescue helicopter service for Wellington. In 1981, sponsorship by the Commercial Bank of Australia (CBA) meant Capital Helicopter's Bell 206B could be dedicated to rescues.
With the 1982 merger of CBA and Westpac, it became the Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter. It was repainted in the now trademark yellow and red."
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