In its first week of operation, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s new £10 million helicopter was called out to Swanage in Dorset, after a local resident needed urgent emergency help.
The new helicopter, as yet unnamed, arrived at the charity’s operational base at Henstridge Airfield in North Dorset on Tuesday 26th May 2026, and is now working alongside Peggy, the much loved 10 year old original air ambulance.
A view of Lulworth Cove from the new helicopter, taken on a training flight
Medical emergency
Only a short time into its new duties, the new air ambulance was spotted landing at King George’s playing fields in the centre of the town on Tuesday 2nd June 2026.
The helicopter was scrambled after a Swanage resident needed immediate treatment at home after a medical emergency.
Swanage firefighters met the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) paramedics on arrival and provided transport to the incident.
The new Dorset air ambulance helicopter arrives at Henstridge airfield having spent two months being fitted with state of the art medical equipment
Helping 150 extra patients a year
To recognise the huge community fundraising effort in raising the final £1 million to buy and equip the new helicopter, the public is to be given a chance to name her.
With two helicopters, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance expects to reach over 150 more patients each year, with the potential of reaching even more by extending operating hours in the future.
The news is particularly significant for communities in Purbeck, where distances, rural roads and coastal locations can make rapid access to specialist medical care more challenging.
Charles Hackett, DSAA chief executive, with the new helicopter during its fit out
“Made possible by our community”
Charles Hackett, chief executive of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said:
“Seeing the helicopter arrive at Henstridge was a proud and emotional moment and marked a major step forward in our ability to reach even more patients when they need us most.
“We are incredibly grateful for the extraordinary generosity of our supporters, whose kindness and belief in our mission have made this milestone possible.
“As the aircraft begins to fly operations, we want to thank everyone who has helped bring it into service. This is a helicopter made possible by our community, and it feels only fitting that the community will soon help to give it a name.
“People support our charity because they believe in our ability to achieve extraordinary outcomes that wouldn’t otherwise happen. This gift to the people of Dorset and Somerset is lifesaving and very special.”
Demand for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance services continues to grow
Demand has trebled in a decade
The total cost of buying and equipping a second AW169 air ambulance helicopter was just over £10 million, most of which was met by funds from the charity’s reserves – but the final £1 million is being raised by public appeal.
The new helicopter will be able to carry two pilots and up to three medical crew and has its own intensive care suite in the back.
In 2025, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance responded to around 3,000 incidents and has seen demand for its services triple over the past decade.
Peggy is the busiest AW169 air ambulance in the UK, carrying out around 1,500 missions a year, but with increasing demand and downtime for maintenance, a single helicopter is no longer enough to meet demands.
Some of the pilots and medics with the new, as yet unnamed, helicopter
“Proud of how far we have come”
Charles Hackett said:
“Because the air ambulance is available 19 hours a day and flies into unsurveyed sites at night, it requires regular maintenance as it must be absolutely safe and in top condition.
“We have the busiest AW169 air ambulance in the UK and fly an awful lot with our geography and our reach. When we don’t have a helicopter available to us, our ability to reach patients who need us first diminishes, given our road network.
“We are proud of how far we have come over the years, but we reached the limit of what is possible with just one aircraft.
“With daily maintenance requirements, we cannot get more than 19 hours a day of flying, and the demands on Peggy mean that faults and issues come around all too soon.
“So having a second helicopter will allow us to keep flying and be more consistently available to get us to those patients. It’s an incredible opportunity to transform emergency care even further across the region.”
Pegasus – better known as Peggy – pictured on a previous mission to Swanage
Plans to relocate to a new base
Meanwhile, the charity is continuing with its plans to relocate from Henstridge Airfield to a new purpose built operational base at the Leonardo Helicopters site in Yeovil, Somerset.
An agreement for a 35-year lease has been signed and Leonardo will not charge the charity rent.
When the charity first moved to Henstridge, it had two pilots, five paramedics, and a very small helicopter. It now has 11 pilots, 14 doctors, up to 18 specialist practitioners, and two helicopters.
If planning permission is granted later in 2026, the proposed new headquarters would provide a base for enhanced training and greater engagement with the community.
The new helicopter heads back to Henstridge after two hours on King George Field
Big Keepy Uppy Challenge
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance has also launched a new challenge for the duration of the World Cup – the Big Keepy Uppy Challenge.
Football fans, schools, youth teams and offices across Dorset are being urged to take part in the challenge between Thursday 11th June and Sunday 19th July 2026, with the aim of completing 3,000 keepy uppies – one for every annual call out attended by the service.
Fundraising officer Rosie Cornelius-Light said:
“The challenge is free to enter, but fundraising is encouraged to help fund life-saving care across Dorset and Somerset.
“Everyone who takes part will be entered into a prize draw to win a signed AFC Bournemouth football, and those who raise at least £35 will receive an exclusive DSAA mini football.”
Peggy, pictured flying a mission over Dorset, is now nearly 10 years old and needed help to cope with a growing number of callouts
Watch the new helicopter arrive at Henstridge
Further information
- More about the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
- Enter the air ambulance Big Keepy Uppy Challenge
