Life savers who run the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance are asking for public help to name their new £10 million helicopter – already a familiar sight in the skies over Swanage and Purbeck.
A public competition was launched on Tuesday 30th June 2026 by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA), inviting suggestions for a name for its second helicopter, which has just entered service after years of fundraising by thousands of local people and businesses.
The new helicopter arrived for duty in late May 2026 and has been busy ever since
Winner will get behind the scenes tour
The charity says the aircraft belongs to the community that made it possible, making it only fitting that the public should decide what it will be called.
This is the second air ambulance which serves alongside Dorset and Somerset’s long standing air ambulance called Pegasus, more affectionately known as Peggy.
To enter, people simply need to suggest a name and explain the story or inspiration behind it – either online, by post or in person – before Tuesday 25th August 2026.
All eligible entries will be shortlisted before a judging panel decides on the final name, which will then be painted on the new air ambulance and become a permanent part of the helicopter’s identity as it responds to emergencies across Dorset for years to come.
As well as the honour of naming the aircraft, the winner will be invited to the official naming ceremony, get a behind the scenes tour of the air ambulance base, and have the chance to be photographed with the helicopter.
One of the helicopter’s first callouts was to Swanage, where it landed on King George’s playing fields
“Name to reflect life saving role”
Tracy Bartram, communications manager for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, said:
“Thanks to the incredible support of our community, your second helicopter is now operational and flying life saving missions across Dorset and Somerset.
“Thousands of people and businesses helped make our second helicopter a reality. Now, we’re inviting the community to choose a name that reflects its life saving role across Dorset and Somerset.
“We’re inviting our supporters to be part of something special – helping us to choose its name. As a charity funded service, we rely on our supporters every single day, and they are at the heart of everything we do.”
Some of the pilots and medics with the new helicopter, to be named by the public
“Excited to see what people propose”
Tracy added:
“We know just how much this new helicopter already means to people, so we believe it’s only fitting that the public help to name it and be part of its story in a really personal way.
“Ideas for a new name could reflect the landscapes of Dorset and Somerset, the helicopter’s role in saving lives, people’s personal experiences with the charity, or something else that captures what the service means to our supporters.
“Every name entered will have a reason behind it, and we’re excited to see what people propose. We’re proud to give everyone the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on our new helicopter, which will help our team save lives for many years to come.”
A view of Lulworth Cove from the new helicopter, taken on a training flight
Early suggestions include…
Early suggestions for a new name have included Hercules, as every Pegasus needs a Hercules; Persephone, in keeping with the Greek myth theme; Phoenix, as another mythical flying creature; or Penny, as every penny counts.
It didn’t take long for someone to suggest the name Whirly McWhirlface and although a spokesperson for the DSAA said that all suggestions would be considered, terms and conditions state that all names must be appropriate, respectful and suitable for public use.
The appeal comes just weeks after the new helicopter entered service from the charity’s operational base at Henstridge Airfield, joining the much loved original aircraft, Peggy.
Pegasus – better known as Peggy – pictured on a previous mission to Swanage
Little time proving its worth
The helicopter wasted little time proving its worth, and within its first week of operation it had been dispatched to Swanage after a resident suffered a medical emergency at home.
The aircraft landed at King George’s Playing Fields, Swanage, where firefighters met the crew and transported the specialist medics to the incident.
The addition of a second helicopter, to fly when Peggy is in maintenance or already out responding to an incident, is expected to enable the charity to reach at least 150 more patients in critical need every year.
There is also the potential to increase that number further by extending operating hours in future.
Peggy is restocked after every mission, but when she is unavailable the new helicopter can now stand in
Rapid access to isolated spots
It is particularly significant for rural communities such as Purbeck, where long distances, narrow country roads and isolated coastal locations can make rapid access to specialist emergency care more difficult.
The helicopter was made possible after the charity successfully funded the £10 million cost of purchasing and equipping the aircraft, with most of the money coming from reserves while a public appeal continues to raise the final £1 million.
In 2025, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance responded to around 3,000 incidents, with demand for the service having tripled over the last decade.
DSAA doctors, practitioners, pilots, and patient liaison nurses all work together to provide life saving care
Further information
- Entries can be made online, by post to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Naming Competition, Landacre House, Wellington, TA21 9JQ, or in person at any event before Tuesday 25th August 2026 attended by the air ambulance team.
- Entrant details should at least include first and last name, and email address, and suggested names should be supported by reasons why the name was selected. One entry per person only.
- More about the air ambulances is on the DSAA website
