AMES Rolls-Royce 250-C18 powered Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 Helicopter

45th Anniversary of Air Medical Evacuation Services (AMES)

PHOENIX, Ariz., (May 26, 2014) - Civilian use of helicopters for emergency medical services (EMS) seems like a standard service today in the U.S. and many other countries. Use of helicopters as air ambulances is something that took a while to develop however. The first formal program to test of helicopters for EMS for civilian use started 45 years ago today (May 26, 1969) with Arizona Helicopters Inc., now known as Air Services Int’l., LLC.

Rolls-Royce 250-C47M Gas Turbine Engine

17 Years of Rolls-Royce 250-C47M Engines

PHOENIX, Ariz., (May 14, 2014) - Seventeen years ago today the Rolls-Royce M250-C47M gas turbine engine received FAA certification (May 14, 1997). The following day, the helicopter it powers, MD Helicopters’ 600N, also received FAA certification.

The 250-C47M engine is very similar to the 250-C47B used in the competing Bell Helicopter 407. Per the FAA’s type certificate data sheet (E1GL):

Bell 206L-1 LongRanger with Rolls-Royce 250-C28B Engine

38 Years of Series III 250-C28 Engines

PHOENIX, Ariz., (April 28, 2014) - Thirty eight years ago this month Allison (now Rolls-Royce) received certification for the 500 shaft horsepower 250-C28 engine.

The C28 engine soon developed with two additional versions. In 1978 the C28B was certified for the Bell 206L-1 LongRanger and the C28C for the MBB (now Airbus Helicopters) Bo 105L. The C28C is identical to the C28B, except without a particle separator.

1967 Arizona Helicopters Job Advert

We Were Hiring Helicopter Technicians In 1967 & We Still Are Today

PHOENIX, Ariz., (March 18, 2014) - Going through old newspaper articles recently we found one of our old job adverts from Saturday March 18, 1967 in the Arizona Republic newspaper.

The ad is pretty simple, stating “AIRCRAFT MECHANIC Must have FAA airframe & power plant rating, interested in learning helicopter overhaul & maintenance.”

There are some other interesting job ads on the same page including one for a Xerox Operator and another for a Computer Programmer with experience in COBOL.

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