FOR THE TECHIES

Fo the technically minded or those wondering why it costs $3000 per hour to run the chopper, here are some specs...
BK117-B2 HELICOPTER
Call sign: WESTPAC 3
Manufactured: Japan, 1989
Aircraft: BK117 Twin Engine – Single Pilot – Instrument Flight Rated Engines: 2 Lycoming LTS 101 producing 750 shaft horse power each
Fuel: Aviation turbine fuel – Jet A1 Fuel
Capacity: 709 litres
Fuel Burn: 300 litres per hour
Cruise Speed: 125 knots or 230 kilometers per hour
Range: 2 hours plus 20 minutes reserve or 460 kilometers
Payload: 1100 kilograms including fuel
Maximum Weight: 3350 kilograms Maximum Height: 10,000ft Crew (per flight mission):
1 Pilot; 1 Aircrewman / Winch Operator;
2 Medical staff;
1 Rescue Crewman (if required for winching operations)Equipment:

Single Pilot Instrument Flight Rated
DAFCS Auto Pilot (Digital Automatic Flight Control System)
Colour Weather Radar with both vertical and horizontal modes
Dual Garmin GPS integrated with Garmin moving map graphic system
Laptop computer based moving map system
Medical oxygen system including suction
Advanced Life Support & patient monitoring equipment
Fitted for 1 stretcher patient & 2 sitting
Goodrich Lucas 2 person rescue winch, 270ft of cable load rated to 272 kilograms
Nitesun search light, 30 million candle power
VHF / UHF Emergency Distress Beacon HomerCommunications:
Next G mobile telephone
Satellite telephone
4 Aviation band VHF radios
2 Aviation band VOR navigation receivers
1 Aviation band ADF navigation receiver
1 GRN radio (Government Radio Network – Ambulance)
1 UHF radio (Company Helicopters, Public service, fire etc)
1 VHF High radio (Marine)
1 VHF Low radio (Police)