A brand new air ambulance has been spotted flying over Wiltshire for the first time.
The £10 million helicopter, a Leonardo AgustaWestland AW169, was flown across Europe and into the UK from Italy over the past few days.
The aircraft, which is set to become Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance’s second air ambulance, was seen in the skies above Swindon today (Friday).
At around 10.30am, it was first spotted flying over Chiseldon, Old Town and then West Swindon – before passing Purton and Minety and villages just west of Malmesbury.
Captain Paul Nolan and Senior First Officer Mark Howard-Smith were flying the machine, which touched down at Gloucestershire Airport
There it will be fitted out with the same life-saving kit as the charity’s existing aircraft, nicknamed Peggy.
The charity often attend emergency calls in Wiltshire. In a recent mission in January, the yellow aircraft landed at the scene of a serious crash involving a car and tree near Landford.
Back in July 2025, they were one of three air ambulances that responded to a road traffic collision with claimed the life of a woman in Corsham.
In an update, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance announced: “Our second helicopter is now en route to the UK to begin her medical fit-out — a huge step towards becoming a fully operational, life-saving air ambulance.
“At the controls are Captain Paul Nolan and Senior First Officer Mark Howard-Smith, guiding her safely home before she’s transformed into a flying intensive care unit for Dorset and Somerset.
“Over the coming months, specialist equipment and a bespoke medical interior will be installed, turning this aircraft into a hospital in the sky — ready to care for patients in their most critical moments.
“We’re now in the final stretch of our appeal, with £600,000 left to raise to complete the fit-out and onboard life-saving equipment.”
Make a donation or read more here >
