La. Guard Gets 4 New Medevac Helicopters

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Louisiana National Guard has added four new medical evacuation helicopters to its fleet.

Each LUH-72A light utility Lakota has rear-loading clamshell doors, an externally mounted rescue hoist and space for two stretchers and a medical attendant. Their medical equipment includes defibrillator, vital signs monitor, ventilator and suction.

Chief Warrant Officer Charles D. Ott says the Lakotas are lighter and can get into tighter places than the larger Blackhawks already in the fleet.

The helicopters are made by American Eurocopter in Columbus, Miss. They were delivered in late February.

Before that, about 11 Louisiana National Guard pilots went to Eurocopter's plant in Grand Prairie, Texas, for two weeks of training on the new choppers.