Lifeguard 1

This page is a tribute to the Alouette III and the role it played in building the HEMS industry. The goal is to build a static version of "Lifeguard 1"

Lifeguard 1 was founded to acquire, refurbish, and recreate one of the early, pioneering aircraft in EMS, the Alouette III helicopter. The result is "Lifeguard 1" which is now on display at Denver's Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space museum. Many of the first hospital-based flight programs started with the French-built Sud Aviation/Aerospatiale Alouette including Denver’s Flight For Life program

. This aircraft proved to be a reliable and simple machine with a small footprint, wide enough to accommodate two patients in a lateral configuration, and with enough power to safely operate at extreme altitudes. This aircraft proved the value of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) and contributed greatly to the early success and development of an industry that now, according to AAMS, flies over 400,000 transports a year in the United States. Additionally, Lifeguard 1 continues to document the historical significance of the Alouette by collecting items, conducting interviews, and developing a website to act as a historical record. Lifeguard 1's namesake is the call sign used by the Denver-based Flight For Life aircraft.

06/12/2025

Local news coverage of Flight for Life from 1987. The story is related to a large boulder that crashed into a tour bus outside of Winter Park, Colorado.

04/15/2025

Donated aircraft, Irish Air Corps (Aer Chór na hÉireann) Sud Aviation (Aérospatiale) SA 316B Alouette III, serial 1153, register 196.

03/18/2025

“Lifeguard 1” featured in 9news story about the changing of the scheme colors, which the program has had for 50 years, from orange and yellow to pink and praple. Thankfully, the orange will stay on the Alouette as a reminder of the origins of HEMS and Flight For Life. This change is to better align with the CommonSpirit Health brand, but doesn’t consider the power, recognizability, or historical significance of this scheme.

07/19/2024

Another rare addition to the Alouette III pins, patches, and wings collection. If you recognize which program this is from, please comment. If you have something to add to the collection, please reach out to us. It is just shy of 2” and was found in Indiana.

10/20/2023

Address

7711 East Academy Boulevard
Denver, CO
80230

Website

http://Lifeguard1.org/

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