Babcock H145 gains 100 poppies to mark Armistice Day centenary

Babcock H145 gains 100 poppies to mark Armistice Day centenary

5-Nov-2018 Source: Babcock

Babcock has emblazoned one of its life saving air ambulance helicopters with a spectacular garland of exactly 100 poppies – one for each year since the guns in the First World War fell silent.

The dramatic new livery, designed to help mark the centenary of the Armistice, stretches all around the aircraft and sits alongside its usual branding of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity (WAA). The aircraft also features the words ‘100 years’ in English and Welsh on its nose.

The idea for the powerful new paint job came from Babcock pilot Grant Elgar, himself an ex-military pilot, who has been flying for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity for the past ten years.

Grant said: “Marking the Armistice is incredibly important to me –and even more so on this, the 100th anniversary. I spent 23 years in the armed forces and I’m proud to always wear a poppy on my flight suit at this time of year, and several of our aircraft feature one too, but for the centenary I wanted to do something more.”

With help from the charity and the Babcock team Grant’s idea to cover the aircraft in 100 poppies quickly became reality.

“There are exactly 100 poppies on the aircraft,” said Grant. “They are all individual specialist stickers so took a while to fix into place but the final design looks great and is already getting a lot of attention– there isn’t another helicopter like it anywhere in the world and I hope it helps spread an important message of remembrance.”

Welsh Flying Medic Dr Ami Jones is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves with the 203 Field Hospital. She said: “Those of us who have been a part of the armed forces understand the impact that conflict has, not just on the individual but on their family and friends. People who are prepared to make the greatest sacrifice deserve the highest respect and our service is demonstrating our appreciation in a dignified way.”

While Babcock and WAA staff will all try to observe a minute’s silence on the 11th of November, there is no guarantee Grant himself will be able to.

“I will be on duty on the 11th, so if we have a call to attend an emergency I will have the aircraft airborne and responding – just as I would any other day of the year. However the poppies – which will remain on the aircraft until after 11th November will serve as a useful reminder to everyone who sees us of the sacrifice made by so many in the First World War and many other conflicts since.”

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