A classic car is the tool being used to help convert the entire STARS air ambulance fleet to new aircraft.
President and CEO Andrea Robertson says the bottom line was they were previously flying aircraft that were purchased in 1985 and while helicopters can fly for a really long time, the parts needed for servicing are no longer being made. Robertson says they didn’t want to run into a situation where it’s 3 a.m., STARS needs to go on a mission and there isn’t a part available.
Robertson says now it’s about raising funds for the new fleet, and a brand new edition to the Pegasus Project will help with that. This week, the Pegasus Project unveiled a custom built 1968 Ford Mustang 427 Coupe that will be apart of a road show, traveling to 30 communities across province. The car is called a retro-mod because it features a classic body style, with modern parts. The goal is to eventually sell it at the world-famous Barrett-Jackson charity auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in January of 2022.
Co-Chair of the project, Vaughn Wyant, stressed the importance that the helicopters can be serviced consistently across the line. “That’s really what they’re facing, operational costs, longevity of their service and the ability to get to accidents and situations much quicker. That time delay is what’s going to save a life or not.” Wyant believes the summer on the road will raise a lot of money and while he says there isn’t a specific fundraising target, he’d love to finish the summer with $3 million raised.
The unveiling of the custom Mustang took place in Humboldt this week and Premier Scott Moe was in attendance. Premier Moe says since 2012, STARS has flown over seven-thousand missions, and is approaching a thousand missions a year. “When you think of the impact of one of those missions, it truly starts to speak to the impact of the STARS service in our communities, in particular our rural communities, or our lake communities in the summer.” Moe noted that the Pegasus Project was an example of Saskatchewan generosity on true display.
STARS says thanks to government, community and corporate support, the non-profit organization began taking delivery of the state-of-the-art H145 helicopters in 2019. STARS has already flown hundreds of missions in Saskatchewan with the new aircraft.
Learn more about the Pegasus Project & see the full Road Show schedule at PEGASUSPROJECT.CA
Learn more about STARS Keep The Fight in Flight fleet renewal campaign at fightinflight.ca
