Not a dry eye in the house as the civil rescue helicopter retires

It was an emotional day in Isere on Saturday with the Securite Civile rescue helicopter being retired after an impressive 45 years of active service saving lives in the region, including skiers and mountaineers in Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d'Huez.

Based out of Grenoble and Le Versoud, the red Alouette 3 helicopter with its very distinctive rotor blade sound, came into service in 1963 and has saved over 40,000 people and was a crucial part of the PGHM rescue teams.

This Saturday saw the rescue centre in Le Versoud open its doors to the public and gave a fitting way to give Alouette 3 a final send off. Three generations of rescue teams who have worked with the chopper gathered to say a final goodbye and it was indeed a very emotional affair.

Many spoke of how it felt like the close of a chapter in history and how everyone who was involved with rescue missions in Alouette 3 had total confidence in the machine. For them it is certainly the end of an era. The Alouette 3 has been superceded by the Eurocopter 145 which will replace Alouette 3.

The EC145 is a truly 21st century helicopter, more powerful, faster, modern and with a longer winch and more space inside the cockpit and the new chopper will be a welcome addition to the rescue services in Isere, but on Saturday there wasn't a dry eye on the apron as Alouette 3 gracefully bowed out of active service.