Rescue helicopter A rescue helicopter is a specialized helicopter with equipment for rescue missions . LEGO renditions of rescue helicopters are usually equipped with a winch and have sufficient internal space to transport medical personnel and patients on stretchers . Most rescue helicopters belong to the Coast Guard , the rest is part of the EMS or belongs to other unspecified groups . History . The first LEGO rescue helicopters already appeared in 1973 when minifigures were not yet available . The set contained a " Red Cross " helicopter that had no internal space whatsoever . Besides the " Red Cross " markings , the chopper had very little what set it apart from LEGO models of regular helicopters . One year later a different rescue chopper with accessible yet empty interior was released . The first full - fledged rescue helicopter was included in 770 Rescue Set from 1976 , which contained the LEGOLAND Minifigures . This helicopter had a large compartment behind the cockpit where a patient on a stretcher could be stored . The first minifigure - compatible rescue helicopter ( 6691 Red Cross Helicopter ) was released in 1981 . The set included a stretcher that could be stored in a spacious area behind the cockpit and could be accessed through doors at the aft and a large opening at the right . Interestingly , another set from the same year that was dubbed 6626 Rescue Helicopter was neither minifigure - compatible nor did it feature any special features . The next actual rescue chopper ( 6697 Rescue - I Helicopter ) was a yellow Coastguard helicopter with an opening at the left and a winch to hoist a rescuer . 6482 Rescue Helicopter from 1989 was the first tandem rotor helicopter and also the largest " LEGO System " helicopter at its time . It was equipped with a 9V battery block to power its flashing lights and offerend enough internal space for a stretcher with a patient and a medic . In the same year , another rescue helicopter was included in the set 6387 Coastal Rescue Base , but the only feature that distinguished it from normal helicopters this chopper was a winch . A new design appeared in 1993 with 6342 Beach Rescue Chopper , which was an amphibious coastguard helicopter with pontoons . In the following year , a new coastguard base included a small helicopter with winch , similar to the one from the first coastguard base . Another small chopper with a winch appeared in 1998 . In the same year , the theme " Res - Q " was introduced , which featured a lot of sets related to rescue missions . One of those sets , 6462 Aerial Recovery , featured a large rescue helicopter that could once again accept a stretcher . This helicopter had a very futuristic streamlined design unlike earlier models which were overall more round or boxy . The next rescue chopper did not appear until 2004 as a part of " World City " and was once again a coastguard helicopter . This was the first one with a twin cockpit in which two pilots could sit side by side . In 2006 , with 7903 Rescue Helicopter , the first EMS rescue helicopter since " 6691 Red Cross Helicopter " from 1981 was released . This helicopter had a very unusual design unlike any previous rescue chopper , but offered enough internal room to transport a stretcher . Another large rescue helicopter ( 7738 Coast Guard Helicopter & Life Raft ) was released in 2007 in the " City " theme and was the largest " LEGO System " helicopter set to date . This helicopter contained a twin cockpit as well and featured an electric powered winch . Design . There are basically two major categories of minifigure - compatible rescue helicopters : first , small one - man choppers that are ( at most ) equipped with a winch and appear as auxiliary model in larger sets ; second , larger helicopters with a unique design that are the main feature of the LEGO set they appear in . The small helicopters usually have a design that is quite common among other small helicopters . The cockpit mostly has a round or bulbous windshield and is mostly open at the sides , but their are exceptions . There is no other room on board besides the cockpit . The only thing that sets them apart from other small helicopter is a winch , although some do not even include one , such as the chopper in 1896 Trauma Team which had stretchers attached to its skids . The large helicopters mostly feature a fully enclosed cockpit and an additional compartment behind it , which offers enough room for a medic and / or a stretcher . These helicopters are mostly equipped with winches whose ropes hang from a boom that extends from one side of the chopper . An extraordinary design is the tandem rotor helicopter from 6482 Rescue Helicopter .