For 40 years, the Christoph 41 rescue helicopter has been an indispensable part of emergency medical services in Baden-Württemberg.
On June 1, 1986, Christoph 41 moved into its base at the Leonberg District Hospital. This month, the crew is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Christoph 41 looks back on an even longer history: As the first rescue helicopter of the DRF Air Rescue service, it began operating in the greater Stuttgart area in 1973 and has since made a significant contribution to the rapid emergency medical care of the population.
Over the course of its history, Christoph 41 has been stationed at various locations. After postings in Ruit, Böblingen, Ludwigsburg, and Marbach, the crew moved to its base at the Leonberg District Hospital on June 1, 1986. This anniversary thus marks 40 years of air rescue operations from this location.
Over the past decades, emergency medical procedures and onboard equipment have continuously evolved. The goal has always been to reach critically ill and injured patients quickly and provide them with the highest level of care. Modern air rescue makes a crucial contribution to improving survival and recovery chances.
Emergency rescue is always a team effort. DRF Luftrettung thanks all of Christoph 41's operational partners for their professional cooperation and their daily commitment to the people of the country.
The enormous technological progress is also reflected in the types of helicopters used: During the first few years, the air rescue team flew to incident sites in a BO 105 helicopter. This was replaced by a BK 117. In 1996, the crew put one of the world's first EC135 helicopters into service. In May 2024, they switched to an H135. Finally, in November 2025, the Leonberg crew upgraded to an H145 helicopter with a five-blade rotor, which they have been using ever since.
Christoph 41 Celebrates 40 Years at Leonberg Base
Stuttgart Region Air Ambulance
DRF Luftrettung’s Christoph 41 is marking 40 years of operations from its Leonberg base. The air ambulance has provided emergency medical services in the Stuttgart region since 1973 and remains a key part of Baden-Württemberg’s rescue network.
Over the past four decades, the Christoph 41 base has witnessed the technological evolution of Germany’s air rescue fleet, from the early MBB Bo 105 helicopters of the 1980s to today’s advanced Airbus H145D3. Each generation has brought improvements in performance, safety, medical capabilities, and operational range, enabling crews to provide faster and more effective emergency care to patients across the Stuttgart region.
Did you know?
- Since relocating to Leonberg in 1986, Christoph 41 has become one of Baden-Württemberg s busiest air rescue helicopters. The aircraft is typically dispatched more than 1,000 times each year, responding to medical emergencies, serious accidents, and inter-hospital transfers throughout the greater Stuttgart region. This high operational tempo highlights the critical role helicopter emergency medical services play in delivering rapid advanced care when every minute counts.