Who would have thought that such a small but versatile helicopter would become the mainstay of the Guardia di Finanza Air Service (GdFAS) and stay in service for almost 50 years? The Hughes NH-500 has been used for basic training of pilots, mountain rescues, patrolling the national coasts and anti-smuggling missions. Its enduring success has been down to greater performance at altitude compared with its predecessor, the AB.47, as well as exceptional manoeuvrability to intercept vehicles or boats, and a large glass cockpit giving a 360° view. The last eight NH-500s are serving with various Air Sections across Italy. Some of these fly from the GdF's Aviation Centre at the Pratica di Mare Air Base in Rome. The Aviation Centre is the flight school for the GdFAS, both for rotary wing and fixed-wing aircraft. Among the helicopters still flying are an NH-500MD 'Volpe 113' and an NH-500MC 'Volpe 91' (volpe, which translates a 'fox', being the radio callsign for GdF helicopters), both fitted with mounted floats (OH-500B and OH-500A respectively, with OH standing for observation helicopter).
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