# @victoriapolice on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLjF83_sQss
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/32065070-victoriapolice-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9dfac246b6.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-07-01T02:25:33.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Victoria Police (@victoriapolice) — https://gondola.cc/victoriapolice

## Caption

Our Air Wing is marking 50 years in the skies 🚁⁣
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It all began with Victoria Police Aero Club, whose members championed the idea for airborne policing. They pitched the concept to senior officers and the Government, leading to a successful trial in 1974.⁣
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In May 1975, the first operational flight took off using a small fixed-wing plane. A year later, the unit welcomed its first helicopter-qualified pilot and began operations.⁣
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In the past, our officers relied solely on the Melway to navigate (throwback, right? 🗺️). Today, our fleet is equipped with cutting-edge technology that allows them to track speeding or stolen vehicles, rescue people from life threatening situations and transport specialist police to critical incidents.⁣
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In the last five years alone, the Air Wing has:⁣
✈ attended over 47,000 jobs⁣
✈ assisted in the arrest of more than 4700 offenders⁣
✈ winched around 130 people to safety.⁣
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They've played a vital role in some of Victoria's most challenging emergencies, from the Black Saturday and 2019 Victorian bushfires to the 2022 floods and the dramatic 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht rescues.⁣
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So, while we can’t always answer "Why is Air Wing flying over my house right now?", we can tell you that they’re there to keep you safe.⁣
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#AirWing #PoliceAirWing #SpecialistUnits

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 884
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 12

## Tags

specialistunits, airwing, policeairwing

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