THE south-west's long-awaited rescue helicopter is on Australian soil.Service contractors Australian Helicopters has taken delivery of the Bell 412 EP aircraft and is fitting it out with specialised equipment.The chopper doesn't look like much yet, having arrived from Bell's Canada factory in six pieces."It's pretty much a shell at this stage," Australian Helicopters chief executive officer Neil Shea said."Over coming months we will fit it out with all the specialised equipment, including a stretcher system, communications, navigation system, specialised medical equipment, search light and a hoist for winching."It is anticipated the helicopter, which is being assembled in a hanger in Redcliffe, Queensland, will be ready for flight training on April 18.Mr Shea said the aircraft would be stringently tested before it arrived in Warrnambool in June."It is quite a lengthy process but the benefits are you are getting a brand new sophisticated machine," he said. The rescue chopper will be housed at the Warrnambool airport in a purpose-built hanger, which is under construction.Five paramedics will be rostered to provide 24-hour expert care, while an Australian Helicopters engineer will also be based in the city.The helicopter will be able to carry two patients and fly from Portland to Melbourne in less than 90 minutes and from Warrnambool to Melbourne in less than an hour.A hard-fought community campaign which started 12 years ago pressed Premier John Brumby into making the $20 million commitment last year.Families of road accident victims joined the campaign for a chopper to be dedicated to this region, rather than having to wait for a dispatch from Melbourne.