TF-LÍF

''Líf'', also known as ''TF-LÍF'', is an Aérospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma helicopter that served the Icelandic Coast Guard for 25-years. It is named after Líf, the only woman foretold to survive the events of Ragnarök from Norse mythology, and is the first Coast Guard aircraft to bear the name. It is the longest serving helicopter in the history of the ICG and gained national fame when it rescued 39 sailors in three separate incidents during a six-day period in March 1997. In 2024, it was put on display at the Icelandic Aviation Museum.

History

''Líf'' was ordered in June 1994 and delivered 23 June 1995. Its formal arrival at Reykjavík Airport was greeted by the president of Iceland, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.

In October 1995, ''Líf'' participated in the rescue operations after the 1995 Flateyri avalanche, transporting rescuers to the town and airlifting injured survivors out of it.

During a six-day period in 1997, ''Líf'' rescued 39 sailors in three separate incidents. On 5 March, 19 sailors from the cargo ship were rescued aboard ''Líf'' after it suffered engine failure and ran aground on the south coast of Iceland, east of Þjórsá. One crewmember from washed overboard during the rescue operations and drowned. On 9 March, the crew of ''Líf'' rescued 10 out of 12 crewmembers from the cargo ship ''Dísarfell'' after in sank south east of Hornafjörður. The day after, 10 seamen from the fishing vessel ''Þorsteinn GK'' were saved aboard ''Líf'' after the ship lost engine power and drifted towards the rocky cliffs of Krísuvíkurberg.

On 9 March 2004, ''Líf'' rescued all 16 crewmembers of the trawler ''Baldvin Þorsteinsson EA-10'' after it ran aground in ''Skarðsfjara'' on the south coast of Iceland.

On 19 December 2006, ''Líf'' rescued seven sailors from after their rigid inflatable boat overturned in rough seas during the rescue operations of the stranding of the cargo ship '' Wilson Muuga''. Its sister helicopter, ''Sif'', meanwhile saved 12 crewmembers of the cargo ship.

On 20 January 2017, ''Líf'' transported members of the Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner to the Greenlandic trawler ''Polar Nanoq'', south west of Iceland, to arrest the suspect in the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir.

In 2020, it was decided that ''Líf'' would be put up for sale. In May 2022, it was in storage at the Coast Guard hangar at Reykjavík Airport, having not been used since 2020. In June 2022, the ''Líf'' was transported to a hangar at Keflavík Airport in preperations of a sale. In September 2023, the Icelandic Aviation Museum expressed interest in receiving ''Líf'' for display, siting its historical significance. The buyer, ''EX-Change Parts AB'', donated the hull to the Museum along with several spare parts to aid in its restoration. In March 2024, it was transported to Akureyri and put on display.

Notable appearances in media

''Líf'' was featured in the 2010 drama film Undercurrent along with the .

Notable captains

*Benóný Ásgrímsson

Further reading

* ''Útkall TF-Líf - Sextíu menn í lífshættu'', 1997. : Book by Óttar Sveinsson about ''Líf''.
* ''Þrautgóðir á raunastund'', 2017. : Book by Steinar J. Lúðvíksson featuring the story of ''Lífs rescue of 39 sailors in March 1997.

References

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Icelandic Coast Guard
Helicopters
Rescue aviation
Individual aircraft