Líf, also known asTF-LÍF, is anAérospatiale AS-332L1 Super Puma helicopter that served theIcelandic Coast Guard for 25-years. It is named afterLíf, the only woman foretold to survive the events ofRagnarök fromNorse mythology, and is the first Coast Guard aircraft to bear the name.[1] 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.[2] In 2024, it was put on display at theIcelandic Aviation Museum.
In October 1995,Líf participated in the rescue operations after the1995 Flateyri avalanche, transporting rescuers to the town and airlifting injured survivors out of it.[5][6]
During a six-day period in 1997,Líf rescued 39 sailors in three separate incidents.[7][2] On 5 March, 19 sailors from the cargo shipMV Vikartindur were rescued aboardLíf after it suffered engine failure and ran aground on the south coast of Iceland, east ofÞjórsá.[8] One crewmember fromICGV Ægir washed overboard during the rescue operations and drowned.[9] On 9 March, the crew ofLíf rescued 10 out of 12 crewmembers from the cargo shipDísarfell after in sank 100nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) south east ofHornafjörður.[10] The day after, 10 seamen from the fishing vesselÞorsteinn GK were saved aboardLíf after the ship lost engine power and drifted towards the rocky cliffs of Krísuvíkurberg.[11]
On 9 March 2004,Líf rescued all 16 crewmembers of thetrawlerBaldvin Þorsteinsson EA-10 after it ran aground inSkarðsfjara on the south coast of Iceland.[12]
On 19 December 2006,Líf rescued seven sailors fromHDMS Triton after theirrigid inflatable boat overturned in rough seas during the rescue operations of the stranding of the cargo shipWilson Muuga. Its sister helicopter,Sif, meanwhile saved 12 crewmembers of the cargo ship.[13][14]
In 2020, it was decided thatLíf would be put up for sale.[17] In May 2022, it was in storage at the Coast Guard hangar at Reykjavík Airport, having not been used since 2020.[18] In June 2022, theLíf was transported to a hangar atKeflavík Airport in preparations of a sale.[19] In September 2023, theIcelandic Aviation Museum expressed interest in receivingLíf for display, siting its historical significance.[20] The buyer,EX-Change Parts AB, donated the hull to the Museum along with several spare parts to aid in its restoration.[21] In March 2024, it was transported to Akureyri and put on display.[22][23]
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