A giant jerry can holding 385 litres of fuel which slides into the back of Northland's rescue helicopter makes the aircraft the most long-range rescue chopper in New Zealand.
Two Sikorsky helicopters set up with winches, based in Whangarei, already have main internal tanks that hold 1060 litres, but withthe additional tank they will be capable of flying 1072km non-stop.
The tank, which would cost $224,000 new, has come from a Sikorsky helicopter damaged beyond repair in the Japanese tsunami of 2011. It was bought by the Northland Emergency Services Trust for spare parts earlier this year.
Chief pilot Peter Turnbull said the spare parts helicopter cost $30,000 and had been a "gold mine". Already parts had been sold for $43,800, including a searchlight, panel, radio and turbine engine.
A radar scanner valued at $32,000 had been taken off the wreck, recertified and put on one of the Northland rescue helicopters.
Mr Turnbull said the long-range fuel tank had been on the wish-list for some time but the expense had put it out of reach.
"We looked at constructing our own system but very comprehensive design criteria meant that it was not as straight forward as it may seem," Mr Turnbull said.
With a few modifications and certification the tank taken from the Japanese wreck would be installed in the existing baggage compartment of the Sikorsky.
Mr Turnbull said the tank would be fitted to one aircraft at this stage but the other two helicopters could also be modified if needed.
The tank gives the aircraft another 1 hour and 10 minutes in the air. "This means the helicopter could stay in the air for around 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the required reserve that we are required to carry this means we can fly about 1072km."
Items still to be taken off the wreck include four main blades that could be sold for $285,000, tail rotor blades worth $10,000 and a second turbine engine.
Undercarriage drag braces worth $37,500 were being lined up to go on one of the Northland choppers. Trust chairman John Bain said the wrecked chopper had proved far more profitable than initially thought.
