In the upgraded model, the engine and flight instruments are integrated on two large LCD displays within the pilot’s reach. He then walked toward the legacy helicopter and pointed to steam gages scattered throughout its flight desk system.

“From the outside it may be difficult, but it’s pretty easy to spot which one is newer with a look here,” Weller said as he nodded toward the controls.

The new aircraft includes autopilot to help reduce pilot fatigue and workload. It also features updated traffic and terrain avoidance systems, a moving map display and a synthetic vision to reveal the terrain of the land below.

The set includes a spreader, cutter, mini cutter, 31-inch ram and accessories to make the equipment work.

Kurt Schoenfeld, of Howell Rescue Systems, delivered the equipment and lead the training exercise, which included ways to stabilize a vehicle as well as more efficient ways to extricate with the new tools.

Through capital improvement funds provided by the city, the department replaced its aging extrication rescue gear for $200,000 over the course of 2016 and this year. The new gear, which is mainly used to pull crash victims out of vehicles, replaces 25-year-old extrication equipment.

The new tools are lighter, easier to use, are safer and are over a third faster than the previous generation of outdated tools. The change in gear reflects the vast changes made to vehicles over the last 25 years, with automobile manufacturers using lightweight heavy metals like titanium in the body frames. The old gear had trouble cutting into these metals.