Riverside County sheriff's pilots have two new rides to cruise the skies.

The new helicopters touched down last Thursday at the sheriff's hangar at Hemet-Ryan Airport in Hemet.

Sheriff's officials said the helicopters, which replaced two that crashed in Moreno Valley and Lake Elsinore in 1999, are expected to enhance the department's patrol and search-and-rescue capabilities.

"We're very excited to have both helicopters here," Sheriff Larry Smith said. "Having the best possible aircraft enhances our ability to help the deputies and protect the public."

The AS-350 B3 helicopters were purchased from American Eurocopter for $3.1 million and flown in by sheriff's pilots from the company's factory in Grand Prairie, Texas, sheriff's officials said. The helicopters could be in service starting this week, Smith said.

Lt. Dan Nichols of the sheriff's aviation bureau said pilots have been using a military surplus helicopter since the crash of the McDonnell-Douglas 500E helicopter at the Creekside Elementary School in Moreno Valley on Oct. 7, 1999.

On Jan. 30, 1999, a McDonnell-Douglas 500E helicopter crashed in Meadowbrook, injuring the pilot and a flight observer.

Sgt. Steve Bertling, who piloted one of the new helicopters from Texas, said that while the aircraft is not crash-proof, it allows pilots to fly higher during rescue missions instead of staying low to the ground, which is riskier.

"They have a greater altitude performance than the previous helicopters," he said.

Bertling said the aircraft can fly up to 23,000 feet, whereas the McDonnell-Douglas helicopter can fly to 16,000 feet.

The new helicopters can also carry more people, he said.

McDonnell-Douglas helicopters hold four passengers compared with the six-seat capacity of the new helicopter.

The added cabin room also gives pilots the option of bringing radio and computerized equipment to help with a rescue, he said.

Cpl. Harry Stewart with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Aviation Division said having a larger aircraft is always an advantage.

"On a typical search-and-rescue mission up in the mountains, ground teams need to get there as quickly as possible," he said. "With the larger helicopters you can fit more of your people in there to get to the victims more quickly."

Bertling said the size and strength differences should not overshadow other smaller modifications that provide a cushion of safety for pilots.

Among the improvements are a stronger built-in searchlight that can illuminate people and objects more clearly during mountain rescues.

"Having a more powerful light helps us find a more appropriate place to land," he said.

Also included with the helicopter is a mechanical hoist that allows the helicopter team to pull up victims.

Another change in the new helicopter is the location of the fuel tank. In the other helicopters the fuel tanks were under the cockpit or behind the seats.

The new helicopters have fuel tanks mounted outside the aircraft behind the cockpit area. In case of a fire after a crash, the pilot has more time to escape from a blaze that would otherwise engulf the inside of the aircraft, he said.

Nichols said the helicopter is versatile enough to serve many functions.

"It's a good patrol and search-and-rescue helicopter," he said. "Our old ones were not good for search and rescue. They were only good for routine patrol."