ROCHESTER (AP) - The Mayo Clinic in Rochester has unveiled a customized $8.5 million airplane to transport high-risk patients to its facilities.

The Post-Bulletin of Rochester reports the Beechcraft King Air 350C is expected to make about 400 transports per year. It has already airlifted patients to Rochester from Montana, Texas, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.

Twenty-two Mayo employees staff the plane that has a 52-inch cargo door meant to accommodate stretchers.

The fixed-wing aircraft adds to the Mayo One fleet that was created in 1984. The program began with a single helicopter based in Rochester and now boasts four - two in Rochester, one in Mankato and one in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

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