The Maryland Natural Resources Police said the force is happy to regain helicopter capabilities after seven years without them. The state’s Dept. of Natural Resources was reunited with its 1972 Bell Helicopter 206 Jet Ranger one week ago, and it has already flown several missions since.

Natural 1, as the aircraft has been dubbed, was removed from service with the Natural Resources Police in 2009. Then-Gov. Martin O’Malley’s administration made the decision to cut costs, much to the disagreement of residents. After moving north in the state to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter became available for purchase in 2015. Wasting no time, the Dept. of Natural Resources secured federal funding and reorganized the budget to bring Natural 1 back a year later.

The helicopter has undergone a couple paint jobs in its lifetime — Natural Resources Police green and white, Harford County’s blue and now Natural Resources Police’s new black and gold scheme. It was further refurbished before its return. But the force said it fits the mission just as well as it did seven years ago. Since its homecoming, Natural 1 has supported a search for two missing people and completed other surveillance operations. Its main role is conservation and management law enforcement. It also supports emergency response efforts.