Despite a simmering disdain for one another, France and TLCB’s home nation are more alike than we’d both like to think.

Separated by just 21 miles of water, each has just undergone a snap election called by an incumbent leader (who has then lost), and both also saw a notable rise in what was once ‘the far right’ – but is now perhaps just ‘the right’, such is its popularity – thwarted by left-wing politics.

Of course that’s where the similarities end, as post-election the British ‘far right’ will have gone to the pub to drink and bemoan the archaic first-past-the-post voting system, whilst their French counterparts will no doubt be setting fire to buses for the rest of the week.

Cue this rather good Airbus EC 145 helicopter by TLCB newcomer Smilt Spartane, constructed in French ‘Sécurité Civile’ livery, and most often used for Search and Rescue and in combatting forest fires.

Smilt’s EC 145 includes a detailed interior, opening doors, and rotating rotors, and there’s more to see – including a link to building instructions – on Flickr. Click the link above to take off over a burning pile of car tyres somewhere in Paris, or here to see LEGO’s own rather larger version.