The Hawke's Bay District Health Board now has a faster plane on-hand for its air ambulance service.

Skyline Aviation is providing the service with a Cessna Mustang jet air ambulance - the first of its type in New Zealand.

The jet cuts down flight times by 35 percent, and has the same per mission cost as the turbo prop planes.

Skyline Aviation managing director Mike Toogood said a flight from Napier to Wellington will take 35 minutes, compared to just over an hour with a turbo prop.

Toogood said the aircraft has been fitted out with all the latest aero medical equipment.

He said they see it as a real game changer for the community.

"The feedback that we've had from the Hawke's Bay DHB clinical teams, and the patients we've had during our evaluation trials have come back with just fantastic reports. It's been quite exceptional in fact."

The new Cessna Mustang jet air ambulance will be officially launched tomorrow.