This is a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
called "Elvis". The twin-engine, heavy-lift helicopter is carrying "his"
firefighting water hopper – and demonstrating how to dump its contents. According
to data from the International Directory of Civil Aircraft, the S-64E measures 70-ft.
3-in. long and has a payload of 20,000 lbs. Its empty weight is 19,234 lbs. and
its maximum takeoff weight is 42,000 lbs.
The tank on a Sikorsky S-64
Skycrane can be filled very quickly by lowering a white pipe (seen in the
photo at left), flying across a body of water, and performing an "inverted
periscope" maneuver. The water is then forced up the pipe to fill the
container. S-64s have been used to drop water on the 2007 Ahorn Fire in Montana and at a blaze near Mt.
Kuring-gai near Sydney, Australia.
Erickson Air-Crane, the helicopter's
current manufacturer, brought the S-64 in the picture for displays and demonstrations.
A visit to Wikipedia provides an image of sister Skycrane named "Olga" peforming
an on-the-fly fillup. For those of us who live in frozen Wisconsin,
however, the picture of "Elvis" proves that water in Wisconsin CAN be liquid.
Editor's Note: CR4
would like to thank Ron Darner for
sharing this story. A longtime CR4er, Ron is also the newsletter editor for
Chapter 320 (Watertown,
Wisconsin) of the Experimental
Aircraft Association (EAA). If you'd like to subscribe to Ron's newsletter, click here to send him a private message on CR4.
Photo Credit: Erich Roider
| 
Re: The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
Users who posted comments:
BILLR (1); Ron (1); Steve Melito (1)