The S-64 "Skycrane" was originally designed for the military and had interchangeable pods that fit underneath for troop transport and cargo movement. The S-64 has six rotor blades and two turbine-powered jet engines, which allows it to carry heavy loads. In 1992 Erickson Air-Crane purchased the manufacturing rights to the S-64 and modified it to carry a 2,650-gallon tank. The tank can be filled by a draft hose in less than one minute, while the helicopter is hovering. The S-64 requires a pilot and co-pilot to fly it and typically has a 6 to the 8-person support crew.
When you find a helicopter model that works, you stick with it. Because of that, the Skycrane is a regular in the lineup for FairLifts. The effectiveness and reliability of this aircraft are unprecedented in its field. Generally, the bread and butter of Skycrane operations include firefighting.
The Erickson S-64 Aircrane Helitanker has given the firefighting world cause to sit up and take notice of the revolution that is occurring in aerial firefighting technology.
The versatile helicopter features a 2,600-gallon tank (~10,000 liters) with microprocessor-controlled tank doors that allow for 8 different coverage levels.
Unlike many fixed-wing tanker firefighters, the tank doors of the S-64 are controlled by a microprocessor that actually adjusts for airspeed and opens the tank doors to allow for a flow rate that matches the particular coverage level selected by the pilot.
The tank adds the delivery capacity of fixed-wing tanker planes to the maneuvering capability of a helicopter. The tank system and the S-64 Aircrane helicopter are manufactured by Erickson Air-Crane.
