Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane

"Skycrane" redirects here. For the similarly named Flying Crane, see Hughes XH-17.
"Skycrane" redirects here. For the Mars landing mechanism, see Mars Science Laboratory § Sky crane landing.
S-64 Skycrane / Aircrane
Erickson S-64E, Elvis
Role Aerial crane
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft
Erickson Air-Crane
Designer Igor Sikorsky
First flight 9 May 1962
Status Active
Primary user Erickson Air-Crane
Number built about 110
Developed from CH-54 Tarhe

The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane is an American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter. It is the civil version of the United States Army's CH-54 Tarhe. The S-64 Aircrane is the current production version, manufactured by the Erickson Air-Crane company.

Development

S-64E Erickson Air-Crane, Delilah (N194AC) at Ioannina airport, Greece

Under Sikorsky

The Sikorsky S-64 was designed as an enlarged version of the prototype flying crane helicopter, the Sikorsky S-60. The S-64 had a six-blade main rotor and was powered by two 4,050 shaft horsepower (3,020 kW) Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A turboshaft engines. The prototype S-64 first flew on 9 May 1962 and was followed by two further examples for evaluation by the German armed forces.[1] The Germans did not place an order, but the United States Army placed an initial order for six S-64A helicopters (with the designation YCH-54A Tarhe). Seven S-64E variants were built by Sikorsky for the civil market.

Under Erickson

Originally a Sikorsky Aircraft product, the type certificate and manufacturing rights were purchased from them by Erickson Air-Crane in 1992. Since that time, Erickson Air-Crane has become the manufacturer and world's largest operator of S-64 Aircranes and has made over 1,350 changes to the airframe, instrumentation, and

S-64 dropping water on the Ahorn Fire in Montana

payload capabilities of the helicopter. The Aircrane can be fitted with a 2,650-gallon (~10,000 litre) fixed retardant tank to assist in the control of bush fires, and it has proved itself admirably in this role.

S-64 Aircranes have been sold to the Italian and Korean Forest Services for fire suppression and emergency response duties. Those in the Erickson Air-Crane fleet are leased worldwide to organizations, companies, and Federal Government agencies for either short-term or longer term use in fire suppression, civil protection, heavy lift construction, and timber harvesting.

Erickson is manufacturing new S-64s, as well as remanufacturing existing CH-54s. Erickson gives each of its S-64s an individual name, the best-known being "Elvis", used in fighting fires in Australia alongside "The Incredible Hulk" and "Isabelle". Other operators, such as Siller Brothers, have followed with their Sikorsky S-64E, Andy's Pride. The Erickson S-64E nicknamed "Olga" was used to lift the top section of the CN Tower into place in Toronto, Canada.

Variants

Sikorsky Skycrane

"Shania" (N720HT) dumping water at Mt Kuring-gai near Sydney in April 2007
S-64
Twin-engined heavy-lift helicopter, 3 built.
S-64A
Six test and evaluation helicopters for the US Army.
S-64B 
Civil version of CH-54A, 7 built.

Erickson Aircrane

S-64E
Upgraded & certified CH-54A helicopters, plus one new build aircraft.
S-64F
Upgraded & certified CH-54B helicopters. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney JFTD12-5A engines.

Operators

 Italy
 South Korea
Italian Forest Service S-64F on display at the 2005 HAI HeliExpo
 United States

Incidents

Specifications (S-64E)

Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft[19]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Sikorsky installing monopole in Langkawi, Malaysia
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. Jackson, Paul (1976). German Military Aviation 1956–1976. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-03-2.
  2. "Corpo Forestale dello Stato Elicottero S 64 F". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. "Korea Forest Service S-64". Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  4. "KFS Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane". Demand media. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  5. 1 2 "Helispot photo". Helispot.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  6. "the origins of Erickson Air-Crane". Erickson Air-Crane, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  7. "Evergreen S-64 spec. sheet" (PDF). evergreenaviation.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  8. "HTS Fleet". htshelicopters.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  9. "S-64 Aircranes for L.A.?". ainonline.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  10. "LAFD S-64". emergencyrigs.net. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  11. "L.A. County S-64". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  12. "Erickson Air-Crane buys Sun Bird aircraft from San Diego Gas & Electric". Helihub.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  13. "Siller Fleet". sillerhelicopters.com. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  14. "NTSB report (LAX07TA001)". Ntsb.gov. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  15. Helicopters area of dgualdo.it (report excerpts in Italian) Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. "NTSB report – NYC07WA152". Ntsb.gov. 26 April 2007. Archived from the original on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  17. "NTSB report – WAS04WA012". Ntsb.gov. 26 August 2004. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  18. "NTSB probes Air-Crane crash – September 9, 2004". Archive.mailtribune.com. 9 September 2004. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  19. Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003–2004, page 195. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane.
External images
Line drawing of Skycrane
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