Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
| 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.
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Development [edit]
Under Sikorsky [edit]
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 May 9, 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 [edit]
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 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 [edit]
Sikorsky Skycrane [edit]
- 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 [edit]
- 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 [edit]
- Columbia Helicopters [5]
- Erickson Air-Crane [6]
- Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. [7]
- Helicopter Transport Services[8]
- Los Angeles City Fire Department (contracted by Erickson Air-Crane)[9][10]
- San Diego Gas and Electric (contracted by Erickson Air-Crane)[11]
- Los Angeles County Fire Department[12]
Incidents [edit]
- N189AC "Gypsy Lady" – crashed in Rose Valley, California late 2006.[13][14] Rebuilt and back in service.
- N198AC "Shirley Jean" – S-64F; sold to European Air-Crane c.2006 as I-SEAD; crashed in Italy on 2007-04-26.[15] Aircraft was destroyed in a post-crash fire.[16]
- N248AC "Aurora" – S-64E; named after Aurora State Airport. Home to Columbia Helicopters, former owner of aircraft.[5] Crashed on August 26, 2004 in Corsica, killing its Canadian pilot and French co-pilot. The Air-Crane was chartered by the interior ministry to fight fires on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. It had been fighting a fire and it went down near the village of Ventiseri as it was trying to return to a nearby military base because of a technical problem due to inflight breakup.[17][18]
Specifications (S-64E) [edit]
Data from The International Directory of Civil Aircraft [19]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot), plus room for one rear-facing observer
- Capacity: up to 5 total persons
- Payload: 20,000 lb (9,072 kg)
- Length: 70 ft 3 in (21.41 m (fuselage))
- Rotor diameter: 72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
- Height: 18 ft 7 in (5.67 m)
- Disc area: 4070 ft² (378.1 m²)
- Empty weight: 19,234 lb (8,724 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 42,000 lb (19,050 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney JFTD12-4A (T73-P-1) turboshaft engines, 4,500 shp (3,555 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 109 knots (126 mph, 203 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 91 knots (105 mph, 169 km/h)
- Range: 200 nmi (230 mi, 370 km) max fuel and reserves
- Rate of climb: 1,330 ft/min (6.75 m/s)
See also [edit]
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
- List of surviving Sikorsky CH-54s
- List of active military aircraft of the United States
- List of helicopters
- List of military aircraft of the United States
References [edit]
- ^ Jackson, Paul (1976). German Military Aviation 1956-1976. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-03-2.
- ^ "Corpo Forestale dello Stato Elicottero S 64 F". Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "Korea Forest Service S-64". Retrieved 17-March-2013.
- ^ "KFS Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane". Demand media. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ a b "Helispot photo". Helispot.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
- ^ "the origins of Erickson Air-Crane". © Erickson Air-Crane, Inc. 2013. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "Evergreen S-64 spec. sheet". evergreenaviation.com. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "HTS Fleet". htshelicopters.com. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "S-64 Aircranes for L.A.?". ainonline.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013.
- ^ "LAFD S-64". emergencyrigs.net. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "Erickson Air-Crane buys Sun Bird aircraft from San Diego Gas & Electric". Helihub.com. Retrieved 26-January-2013.
- ^ "L.A. County S-64". lacofd.smugmug.com. Retrieved 17-March-2013.
- ^ "NTSB report in pdf". Ntsb.gov. Retrieved 2010-12-20.[dead link]
- ^ Inciweb - Helitanker Accident At Rose Valley[dead link]
- ^ Helicopters area of dgualdo.it (report excerpts in Italian)[dead link]
- ^ "NTSB report — NYC07WA152". Ntsb.gov. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2010-12-20.[dead link]
- ^ "NTSB report — WAS04WA012". Ntsb.gov. 2004-08-26. Retrieved 2010-12-20.[dead link]
- ^ "NTSB probes Air-Crane crash - September 9, 2004". Archive.mailtribune.com. 2004-09-09. Retrieved 2010-12-20.[dead link]
- ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Civil Aircraft, 2003-2004, page 195. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane |
 Line drawing of Skycrane |
External images- Erickson Air-Crane website
- Canadian Air-Crane website
- Air Tanker Listing
- FAA Type Certificate Data Sheet
- HELIS.com Sikorsky S-64/CH-54 Database
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