Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_S-64_Skycrane

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. It is currently
produced as the S-64 Aircrane by the Erickson Air-Crane company.

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. 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 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. The helicopter is
capable of refilling 10,000 liters of water in 45 seconds from a water slide of
only 18 inches or 46 cm thick.

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, Ontario, Canada.


Role
Aerial crane

Manufacturer
Sikorsky Aircraft
Erickson Air-Crane

First flight
9 May 1962

Status
Active

Primary user
Erickson Air-Crane

Number built
31

Developed from
CH-54 Tarhe

Specifications (S-64E)

General characteristics
Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot), plus one engineer or 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)




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