N189AC "Gypsy Lady" – crashed in Ojai, California on 1 October 2006.San Diego Gas and Electric (contracted by Erickson Air-Crane).Los Angeles County Fire Department (contracted by Erickson Air-Crane).Los Angeles City Fire Department (contracted by Erickson Air-Crane).Columbia Helicopters (no longer in use).The Erickson S-64E nicknamed "Olga" was used to lift the top section of the CN Tower into place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Other operators, such as Siller Brothers, have followed with their Sikorsky S-64E, Andy's Pride. Erickson is manufacturing new S-64s, as well as remanufacturing existing CH-54s.Įrickson 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". 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. S-64 Aircranes have been sold to the Italian and Korean Forest Services for fire suppression and emergency response duties. The helicopter is capable of refilling its entire tank of water in 45 seconds from a water slide 18 in (46 cm) thick. The Aircrane can be fitted with a 2,650 US gal (10,000 L) fixed retardant tank to assist in the control of bush fires, and it has proven itself admirably in this role. 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. Originally a Sikorsky Aircraft product, the type certificate and manufacturing rights were purchased from them by Erickson Air-Crane in 1992. Seven S-64E variants were built by Sikorsky for the civil market. 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). The prototype S-64 first flew on and was followed by two further examples for evaluation by the German armed forces. 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 Sikorsky S-64 was designed as an enlarged version of the prototype flying crane helicopter, the Sikorsky S-60. Skycrane "Olga" lifting a CN Tower antenna segment
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