The Skycrane helicopter originated from Igor Sikorsky's 1955 concept for a versatile, external-load "flying crane," initially serving in the military before struggling to find a civilian market.
Logging contractor Jack Erickson recognized the Skycrane's potential for heavy-lift work, eventually acquiring the type certificate and tooling from Sikorsky in 1994 to establish Erickson Air-Crane.
Erickson Air-Crane innovated the design with "on-the-fly" water tanks and filling systems, transforming the S-64F Aircrane into a highly effective global firefighting and heavy-lift machine.
The company now remanufactures and operates a global fleet of Aircranes, highlighting their versatility for tasks ranging from construction and logging to fire suppression, emphasizing the critical teamwork required for their complex operations.
The phone rang — it was my dad, and it was bad news.
“I’m standing on the sand,” he said, using a phone borrowed from the resident of a Malibu beach house. “I’m looking up the hill and the fire’s heading right for our house. The guys fighting it on the ground can’t get in there. The only hope we’ve got is those big helicopters. One of them’s filling up right behind me.”
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