Conceived by Igor Sikorsky, the Skycrane was developed as a unique heavy-lift helicopter for external loads, initially serving the U.S. Army (CH-54 Tarhe) before struggling for civilian adoption.
Logging contractor Jack Erickson championed its civilian use, extensively modifying it for heavy-lift operations, and eventually acquiring the S-64 type certificate to form Erickson Air-Crane.
Erickson Air-Crane has since transformed the S-64 Aircrane into a highly versatile and remanufactured heavy-lift platform, renowned globally for firefighting, construction, and specialized transport with innovative systems and team-based piloting.
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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