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
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 fixed retardant tank to assist in the control of bush fires. The helicopter is capable of refilling its entire tank of water in 45 seconds from a tube (which they call a snorkel) 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. == Variants ==