S-64 Skycrane Multipurpose helicopter

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S-64E/F – Firefighting helicopter

Sikorsky S-64 Helicopter SkyCrane A flying helicopter crane leased by ICSS for the Greek Fire Service. The firefighting version has been converted into a firefighting version by attaching a water tank under the fuselage, which is designed to carry up to 10.000 kg of water.

The innovative design of the S-64 helicopter's electronically controlled water tank allows the operator to select the amount and duration of water released onto the fire depending on the length of the fire front and the type of burning material.

The ability to drop water in several modes onto a fire makes the S-64 helicopter the most suitable means of aerial firefighting in residential areas, since the ability to control the amount of water with each drop water does not pose a threat to the lives and property of residents.

In addition, the helicopter has a water cannon located on the left side of the cabin, with a jet range of about 50 m, which allows another effective and safe way to extinguish fires with water that occur in high-rise buildings.

Helicopter capabilities:

The S-64 helicopter is designed to carry up to 30.000 gallons (114.000 l water) of water per hour. Its water tank can carry sea water, fresh water, and even foam.

1. The ability to draw water from small bodies of water is unusual for fire-fighting helicopters and is very important, as it allows for faster water collection in continental areas and the extinguishing of fires with fresh water, which, unlike sea water, does not have a significant impact on the environment.

2. An indication of the helicopter's capabilities is the dispatch of two S-64 helicopters to Brunei to help fight the major fires that broke out in 1988. The two helicopters remained in Brunei for a month and dropped a total of 45.6 million liters of water.

S-64 has two ways of water intake:

To fill the water tank, the helicopter uses a pressurized water intake system, flying over the water surface at speeds of up to 74 km/h, which creates pressure, due to which the tank is filled in 35-40 seconds.
From a water surface of limited dimensions which allows water abstraction only by hovering.
Water is collected in hovering mode from an open body of water using a pump in 40-45 seconds.

S-64 Skycrane

Helicopters can also be used for reforestation, transportation and installation of supports, transportation of heavy loads, transportation of logs, specialized mobile hospitals and aerial filming.

Technical specifications

Photos S-64 Skycrane