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Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane Greek Fire Department.
American heavy helicopter Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane
The CH-54 Tarhe helicopter was developed by Sikorsky Aircraft, a company founded by prominent Ukrainian aircraft designer Igor Sikorsky. The first flight of the helicopter (originally designated S-64) took place on May 9, 1962.
The helicopter was built on a modular principle, which simplified its maintenance and repair. It had a high three-pillar landing gear with a front strut, which allowed a tractor with a trailer to freely approach its fuselage.
The helicopter’s powerful winches allowed it to pick up cargo in hover mode, without having to land on the ground. During the Vietnam War it evacuated damaged planes and various helicopters, carried artillery, cars, tanks and even warships on an external sling.
It was also used to drop high-powered bombs to clear the forest for an airfield. This helicopter set 10 world records for its class, including lifting a load of 15 tons to 3307 meters. The civilian version of the helicopter (Erickson S-64 Aircrane) is still operating successfully today. Greece has purchased the helicopter-crane, leased from the ICSS company on behalf of the Fire Department. In aerial firefighting roles it can carry a load of up to 10,000 kg, in a special tank literally integrated into the structure of the helicopter.
The innovative design of the electronically controlled tank of the S-64 allows the operator to choose the quantity and duration of the release depending on the length of the fire front and the type of burning material. The possibility of multiple releases with precision shots establishes the S-64 as the most appropriate means of aerial firefighting in residential areas, as the ability to control the amount of water in each release does not endanger the lives and property of residents.
Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot), plus one rear-facing operator during external cargo operations [a]
Capacity: up to 5 total [b] / payload 20,000 lb (9,100 kg)
Length: 70 ft 3 in (21.41 m)
Height: 18 ft 7 in (5.66 m)
Empty weight: 19,234 lb (8,724 kg)
Maximum takeoff weight: 42,000 lb (19,051 kg)
Power: 2 × Pratt & Whitney JFTD12-4A (T73-P-1) turbofan engines, 4,500 shp (3,400 kW) each
Main rotor diameter: 72 ft 0 in (21.95 m)
Main rotor area: 4,070 sq ft (378 m 2 )
Performance
Maximum speed: 109 kn (125 mph, 202 km/h)
Cruise speed: 91 kn (105 mph, 169 km/h)
Range: 200 nmi (230 mi, 370 km) maximum fuel and reserves
IGE S-64E hover ceiling: 10,600 ft (3,200 m)
IGE S-64A hover ceiling: 9,700 ft (3,000 m)
Rate of climb: 1,330 ft/min (6.8 m/s)
Colors :
OSHA safety orange FS-12300
Medium green for NASA safety FS-14110
I want to personally thank my friend Alkiviadis Paraskevopoulos and dedicate this article to all those who fight the fires in Greece every summer.