Sikorsky S-64

Twin Rotorcraft

The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane is one of the most distinctive heavy-lift helicopters ever built, instantly recognizable by its insect-like fuselage and rear-facing cockpit that allows the pilot to watch cargo operations directly below. Developed in the early 1960s for the U.S. Army as the CH-54 Tarhe, the S-64 pioneered the flying-crane concept: a skeletal airframe designed around a central cargo hook rather than an enclosed cabin, capable of hoisting 20,000 pounds externally. Its twin Pratt & Whitney turboshaft engines and unusual configuration made it ideal for precision work in logging, firefighting, and construction, where bulky or awkward loads (entire prefabricated buildings, shipping containers, even other aircraft) could be slung beneath the belly and placed with surgical accuracy. After military service in Vietnam, where CH-54s recovered hundreds of downed aircraft and delivered outsized cargo to remote firebases, the type transitioned to civilian operators. Erickson Air-Crane acquired the type certificate in 1992 and continues to manufacture and support the aircraft, now marketed as the Erickson S-64 Aircrane. The civilian fleet is heavily employed in aerial firefighting, where the S-64's 2,650-gallon water tank and ability to refill from lakes, rivers, or the ocean in under a minute make it a formidable tool against wildfires. The Aircrane can also deliver retardant with pinpoint accuracy thanks to that rear-facing cockpit, which gives the pilot an unobstructed view of the drop zone. With a maximum gross weight of 42,000 pounds and a never-exceed speed of 109 knots, the S-64 is not fast, but it is purpose-built for heavy, low-altitude work where precision and lifting capacity matter more than speed. Its modular design allows rapid reconfiguration between firefighting, logging, and construction missions, and its high-mounted engines keep the rotor wash clear of ground crews and cargo. More than six decades after its first flight, the Skycrane remains in active service worldwide, a testament to the enduring utility of its radical design. SkyMeter has tracked 97 flights across 27 airframes and 9 operators, with HELICOPTER EXPRESS LLC the largest observed operator.