Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane

The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane is an American twin-engine heavy-lift helicopter, the civil version of the US Army CH-54 Tarhe. Sikorsky enlarged its earlier S-60 flying crane prototype, had Pratt and Whitney adapt the JT12 jet into a turboshaft engine for it, and gave it a six-blade main rotor and an automatic flight control system that made instrument flying easier. The prototype first flew on 9 May 1962, and Sikorsky built an initial batch of seven civil S-64E helicopters. Since 1992 the type certificate has belonged to Erickson, which builds and remanufactures S-64 Aircranes for heavy lifting and firefighting.