An interesting video on "Fire Aviation" by a crew chief on an Erickson S-64 Air-Crane. I've been around these helicopters on fires but this is the first time for me to see how the hoist operator faces the rear and operates the hoist.

https://fireaviation.com/2021/10/09/beh ... air-crane/

Thank you! That was cool. About a hundred years ago I worked on '53's. So I always had a soft spot for the Sky Crane. And it's only gotten better under Erickson's control.
I will admit, when I saw the thread title I thought it might be CIA / Contra related

The main headquarters of Ericsson Air Crane is located at Medford Airport in Medford Oregon.. less than 3 miles from my house.. They have two manufacturing facilities in the area also.. when I did my A&P tests it was done in their Central Point manufacturing plant.. At the time they were working on two aircraft that were being sold overseas so they were painted green.. part of my oral and practical test was done using one of those aircraft to point out items like fire suppression systems and some turbine fuel system components.. those things are huge.. you really need to see them up close to get a clear understanding of the size.. And they can lift 20,000 pounds… an absolutely amazing machine..

Brian

10 Air Cranes in one place. I made a list of their names by number from the video. Now when one flys over I can look up their name. Christine didn't make the video so I looked her up. She is 341.

341 Christine
730 Gypsy lady
731 Incredible Hulk
733 Georga Peach
734 Elsie
737 Delylah
739 Jerry
740 Marty
741 Mariah
748 Olga

https://fireaviation.com/2021/10/30/ten ... were-told/

Jerry was working a fire west of Ellensburg a few years ago and flew over our house