Elvis (helicopter)

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"Incredible Hulk" fighting fires in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia in March 2008
"Incredible Hulk" fighting fires in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia in March 2008

"Elvis" is the nickname of an Erickson S-64 Air-Crane Helitanker (N179AC) which has gained fame in Australia as a highly visible and valuable tool in bushfire suppression.[1] The helicopter, which can hold 9,500 litres of water or foam mix, has been brought out by the Victorian Government from the USA for each fire season since 2001-2002. The aircraft obtained its nickname due to time that it spent working for the United States National Guard in Memphis.[2]

Erickson Air-Crane helitankers were first brought out to Victoria in December 1997. The first one, dubbed by locals as "Eric the Water Bomber" (N223AC), was used to fight a fire in Frankston and the Caledonia fire in the Alpine National Park, and was brought out again for subsequent fire seasons up to 2000-2001.[3] On December 27, 2001 "Elvis", which had arrived in Melbourne, was immediately deployed to Bankstown, New South Wales to help with fire fighting efforts in the Sydney region and was lauded for its role in helping to save almost 300 homes.[2] It was also credited with helping save the lives of 14 firemen in the Burragorang Valley in New South Wales.[4]

Two other Aircranes, "Georgia Peach" (N154AC) and "Incredible Hulk" (N164AC), were rushed out from the U.S.A on board a Russian Antonov An-124 air freighter to assist with the 2001-2002 Sydney bushfires following the successful deployment of "Elvis".[5][6]

A number of other Aircranes and Skycranes have subsequently been brought out to Australia for each bushfire season and based in Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

[edit] Aircrane (AC) and Skycrane (HT) deployments in Australia

A Skycrane Helitanker (dubbed "Shania") engaged in bushfire suppression in Lithgow, New South Wales in November 2006.
A Skycrane Helitanker (dubbed "Shania") engaged in bushfire suppression in Lithgow, New South Wales in November 2006.
  • 1997-1998 Victoria: "Millie" (N223AC)
  • 2001-2002 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Georgia Peach" (N154AC) & "Incredible Hulk" (N164AC)
  • 2002-2003 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Georgia Peach" (N154AC) & "Incredible Hulk" (N164AC)[7] and "Isabelle" (N178AC) and "Gypsy Lady" (N189AC).[8]
  • 2003-2004 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Isabelle" (N178AC)
  • 2004-2005 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Rocky" (N722HT)[9]
  • 2006-2007 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Malcolm" (N217AC)[10] ; New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT)[11]; Australian Capital Territory: "Delilah" (N194AC)
  • 2007-2008 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Elsie" (N218AC)[12]; New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT)[13]; Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania (shared): "Incredible Hulk"[14][15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Matthew Stanley. "Elvis seen fighting NSW bushfires", 7:30 Report, ABC, 2002-01-03. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. 
  2. ^ a b "Elvis - king of the firefighters", BBC, 2002-01-03. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. 
  3. ^ Firefighting with the Erickson S-64 Aircrane Helitanker. Erickson Air-Crane. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  4. ^ "Elvis the helicopter saves Australian firefighters", Planet Ark, 2002-01-07. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. 
  5. ^ AirCranes farewell Sydney. NSW Rural Fire Service (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  6. ^ "Elvis" saves the building. Erickson Air-Crane. Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  7. ^ Air-Crane fact sheet 2003. NSW Rural Fire Service (2003). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  8. ^ More air crane helicopters arrive in Australia. ABC (2003-01-28). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  9. ^ Skycrane 2005 fact sheet. NSW Rural Fires Service (2005). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  10. ^ Extra Elvis for Victoria and plan to replace water used in firefighting. Office of the Premier (Victoria) (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  11. ^ "Elvis" and "Shania" skycranes to arrive tomorrow. The Hon Jim Lloyd MP, Minister for Local Government,Territories and Roads (2006-10-28). Retrieved on 2007-12-26.
  12. ^ Elvis joins Victoria's firefighting efforts for 2007/8. Minister for Environment and Climate Change (2007-11-20). Retrieved on 2006-12-26.
  13. ^ "Shania succeeds Elvis in bushfire fight", ABC, 2007-11-30. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. 
  14. ^ Michael Owen, Sam Riches. "Elvis kept in reserve", The Advertiser, 2007-12-11. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. 
  15. ^ "'Incredible Hulk' ready to fight fires", ABC, 2007-12-11. Retrieved on 2007-12-26. 

[edit] External links