Elvis (helicopter)

"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. [cite news |author=Matthew Stanley|title=Elvis seen fighting NSW bushfires |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s452497.htm |work= 7:30 Report|publisher=ABC |date=2002-01-03 |accessdate=2007-12-26 ] 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, where singer Elvis Presley lived for most of his life.cite news |author= |coauthors= |title= Elvis - king of the firefighters|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1740039.stm |work= |publisher=BBC |date=2002-01-03 |accessdate=2007-12-26 ]

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. [cite web |title= Firefighting with the Erickson S-64 Aircrane Helitanker|url=http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/servicedetail.asp?ServiceName=Firefighting |work= |publisher=Erickson Air-Crane |accessdate=2007-12-26 ] 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. It was also credited with helping save the lives of 14 firemen in the Burragorang Valley in New South Wales. [cite news |author= |coauthors= |title= Elvis the helicopter saves Australian firefighters|url=http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/13935/newsDate/7-Jan-2002/story.htm |work= |publisher=Planet Ark |date=2002-01-07 |accessdate=2007-12-26 ]

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". [cite web |title= AirCranes farewell Sydney |url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/f196844e80865d5bca257217007ce882!OpenDocument&Click= |work= |publisher=NSW Rural Fire Service |date= 2006-10-30|accessdate=2007-12-26 ] [cite web |title= "Elvis" saves the building|url=http://www.ericksonaircrane.com/press/ElvisWebRelease.html |publisher=Erickson Air-Crane |accessdate=2007-12-26 ]

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.

Aircrane (AC) and Skycrane (HT) deployments in Australia

*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) [cite web |title= Air-Crane fact sheet 2003 |url=http://www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/file_system/attachments/State/Attachment_20050302_398B1164.pdf |work= |publisher=NSW Rural Fire Service |date= 2003|accessdate=2007-12-26 ] and "Isabelle" (N178AC) and "Gypsy Lady" (N189AC). [cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/nsw/stories/s772054.htm |title=More air crane helicopters arrive in Australia |accessdate=2007-12-26 |date=2003-01-28 |publisher=ABC]
*2003-2004 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Isabelle" (N178AC)
*2004-2005 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Rocky" (N722HT) [cite web |url=http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/file_system/attachments/State/Attachment_20051123_8D3772A4.pdf |title=Skycrane 2005 fact sheet |accessdate=2007-12-26 |date=2005 |publisher=NSW Rural Fires Service ]
*2006-2007 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Malcolm" (N217AC) [cite web |title= Extra Elvis for Victoria and plan to replace water used in firefighting|url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/35504bc71d3adebcca256cfc0082c2b8/f196844e80865d5bca257217007ce882!OpenDocument&Click= |publisher=Office of the Premier (Victoria) |date= 2006-10-30|accessdate=2007-12-26 ] ; New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT) [cite web |url=http://www.ministers.infrastructure.gov.au/jl/releases/2006/October/L142_2006.htm |title="Elvis" and "Shania" skycranes to arrive tomorrow |accessdate=2007-12-26 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date=2006-10-28 |publisher=The Hon Jim Lloyd MP, Minister for Local Government,Territories and Roads ] ; Australian Capital Territory: "Delilah" (N194AC)
*2007-2008 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Elsie" (N218AC) [cite web | title=Elvis joins Victoria's firefighting efforts for 2007/8 | url=http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/798c8b072d117a01ca256c8c0019bb01/f7947297d194dc16ca2573990080d663!OpenDocument | publisher=Minister for Environment and Climate Change | date=2007-11-20 | accessdate=2006-12-26 ] ; New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT) [cite news | title=Shania succeeds Elvis in bushfire fight |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/30/2106016.htm?section=australia | publisher=ABC | date=2007-11-30 | accessdate=2007-12-24 ] ; Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania (shared): "Incredible Hulk" [cite news | author=Michael Owen, Sam Riches | title=Elvis kept in reserve |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22903235-5006301,00.html?from=mostpop | publisher=The Advertiser | date=2007-12-11 | accessdate=2007-12-24 ] [cite news | title='Incredible Hulk' ready to fight fires |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/13/2118189.htm?site=idx-act | publisher=ABC | date=2007-12-11 | accessdate=2007-12-26]

References

External links

* [http://www.planepictures.net/netsearch4.cgi?srch=N179AC&srng=2&stype=reg planepictures.net: photographs of "Elvis"]