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''Elvis'' is the nickname of Erickson S-64 Air-Crane ''N179AC'' which has gained fame in Australia as a highly visible and valuable tool in bushfire suppression. 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 the time that it spent working for the United States National Guard in Memphis, where singer Elvis Presley lived for most of his life. 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. 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. 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". A number of other Aircranes and Skycranes have subsequently been brought out to Australia for each bushfire season and based in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.〔(Fury as Elvis firefighting chopper replaced by smaller craft )〕 Elvis has also lifted transmission towers in Alberta, Canada, portrayed in the 2014 TV documentary Rise of the Machines.〔(Heavyweight Helicopter )〕〔(Rise of the Machines: Season 1, Episode 6. Heavyweight Helicopter )〕 ==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) and "Isabelle" (N178AC) and "Gypsy Lady" (N189AC). *2003–2004 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Isabelle" (N178AC) *2004–2005 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC); New South Wales: "Rocky" (N722HT) * 2006–2007 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Malcolm" (N217AC); New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT);〔 〕 Australian Capital Territory: "Delilah" (N194AC) * 2007–2008 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Elsie" (N218AC); New South Wales: "Shania" (N720HT); Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Tasmania (shared): "Incredible Hulk" * 2008–2009 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) & "Bluey" a.k.a. "Elsie" (N218AC); New South Wales: "Malcolm" (N217AC) & "Clancy" a.k.a. "Isabelle" (N178AC); South Australia: "Flynn" a.k.a. "Christine" (N173AC); spare "Delilah" (N194AC); for the period of Australian operations, some aircraft have been temporarily renamed with Australian themed names. * 2009–2010 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) * 2011–2012: Western Australia: "Elsie" (N218AC) * 2012–2013 Victoria: "Elvis" (N179AC) and "Gypsy Lady" (N189AC). * 2013–2014 New South Wales: "Gypsy Lady" (N189AC) and "Ichabod" (N957AC);〔(【引用サイトリンク】work=helis.com Helicopter history site )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】work=The Telegraph )〕 Victoria:"Delilah" (N194AC) & "Malcolm" (N217AC) NB: The aircranes are contracted to the various state and territory governments through the National aerial firefighting centre. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Elvis (helicopter)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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