Michael Pereckas · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane picturedThe S-64 is the civilian relative of the military CH-54 Tarhe. Its narrow fuselage and tall undercarriage leave space below for a suspended load, making the lifting role visible in the airframe itself. Two turbine engines power the large main rotor.
Erickson's Air-Crane developments have become associated with construction, logging and firefighting. A tank-equipped firefighting aircraft and a crane carrying an external load use the same basic idea in different ways. The simulator includes mission equipment for its represented roles.
Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane · Specifications (S-64E) · real aircraft; source units retained
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Erickson manufacturing manager Sam Foster described sustaining the S-64 as work spread across engineering, parts, maintenance and planning. His 2022 interview extract identifies composite rotor blades as one response to ageing equipment and future support needs.
First flight: 9 May 1962
Developed from: Sikorsky CH-54 Tarhe
Charles first approached Lucille as an imposing collection of exposed machinery. After ground school, he climbed into the cockpit with Bob Hawthorne and asked the instructor to make the first departure from a confined parking area. Taking the controls brought an adjustment to the long cyclic, followed by an appreciation of the aircraft’s substantial, steady feel.
Hawthorne encouraged smooth handling as they explored turns, climbs and approaches around Medford. A simulated engine failure was part of the organised demonstration, rather than an emergency. Charles wanted to try putting the helicopter to work, but there was nothing on the hook that day. Returning to the parking area, the space seemed less intimidating. His introduction ended with affection for the machine and curiosity about the work still beyond that first flight.
Chapman named the S-64 as his favourite firefighting aircraft, connecting its capabilities with the considerable experience he had gained in it. Asked about memorable people, he immediately recalled colleagues who had patiently taught him when he was new. That appreciation gives his answers a personal thread running through a long and varied flying career.
He placed strong value on communication with firefighters on the ground and on pilots taking time to understand one another’s jobs. He also wished he had learned earlier how to use standby time well. These are small working-life details beside the more visible act of making a water drop. The interview presents an experienced pilot’s priorities, including his insistence that completing a fire assignment never justified losing a life.
Douglass described the Skycrane as a helicopter that continued to hold his attention, even after long experience. Its power came with substantial fuel use and a ride quite different from the company’s S-61s. Construction work relied on crew coordination, with a rear-facing pilot taking the final precision placement while the front crew remained involved.
Finding the next generation of pilots concerned him as much as the aircraft itself. Logging had taught many older pilots the skills Siller needed, but that route into the work was becoming less common. Douglass wanted good judgement, adaptability and a willingness to travel. Fire assignments also brought personal satisfaction: challenging flying, unfamiliar parts of the country and the chance to help communities.
The S-64 is the civilian relative of the military CH-54 Tarhe. Its narrow fuselage and tall undercarriage leave space below for a suspended load, making the lifting role visible in the airframe itself. Two turbine engines power the large main rotor.
This starting point selects Erickson S-64F Aircrane. Its aircraft-level settings do not select a particular developer’s custom systems.
The cyclic’s selected centre and damping accompany the heavy-lift rendition. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load. Cyclic damping adds resistance to hardware motion.
Local trim centres the hardware separately from external-load and firefighting equipment. Local force trim is off. Autopilot following is off.
The S-64 leaves space beneath its narrow fuselage for a suspended load, with a large main rotor, twin turbines and tall undercarriage. Erickson’s firefighting tank and crane equipment put different mission systems around that lifting-aircraft configuration.
The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.
L'échelle globale finale appliquée à tout ce que produit le modèle, avant la limite du périphérique.
Plus : tout (ressort, charges, effets) se renforce ensemble.
Moins : tout s'adoucit ensemble.
Pourquoi ici : Scales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
La force de rappel de base qui ramène le manche au neutre. Toutes les autres forces s'empilent dessus. Trop faible, le manche paraît mou en vol normal ; trop forte, elle lutte contre la main et masque les signaux plus fins.
Plus : un centrage plus ferme qui résiste davantage à la main.
Moins : un manche plus mou qui ne compte que sur la charge aérodynamique.
Pourquoi ici : The cyclic’s selected centre and damping accompany the heavy-lift rendition. The baseline spring is 0. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 47.5 KIAS.
Erickson Aircrane interviewUne petite zone neutre autour du centre où le ressort reste muet, pour que les micro-mouvements à l'arrêt ne vibrent pas. Plus large, c'est plus calme mais plus lâche ; plus étroite, plus précis mais parfois nerveux au neutre.
Plus : un centre plus calme mais plus lâche, avec plus de jeu.
Moins : un centre plus serré qui peut vibrer au repos.
Pourquoi ici : Sets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner.
Une échelle maîtresse sur les deux charges d'axe, appliquée avant leur équilibre individuel. Les profils la laissent en général en place et règlent les deux axes.
Plus : les deux axes chargent plus fort.
Moins : les deux axes s'allègent ensemble.
Pourquoi ici : The aerodynamic-load gain is 0.35 with an indicated-speed reference of 95 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring.
Active la fenêtre d'engagement basse vitesse du ressort (début/plein en nœuds ci-dessus). Désactivé, le ressort est constant à toute vitesse.
Pourquoi ici : Allows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it.
La part du ressort qui survit à l'arrêt, avant que la vitesse ne crée la moindre force aérodynamique. Un plancher haut garde le manche ferme au parking ; un plancher bas donne le jeu de câbles d'un avion léger au parking.
Plus : un manche plus ferme au parking et au roulage.
Moins : un manche mou au parking qui ne s'éveille qu'avec la vitesse.
Pourquoi ici : Sets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength.
La vitesse à laquelle le ressort quitte son plancher basse vitesse vers la pleine raideur : le début du réveil des commandes au roulage de décollage.
Pourquoi ici : Sets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit.
La vitesse où le ressort atteint sa pleine raideur. Entre le début et ce point, le centrage se raffermit avec le vent relatif.
Pourquoi ici : Sets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
La vitesse indiquée où la charge aérodynamique atteint son niveau de conception. Elle ancre toute la courbe au domaine réel : un 172 charge dès 110 nœuds, un jet bien plus tard.
Plus : les charges arrivent plus tard ; le manche reste léger jusqu'à plus vite.
Moins : les charges arrivent plus tôt et la croisière pèse davantage.
Pourquoi ici : Sets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit.
Combien le centrage lui-même se raidit avec la vitesse, en plus des charges de braquage. Zéro garde un centre constant ; plus fait centrer dur en croisière et souple en tour de piste.
Plus : un centre qui durcit nettement avec la vitesse.
Moins : une sensation de centre constante à toute vitesse.
Pourquoi ici : Adds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase.
La limite haute du raidissement lié à la vitesse, pour que le vol très rapide ne remonte pas le ressort sans borne.
Plus : plus de raidissement total permis à haute vitesse.
Moins : le raidissement se bride plus tôt.
Pourquoi ici : Limits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap.
La charge de roulis soutenue issue du braquage d'ailerons et de la vitesse, équilibrée indépendamment du tangage. Avec la charge de profondeur, elle fixe l'harmonie des commandes dont parlent les essais.
Plus : des efforts de roulis plus lourds.
Moins : des ailerons plus légers, plus vifs.
Pourquoi ici : Roll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled.
La charge de tangage soutenue issue du braquage de profondeur et de la vitesse, équilibrée indépendamment du roulis. Le levier principal du poids en tangage d'un type. Il ne touche ni ailerons, ni ressort, ni trim, ni buffet.
Plus : des efforts de tangage soutenus plus lourds en vitesse.
Moins : une profondeur plus légère, moins musclée à tenir.
Pourquoi ici : Scales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Un plafond par force stable de tangage ou roulis avant le périphérique : la garde contre le claquement ou la saturation du matériel en manœuvre forte.
Plus : des pics de force stable plus élevés avant écrêtage.
Moins : un plafond plus doux ; les manœuvres dures s'aplatissent plus tôt.
Pourquoi ici : Caps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.
Combien le trim de profondeur soulage l'effort tenu et déplace le point de repos du manche. À 100 %, un avion bien compensé ne demande aucune pression : le geste réel de compenser la charge.
Plus : le trim retire plus d'effort tenu ; à 100 %, plein trim l'annule.
Moins : vous continuez à tenir de l'effort même compensé.
Pourquoi ici : Scales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response.
Le même soulagement pour le trim de roulis. La plupart des avions légers n'ont pas de vrai trim d'ailerons, donc zéro ; les types qui en ont reçoivent une valeur adaptée.
Plus : le trim de roulis retire plus d'effort tenu.
Moins : le trim de roulis fait moins.
Pourquoi ici : Scales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response.
Vibration de roulement issue de la vitesse des roues et du revêtement : la texture du bitume, de l'herbe ou du gravier sous le train.
Plus : une texture de surface plus forte dans le manche.
Moins : un roulage plus lisse.
Pourquoi ici : Sets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration.
Chocs courts et distincts des joints, ornières et surfaces rugueuses : la ponctuation au-dessus du grondement continu.
Plus : des chocs plus nets des joints et ornières.
Moins : des détails de sol plus doux.
Pourquoi ici : Sets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact.
Buffet de cellule à l'approche du décrochage et pendant l'avertisseur : la voix de cette aile quand elle est mécontente. Les types à décrochage franc reçoivent un buffet modéré, le klaxon porte l'alerte.
Plus : un tremblement pré-décrochage plus fort.
Moins : une aile plus discrète ; le klaxon porte l'alerte.
Pourquoi ici : Sets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings.
Buffet transsonique près de la limite de Mach. Parlant pour les jets près de MMO, zéro pour pistons et turbopropulseurs qui n'y vont jamais.
Plus : un buffet transsonique plus fort près de la limite de Mach.
Moins : un vol plus lisse à haut Mach.
Pourquoi ici : Sets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate.
Vibration basse fréquence de cellule avec les volets dans le vent, dans la fenêtre où ils travaillent vraiment l'air.
Plus : un vol plus rugueux volets au travail.
Moins : des volets d'approche plus doux.
Pourquoi ici : Sets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate.
Le tambourinement du train rentrant sorti dans le flux. Zéro pour les trains fixes, dont la cellule ne change jamais de forme.
Plus : plus de tambourinement train sorti.
Moins : un vol train sorti plus propre.
Pourquoi ici : Sets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate.
Le vibreur de manche dédié, déclenché par l'avertisseur de décrochage de l'avion. Seuls les types à vrai vibreur reçoivent une valeur ; les autres comptent sur buffet et klaxon.
Plus : un vibreur plus dur.
Moins : un vibreur plus discret.
Pourquoi ici : Sets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled.
Le coup unique au toucher, proportionnel au taux de chute : un kiss se murmure, une arrivée ferme cogne.
Plus : un coup plus dur au toucher.
Moins : des arrivées plus douces.
Pourquoi ici : Sets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse.
Vibration de roulage sous inversion de poussée ou plage bêta. Zéro pour les types sans reverse.
Plus : un roulage plus rugueux sous reverse.
Moins : une reverse plus discrète.
Pourquoi ici : Sets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue.
Vibration continue du moteur suivant le régime du ralenti à la pleine puissance : le rappel permanent que quelque chose brûle du carburant devant.
Plus : plus de moteur dans le manche.
Moins : un moteur plus discret.
Pourquoi ici : Sets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration.
Vibration continue seulement pendant que le simulateur signale les volets réellement en mouvement. Elle suit la course réelle et les pannes, pas un minuteur estimé.
Plus : plus de vibration volets en mouvement.
Moins : des courses de volets plus discrètes.
Pourquoi ici : Sets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue.
Jusqu'où les ordres du pilote automatique peuvent bouger le manche physique. Minuscule dans MSFS, où un axe déplacé peut être relu comme entrée pilote ; zéro coupe le suivi.
Plus : le pilote automatique bouge visiblement plus votre manche.
Moins : un suivi à peine perceptible.
Pourquoi ici : Sets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Retained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Allows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Local trim centres the hardware separately from external-load and firefighting equipment. Local force trim is off. The stored latch parameters are inactive; the profile does not supply a local hold-where-left neutral.
Erickson Aircrane interviewWhether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Allows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Enables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Autopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Permits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Pourquoi ici : Sets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Enables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions.
Where this effect reaches full strength (or has fully faded, for washouts).
Plus : a more gradual build to a later peak.
Moins : a quicker build.
Pourquoi ici : Sets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3.
Where this effect begins fading in.
Plus : the effect begins later.
Moins : it begins earlier.
Pourquoi ici : Sets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Permits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Enables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Enables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry.
Whether this feature is active in this profile.
Pourquoi ici : Enables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement.
The strength of this effect.
Plus : a stronger effect.
Moins : a weaker one.
Pourquoi ici : Sets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects.
| Paramètre | Valeur | Ce que cela contrôle et pourquoi |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | 0 | The cyclic’s selected centre and damping accompany the heavy-lift rendition. The baseline spring is 0. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 47.5 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | 0.02 | Sets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Force gain | 0.35 | The aerodynamic-load gain is 0.35 with an indicated-speed reference of 95 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Master gain | 0.85 | Scales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Dynamic-pressure blend | True | Allows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| Minimum spring factor | 1 | Sets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| Spring wake-up speed | 13.3 kt | Sets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit. |
| Spring full-strength speed | 47.5 kt | Sets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Vitesse de réglage des forces | 95.0 kt | Sets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening | 0 | Adds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase. |
| Airspeed stiffening cap | 5 | Limits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | 1 | Roll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | 1 | Scales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Maximum output force | 0.55 | Caps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| StickFeel · Trim feel enabled | False | Retained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| StickFeel · Trim relief enabled | False | Allows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| StickFeel · Elevator authority | 0.3 | Scales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response. |
| StickFeel · Aileron authority | 0.3 | Scales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| StickFeel · Force trim enabled | False | Local trim centres the hardware separately from external-load and firefighting equipment. Local force trim is off. The stored latch parameters are inactive; the profile does not supply a local hold-where-left neutral. |
| StickFeel · G load enabled | False | Allows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| StickFeel · Rate damping enabled | True | Enables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot · Follow enabled | False | Autopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot · Follow authority | 0.05 | Sets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot · Neutral hold enabled | False | Permits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot · Neutral hold strength | 0.6 | Sets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Aero · Enabled | True | Enables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Aero · Gain | 0 | Sets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Aero · Gain | 0 | Sets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Aero · Gain | 0 | Sets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Aero · Max flap index | 1 | Sets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Aero · Min flap index | 1 | Sets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Aero · Gain | 0 | Sets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Aero · Shaker enabled | False | Permits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Aero · Amplitude | 0.5 | Sets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Ground · Enabled | True | Enables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Ground · Gain | 0.15 | Sets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Ground · Gain | 0 | Sets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Ground · Gain | 0.5 | Sets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Ground · Gain | 0 | Sets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Engine · Enabled | True | Enables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Engine · Gain | 0.06 | Sets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Mechanical · Enabled | True | Enables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Mechanical · Gain | 0 | Sets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Mechanical · Gain | 0 | Sets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
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Conversation ouverte sur le pilotage et le réglage du Erickson S-64F Aircrane, sur le forum communautaire. Les corrections ci-dessus vont en privé au mainteneur ; les discussions de hangar sont publiques.