Erickson S-64F AirCrane Scramble in Response to Wildfire - N163AC 'Bubba'

Sikorsky Erickson S-64F AirCrane firefighting helicopter, N163AC 'Bubba', is dispatched in response to an emergency call of rural fire west of Melbourne and northwest of Geelong, Australia. This video covers the whole process including preflight, start up, taxi and takeoff.
This helicopter is on lease and stationed at Moorabbin Airport (MBW/YMMB) near Melbourne for southern hemisphere fire season.
"The Aircrane can be fitted with a 2,650 US gal (10,000 L) fixed retardant tank to assist in the control of bush fires. The helicopter is capable of refilling its entire tank of water in 45 seconds from a water slide 18 in (46 cm) thick." -- from Wikipedia

[@noonehere1793]

Erickson helicopters saved my house from a fire in northern California …. they are some of the best helitac guys in the business! Thanks again guys!👍👍👍👍👍🙂🏖

[@DrBearAviation]

It is nice to hear from someone actually saved by this giant machine and crew efforts.

[@penelopelgoss2520]

Yes, they worked the Station Fire in northern LA county. The flames came w/i a few thousand feet of our house. We were saved. Then the flooding came a number of weeks later. Those who didn't burn, many were flooded and/or washed away by all the bare soil. 😢

[@user-kz6ti2lj4x]

😅

[@sagarsambyal6169]

❤

[@brandingmarwein5563]

😊

[@JeffreyStrader]

Oh man, the blistering, lightning speed of their scramble, left me speechless! (oh brother!)

[@bernardanderson3758]

This Company is number one because I’ve seen them in action

[@flyingdentist]

this heli is one of a kind mate.I've seen them in action many times.They are pretty amazing.Great video

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks for watching mate. In fact, this specific helicopter (N163AC) was deployed to Greece in the past and worked hard in fighting factory fire and wildfire.

[@malcolmcloete8892]

wrong wording to respond take time to respond guys walking up an down no ways😮

[@flyingdentist]

@@DrBearAviation yes unfortunately every summer we have lots of fires all over Greece and these helis are soing a great job,cheers

[@DrBearAviation]

I could imagine that, as I have been to Athens once and could not stand the heat there even if it is September. @@flyingdentist

[@Gmmaika]

...ist nicht einzigartig, hat man wohl nach denm russischen Mil Mi 10 Harke nachgebaut....

[@iamrichrocker]

must be a honor to fly/work on this Bubba...what a beauty..

[@robertlafnear7034]

The factory is just down the road from my house........ I get to see New ones being tested at times and the An124 WAS here loading one a few years back............ best heavy lift chopper in the air !

[@DrBearAviation]

So this chopper is still in production?

[@robertlafnear7034]

Very much so.... check out there Web site ... a new one is setting next to the I-5 Freeway as of yesterday......... not sure how they deliver them now, ...have no seen the AN-124 for a long time...... we have a like just down the road from the house and an Aircrane made a run down our valley,.. might have been a test run for a new Fire AirCrane.

[@wolfie121]

I've put heating units on roof tops . worked with them many times Top notch people

[@Trooper6190]

Thanks for the video! It’s so clear and the sound is just great! I think I answered my own question in my head but does the Erickson have a starting turbine? I started thinking about the load when the clutch is engaged turning those massive rotors but I’m not sure how the mechanics of these work. (I know I could look it up easy but I figured why not ask and get a discussion going 😆).

[@donaber8277]

A scramble is done quickly, not taking 2 days to get off the ground.

[@armandosoliz1455]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@ftuuydti1660]

تسلمو الله يحفضكم الله يحفض الجميع احييكم من اليمن ❤

[@davidnelson8081]

Incredible machine!

[@bernardanderson3758]

The crews and the entire team know exactly what they are doing

[@noelhenderson8095]

These are an awesome machine I guarantee they are up in the air right now helping fight the fires in Victoria

[@user-ph3ws7qj5t]

storage locker door is secured....good job mates !!

[@beneditosantos464]

impressionante a força dessa aeronave !

[@user-wy2qv1bh6s]

Linda helicóptero que Deus abençoe todos vcs

[@VERITE11086]

Juste de la foutaise ! Un décollage d'urgence qui prend 10 minutes? Un peut de sérieux !

[@user-iu5ws3oo5x]

Amazing

[@erikbunty2016]

Beautiful bird.

[@thepubliceye]

Even a scramble takes time to get in the air.

[@RogerioMotta1234]

😮my god! Is a monstre rotativ.

[@tonyde6423]

They been busy last couple days dealing with country fires cheers

[@channel-ge7gs]

Very nice

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

[@thecuzz1]

Would love the pilots cockpit view just saying .awesome machine

[@DrBearAviation]

The other day a pilot invited me to climb into the cockpit while it was parked on the ground. Cockpit just looks awesome.

[@michaelogden5958]

I would love to know what the guys are checking when they crawl up the ladders during start-up/warm-up. I think these copters are fascinating machines.

[@mikeozenghar3684]

It doesn't look like they are scrambling to me it looks like a normal start up

[@penelopelgoss2520]

No rushing this behemoth! The ground and flight crews keep her ready.

[@user-wf7fu3zx2o]

الصحه والعافيه

[@philwachocki7958]

Hey!!! I got Bubba in Colorado couple years ago lemme me look

[@philwachocki7958]

I made a vid of some stills I had #themadcameraguy

[@jocelynmesadieu7338]

C'est pas encore urgence, car ils ont pris trop de temps pour décoller.

[@rangefreewords]

Oh God. For $25 an hour. This is it.

[@user-ph3ws7qj5t]

seems the storage locker door is not secured !!

[@dellx3048]

It was done before take off

[@edwardcoba498]

si en colombia si no hubiera havido tanta corrupcion lo mas loguico es que debieron haber conprardo unos de estos el helicopteros para apagar los icendios

[@kodibassInsideoutboards]

NON PIlot ,, Luv !

[@elpampeano-de9wd]

Pensé que iba a salir a los saltos

[@SENSO1966]

Excellent video...but not a "scramble."

[@DrBearAviation]

Thanks mate for watching. In fact, these guys got the call for immediate takeoff for the wildfire to the northwest of Melbourne. I believe this qualifies for "scramble". 😀 The other day I was chatting with a Black Hawk firefighting helicopter pilot, and he told me that they need to get airborne within 15 minutes of receiving the call.

[@JohnnyCarroll-wi6tx]

a slow scramble.

[@ruggy6668]

Provate a fare elettrico anche questo.

[@soktheany-rj2ki]

Free.

[@user-cf3lb8dk8l]

De emergencia dicen y tardó 11 minutos en alsar vuelo 🤭 No quiero ver el que Nó es de emergencia

[@JoseLopez-vj8jq]

Se,rremorisa,.,.,.....que.buela❤❤❤❤❤😮😮😮😮😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@utomohadinegoro7150]

Buatlah tayangan yg menyejukan bkn mlh buat kisruh saya lihat sedari awal Revormasi tayangan TVONE kok bikin org jadi runyam bikin keruh di ranah publik pdhl tgjwb siaran itu wajib menyejukan sikon di Masyarakat kayanya TVONE ini harus ditata lbh dlm agar tdk menimbulkan suasana tdk nyaman dipublik trims

[@carloshana9393]

Orale, se nota la urgencia jajajajaja

[@AbderahmaneTouabi-uw8on]

Linda tahi lounas tobal

[@jcataclisma]

*.* 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@martins6839]

Quanto de combustivel um bichao desse gasta

[@fernandsimard4112]

une chance que c'etait urgent,,,, hahahahah

[@AdrianVentroni]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@noorshahid2563]

Kya Pakistan bana sake ga. Jab loot maar SE Fursat mile gy tu.

[@user-tt9jb7vn9n]

..No. 01.. Very good and love you / from --- Mr.Montree Sattaphong 109/40 Mo.3 Bangnon Border Patrol Police Company 415 (Bpp.415) Mueang Ranong Thailand 85000

[@user-tt9jb7vn9n]

..No. 02.. Very good and love you / from --- Mr.Montree Sattaphong 109/40 Mo.3 Bangnon Border Patrol Police Company 415 (Bpp.415) Mueang Ranong Thailand 85000