A view of one corner of HELI-EXPO 2020 at Anaheim.As the Helicopter Association International HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California closes today, I have assembled a couple of dozen images from the event. There were over 60 helicopters inside the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California and about 700 exhibitors. Needless to say, it was massive. On opening day Tuesday I logged almost 14,000 steps on my iWatch.
To see photos of helicopters during the fly-in as they landed in a parking lot outside the Convention Center, click here.
San Diego’s new Firehawk.
CAL FIRE’s new Firehawk, Helicopter 903.
HAI photo
Eurocopter Super Puma AS 332L registered to Horizon Helicopters in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.
HP Helicopters’ Blackhawk appears to have a scooping system in addition to a conventional hover-fill snorkel hose. The version used on the Erickson Air-Crane is called a “scoop hydrofoil attachment”.
Sikorsky honored the chiefs of three fire departments whose organizations are operating Firehawks.
More photos:
This ship is not currently operated by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Firehawk, Helicopter 21.
Firehawk
These dogs were receiving a lot of attention, and vice versa.
I asked an Erickson representative why they didn’t have one of their Air-Cranes on display. He said they’d rather have it out working on a fire.
4 Comments
It was probably more than 20 years ago Erickson had one of their S-64s at the logging show in Reno. I believe it might have been Olga. After working around the Air Crane on several log jobs over a period of many years it was a real treat to see it up close and personal, and the two crew members there couldn’t have been nicer or more professional. Good times, good memories.
Too bad about Erickson’s Air-Crane is busy, but no lack of other helicopters! The 1963 LAFD Bell 47G (N73985) is a big treat! Great photostream, Bill, Thanks!
Being in agricultural aviation now for six decades. It is very seldom that I get excited about a new product. If you have been around fire helicopter operations you have heard of Bambi, Monsoon, and Big Dipper all external on the “hook” fire buckets. In one of Dr. Gabbert’s pictures there is a HP Helicopters UH 60 with a new innovative way (look closely) to deliver water on fires without the risk of an unwanted bucket malfunction, (like drop the bucket). This product should be in the class with new products like the introduction of helitankers, VLATs and jet powered tankers. I was told of this company by a colleague a few months ago and asked for my thoughts. I still don’t know the name of the company making this product other than Heltak (catchy) A search of other public web sites has provided several good demonstration videos. HP Helicopters located in Southern California has provided videos of this products performance. If water dropping devices needs a nick name I would call this product “PUF”, like a puffer fish, expanding five times its size when going into action. (too corny?)
The expandable tanks are indeed filling a niche but they have one disadvantage that fire agencies in the urban interface area would be unable to work around. They cannot be used for groundfill operations. Landing on a road and filling from a hydrant or water truck is sometimes the optimal way to pick up water. Unless the ship is on stilts, that wouldn’t work.
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