ELSIE the Erickson sky crane made its annual stop-over in the Blue Lake city yesterday afternoon before taking off for the Adelaide Hills.
The firefighting machine can only take to the skies for around two hours before refuelling, so it must touch down at the Mount Gambier Airport to refuel before reaching its 2019/2020 fire season base in the state’s capital.
Weighing a whopping nine tonnes and valued at $30m, Elsie boasts a 9000hp twin-turbine engine, approximately 10,000 litre water capacity and a top speed of 215kph.
Elsie’s arrival also marked a special moment for the airport as the first heavy aircraft to land on its new apron.
The apron will be home to the region’s aircraft firefighting team, including five bombers which will be stationed at the site.
Airport manager Ian Fritsch said the sky crane was a welcome sight in the region each year.
“We are always happy to help refuel the sky cranes when they come through each year,” he said.
“We load Elsie up with around 4000 litres of fuel and send her on her way to the Adelaide Hills.
“They play a huge role in the fire season each year and we are glad to be part of that.”
Erickson engineer Steve Power said the heavy duty machine had just returned from fighting fires in Greece.
“Elsie just arrived back in the country after being an integral part of the Greek fire season which was quite a busy one,” he said.
“Our fleet all came back on boats into Melbourne on Sunday and are now being dispersed around the country ahead of summer.
“One has just gone up to northern New South Wales to help combat the fires up there.”
Although Elsie refuels in the region, she is not expected to be part of the South East firefighting team.
“I would not expect Elsie to head back down here before the fire season is over,” Mr Power said.
“She will stay to fight fires around the Adelaide Hills area and would only leave if there was a huge fire emergency.”
Fire danger season officially begins in the Lower South East on Friday with fire bans in place until April 30, 2020.
