Really good article on the history of Erickson, complete with pictures.
https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/helicopters/erickson-air-crane/I found it looking for documentation on the water dropping system. I have a hard time filling the tank with either the snorkel or the ram jet. The situational awareness is less than stellar in a sim so flying 30 seconds at 20 feet off the water is about as dangerous as it gets. Especially considering your taking on 2500- gallons of water in that 30 seconds. Even the snorkel fill is challenging, though not as much.
Then when you actually get the 2500- gallons on board the helicopter flies like a brick just waiting for a place to drop.
Both fill methods are not so difficult from the exterior view, but unrealistic. I think I need to add a view looking out the bubble windows and down towards the gear to gauge distance from the water surface.
What I was looking for is if there is any indicator of when the snorkel or the ramjet touches the water other than visual or the tank digital readout counting the gallons on board? I don't think there is, I never saw one in the POH, but I don't know for sure.
Absolutely love this aircraft.
Kansas and Ohio/Midwest scenery development.
KEQA, 3AU, KRCP Airport Layout
Intel i7/GeForce RTX 2070/Max-Q