Those in the Erickson Air-Crane fleet are leased worldwide to organizations, companies, and Federal Government agencies for either short-term or longer term use in fire suppression, civil protection, heavy lift construction, and timber harvesting. S-64 Aircranes have been sold to the Italian and Korean Forest Services for fire suppression and emergency response duties. The helicopter is capable of refilling its entire tank of water in 45 seconds from a water slide 18 in (46 cm) thick. 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, and it has proven itself admirably in this role. Since that time, Erickson Air-Crane has become the manufacturer and world's largest operator of S-64 Aircranes and has made over 1,350 changes to the airframe, instrumentation, and payload capabilities of the helicopter. Originally a Sikorsky Aircraft product, the type certificate and manufacturing rights were purchased from them by Erickson Air-Crane in 1992. Seven S-64E variants were built by Sikorsky for the civil market.

The Germans did not place an order, but the United States Army placed an initial order for six S-64A helicopters (with the designation YCH-54A Tarhe).

The prototype S-64 first flew on and was followed by two further examples for evaluation by the German armed forces.

The S-64 had a six-blade main rotor and was powered by two 4,050 shaft horsepower (3,020 kW) Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A turboshaft engines. The Sikorsky S-64 was designed as an enlarged version of the prototype flying crane helicopter, the Sikorsky S-60. Skycrane 'Olga' lifting a CN Tower antenna segment

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