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Burning love AP photo Erickson Air-Crane helitanker Elvis flies above the trees near a flare-up in Woodford, a suburb near Sydney, Australia. Fourteen firefighters are crediting the helicopter and its pilot for saving them from a fiery death on Thursday. By GREG STILES Mail Tribune There's been an Elvis sighting of a different kind in Australia. Elvis, Erickson Air-Crane's S-64 helitanker, has captured the hearts and imaginations of wildfire-ravaged Australians after swooping Thursday to the rescue of 14 bush firefighters. With the helicopter in the limelight, Prime Minister John Howard said the Australian government would consider buying three of the $15 million water bombers as part of a national firefighting fleet. The aircraft, built by Central Point-based Erickson, would be based in Sydney, another in the west and maybe a third in Victoria. Prior to rescuing the firefighters, Elvis - piloted by 30-year Erickson veteran Kenny Chapman - was used in Kurrajong Heights to douse a weekend flare-up, coming to the rescue of about 300 homes in Sydney's northern suburbs. Two more S-64s have been crated and shipped Down Under via a gargantuan Antonov cargo plane often seen at the Medford airport. Their American crews are expected to arrive in Australia early next week. Elvis, one of 18 insect-like S-64s sold globally by Erickson, can suck 3,500 gallons of water into its tanks in 45 seconds from a lake or river and then dump it on flames. This one apparently got its name while serving with the National Guard in Memphis, Tenn. "We nickname all of our helicopters, so this one's not really N179AC any more, it's 'Elvis,' " said Lee Ramage, Erickson's chief operating officer. "We're telling the news media we're sending the Incredible Hulk and the Georgia Peach - why it's named Georgia Peach, I have no idea." The Victorian government has had an S-64 Erickson Air-Crane on lease from Canada. The craft has been stationed for three uneventful years at Essedon Airport north of Melbourne. After the wildfires kicked up more than a week ago, Erickson spokesman Dennis Hubbard said it was moved to Round Corner, outside of Sydney. Hubbard has rarely been so overwhelmed as this week with virtually all of Australia's media outlets clamoring for Elvis info and the interest has spread to this country as well. The bird's spectacular performance caught not only Prime Minister Howard's eye, but also the attention of other Australian leaders. After touring the fire-ravaged regions in Sydney's north on Thursday, Howard said he would make inquiries about an Erickson Air-Crane shopping trip as part of the commonwealth's contribution to future firefighting efforts. That's music to the ears at Erickson's Central Point office, but no guarantee that the contracts will be flying north. "The S-64 is a very effective firefighting system and we feel strongly it's the best available," Ramage said. "It's been proving that over and over. They're used every year in U.S. wildfires and in Europe the past three years. We just sold one to South Korea. "It's a tragedy to the people of Australia. There have been hundreds of homes lost. Then all of sudden here comes an orange helicopter that does incredible things. We're getting a tremendous amount of e-mails from individuals in Australia thanking us." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.