> 75 gallons per hourHelicopters cost a fortune to operate. In the following video you will see these modified Sikorsky S-64 Sky Cranes suck up 2,650 gallons of water in 30 seconds. They have been upgraded from about 8,000 to 10,000 (?) horsepower total and cost $10,000 per hour to operate. This fire was near where I live. Standing under one of these things when it is just overhead is hat-blowing-off-screaming-turboshaft-engine exciting.
http://vimeo.com/72619750