A fly-over

As noted in this news item from the Cranberry Township website, a new water mixing unit will be lifted into place by a Sikorsky S-58 helicopter. Also known as the Sikorsky H-34 Choctaw, the helicopter was originally designed more than fifty years ago by Sikorsky for the US Navy for anti-submarine warfare. The aircraft was used by the Coast Guard and the Marines during Vietnam.

Executive Helicopter and Pittsburgh Air Crane Service has some great photos on their website of the aircraft in use. If you find yourself in the area at noon this Saturday and have an interest in this sort of thing, it may be worth checking out.

At noon this Saturday, October 4, a Sikorsky S-58 helicopter from Pittsburgh Air Crane Service will lift a new fresh water mixing unit from the base to the top of Cranberry’s West Water storage tower. The mixing system includes two pieces, each about 10 foot long, with the largest piece weighing in at about 700 lbs.

For safety sake, the Air Crane Service does not want spectators around the tank, but you can watch the operation from outside the immediate area. The lift is expected to take less than 30 minutes. The helicopter will not land in the area of the tank nor will it ever fly lower than 100 feet.