Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Any idea why that ginormous helicopter flew into the Decorah Airport?"

Mitch e-mails Mr. Answer Person: "There has been a "ginormous" helicopter parked at the Decorah Airport the past few days — in the early morning and evenings.  It looks like a helicopter for lifting heavy materials.  Any ideas as to why it's here and its purpose locally?"

Mr. Answer Person says: It was a lot easier to track down the story of the Erickson S64 Air-Crane Helicopter than it was to track down reports of drones over the skies of Decorah this summer!

There's no doubt the Air Crane is a distinctive-looking aircraft.  Your guess was right on the money--it's used to lift up to 25,000 pound payloads.

The folks at Connell Flying Service at the airport say the helicopter was being used to move and install power poles needed by Dairyland Power Cooperative north of Waukon.  The air crane has now left the Decorah Airport.

(Interested in the Erickson Air Crane's specifications?  Click here)