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New Specialized Unit to Fight Aircraft Fires

23rd September 1949
Page 37
Page 37, 23rd September 1949 — New Specialized Unit to Fight Aircraft Fires
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ASPECIALIST concern in the design of airfield crash tenders, the Pyrene Cot, Dd., Great . West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, is now basing its machines on Thornycroft Nubian chassis. This chassis is a robustly constructed four-wheel-drive type and, in the case of the Pyrene renders, is fitted with a 5-litre four-cylindered petrol engine developing 85 b.h.p. at the "maximum governed speed of 2,500 r.p.m. Dunlop 12 by 20 low-pressure cross-country tyres are fitted. The vehicle has a ground clearance of 15 ins.

The bodywork of the tender is built by University Coachwork, Ltd., 99, Boston Road, London, W.7. A 500 gallon water tank is mounted behind the cab, and on present models ,a Coventry Climax engine, driving a centrifugal pump, is positioned transversely in the cab between the driver's seat and a seat capable of accommodating a crew of four.

A 40-gallon tank to hold Pyrene foam-producing compound is carried beneath the seat provided for the crew, and during operation the compound is induced into the water stream in two mechanical foam generators, one fixed under each wing.

Hoses Run Out in 7 Secs.

In lockers at each side of the front of the cab are housed two 80-ft. lengths of 4-in, canvas hose fitted with 3i-in. nozzles. A trained crew of men can run out the hoses, two to each length, in seven seconds. The rate at which water passes through the hose is 1,250 g.p.m.

When the supply in the tank is exhausted, water can be drawn from hydrants or other tenders. Sufficient compound is carried for 1,000 gallons of water. When a water supply only is required, this can be drawn from two valves on the near side.

Other fire-fighting equipment carried

includes six 50-1b. CO, cylinders with 80-ft. leads. Locker space is provided at the rear for axes and other equipment, whilst a ladder can be carried in a recess in the roof.

The exterior lines of the vehicle are extremely clean, mainly to obviate the possibility of fittings being torn off if the vehicle has to pass through brushwood, Panelling in the front is of steel, that of the sides and rear being of light alloy. A searchlight for possible use during night operations is mounted on the roof of the cab. Sliding doors give access to the fire-fighting crew's compartment, and Triplex safety glass is fitted all round. Production rate of these tenders is about three a month, and during the past year vehicles have been supplied to many partS of the Empire. Future models will differ slightly from the type described here in that the Coventry Climax engine will be dispensed with, the centrifugal pump being driven by a power take-off from the engine. The same rate of flow will be maintained as when the pump is driven by an auxiliary unit.

Two Smaller Tanks Another modification will be that two inter-connected 20-gallon tanks will be provided to contain the foam compound in place of the single 40-gallon tank on present outfits.

Dimensions of the vehicle arc as follows:—Length, 21 ft. 3 ins.; width, 7 ft. 6 ins.; height (laden), 9 ft. 7 ins.; track, 6 ft. 11 ins.; wheelbase, 12 ft. One Pyrene tender, model 6009D, was exhibited at the recent 'aeronautical show at Farnborough, where it attracted much interest.

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Organisations: New Specialized Unit
Locations: London

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