Javelin takes off
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HE British Airports Authority has taken delivery of the first producion Gloster Saro Javelin fire crash tender for use at Heathrow kirport.
Since 1978, the BAA has been !valuating a prototype of the Ja'elin after it decided four years Igo that a new concept in an lirfield fire vehicle would be leeded for the Eighties and Jineties.
This entailed a move away rom the current conventional ront-engined tender to a special !impose-built vehicle. Gloster Saro and another manufacturer supplied the BAA with vehicles which were sent in turn to all seven airports under the BAA auspices, but the Javelin, which has been subject to minor modifications and changes as a result of the evaluation, was chosen.
The Javelin will be further evaluated for one year before the BAA decides to buy more or change to another manufacturer, but with a potential of 26 appliances over the seven airports, Gloster Sara is hoping the Javelin will be chosen.
Speaking at the hand-over of the vehicle to BAA's inspector airside safety and operations Mr G. A. Champniss, Gloster Saro's Mr W. Allan managing director spoke of remarkable co-operation between the two organisations.
Gloster Saro had, he said, noted BAA's requirements and included such equipment as a telescopic illumination mast and an elevating ladder/cage to give access to high-mounted aircraft engines — some of which are 9m (30ft) from the ground.
The Javelin is based on the Reynolds Boughton Taurus chassis which has a unique auto transmission built by FiB using Borg Warner clutches. It is said to be simple in construction and was separately tested by the BAA at Borg Warner in the USA.
Mounted low down amidships, the transmission also incorporates a pto rated at 298kW (400bhp) which can be engaged at any road or engine speed and is powered by a rearmounted Detroit 12V 71 TN75 power unit which gives the Javelin — at its all-up weight of 28 tons— a 0-50mph time of 40 seconds.
A water capacity of 10,000 litres (2,200 gal) and a foam capacity of 1,200 litres (264 gal) are incorporated in the Javelin — though a three-man crew is to be used on the 6x6 Javelin, it can be operated on a one-man basis as the controls for the monitor are duplicated in the cab.
At a cost of £160,000 the Javelin represents a major investment by BAA to replace its longserving Nubian Majors.