RED ARROWS REACH FOR THE SKY WITH NEW CURTAINSIDED TRAILER FROM KING
08 April 05. King Trailers has further enhanced its reputation for producing versatile, robust, heavy duty, trailers suitable for specialist applications. The company has recently supplied a new tri-axle, curtainsided articulated trailer for use by the Mechanical Transport Section of the Royal Air Force’s legendary Red Arrows.
Specified by Lex Transfleet on behalf of Lex Defence Vehicles, who manage the Ministry of Defence’s 13,000 strong “White Fleet” of non-combat vehicles, the new trailer will carry vital engineering equipment and spares to Red Arrow display venues around the country.
Capable of carrying an optimum payload of 35.5 tonnes, the bespoke trailer has an overall length of 13.8 metres. It has been fitted with a host of special features such as an hydraulic tilting floor that allows easy loading to the upper deck and a full width, full height rear ramp that in addition to assisting with loading also closes to form the rear door of the trailer.
King also worked in close collaboration with Lawrence David for the fitment of the 4000mm high curtainsider body, which includes a slim-line aerodynamic bulkhead, a sliding roof and Armour sheet tapered load-bearing curtains liveried with the striking red, white and blue Red Arrows logo.
To further assist with loading and unloading the vehicle has also been fitted with a radio remote controlled 12,000lb hydraulic winch. Equipment is safely secured stowed via ten pairs of deck lashings whilst extra storage capacity provided by two steel storage boxes fitted to the main deck.
Mick Graham, Fleet Engineer at Lex Transfleet comments: “King is one of our preferred suppliers as they have unrivalled expertise and experience of providing a wide range of equipment suitable for all types of military logistical operations. The new Red Arrow curtainsider was built to quite an unusual specification and involved the development of a number of challenging design requirements that King was successfully able to meet and deliver.” King is Exhibiting on Outside Stand OR22.