The Client
The Royal Air Force has been a long standing client of Neat Vehicles over the years. From Chinook facsimile trailers and Eurofighter Typhoon units we have been heavily involved with the Royal Air Force Exhibition team. This project was slightly different as we were commissioned by the RAF Officer Training Acadamy at RAF Cranwell and liaised with Babcock International who were tasked with deploying the new unit.
The Objective
The Royal Air Force had been using an old dais unit made from timber and canvas and this had to be built by several people with stepladders and took a long time to deploy so Babcocks approached us to see if we could come up with something similar based on a trailer, which would be fit for a King to stand on at graduation ceremonies.
The Result
We designed the trailer to look as similar as possible to the old dais but be a trailer towable with an aircraft tug or Landrover from the storage facility at Cranwell to the parade ground.
It was built from start to finish in our factory and certainly had quite a few different features from the trailers we normally build. The results speak for themselves but the guys at Cranwell also had this to say about the unit:
“I personally would like to pass on my thanks and appreciation to the levels of engineering/design NEAT have provided in manufacturing the Dais. It’s extremely impressive and makes our task so much easier compared to the olden times of hiring cranes in etc.
Not only that from the first contact to now, its took some time, time we couldn’t help due to it being out of our control but I fully appreciate the patience and help you have provided throughout the lengthy process.”
Vehicle Features
- Twin rubber torsion axles and pivoting drawbar with over-run brakes
- Electro-Hydraulic roof on presentation side
- Flush, hydraulic lifting stage
- Large Shaped Windows at each end with aluminium transit covers
- Health and safety compliant steps
- On-board hydraulic system
- Custom-built aluminium plant troughs on slide in frames to hide pivoting drawbar.
- Aluminium painted skirts all round the dais to hide wheels and legs
- Powder coated handrail poles and decorative ropes around the stage and steps
- Removable RAF crest which can be used for other applications
- Folding header board with fold out angled end sections
Pictures of the vehicle can be seen below.
For more information regarding this project, or to find out how Neat Vehicles can help you with your next custom trailer, please don’t hesitate to contact our team either by phone at 00441623441114 or via our contact page, and we will be happy to help
