Neat Vehicles are proud to have built this drawbar trailer for the Royal Air Force, which transforms into a Royal Dais, a platform for the King or, as is the case this year on the 12th September 2024, HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince William, and high ranking officers in the RAF to be able to survey the parade ground at RAF Cranwell while the RAF graduates are being presented to them during the graduation ceremony. The Neat Royal Dias was commissioned by the RAF to replace an ageing manual- build Royal Dais which took a few days to build and involved stepladders and canvas. We designed the trailer so that it carried everything on board and folded away and deployed hydraulically by an electro hydraulic power pack in a locker on board by one person. It has a short hydraulic stage and a hydraulic angled canopy with a folding header board with the RAF Crest attached to it, together with 2 angled end pieces which fold round to lock the canopy in position.
The whole idea of the trailer was to not look like a trailer when deployed so we made the drawbar hinge round under the stage and made slide in aluminium flowerboxes all round the outside of the ends and along the front of the stage with adjustable legs and solid aluminium skirts all round. Most people would not realise it was a trailer and the overall effect is both symmetrical and aesthetically similar to the original canvas structure, a picture of which is included to show the differences.
The Royal Air Force were delighted with the finished product and we were happy to design and build this for them. This is what the guys from Babcocks at Cranwell had to say:
“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.”
