28.07.2011

New Red Arrow viewing platform

The Specialist Access Division of Essex, UK-based Youngman Group has recently completed a project on behalf of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT) to design and manufacture a viewing platform for use with its Hawk aircraft.

More commonly known as The Red Arrows, RAFAT required a platform that would allow visitors to safely view the front cockpit area of its Hawk T Mk 1 jets whilst at the Scampton RAF base in Lincolnshire.

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The Red Arrows viewing platform

The key issues that had to be addressed by Youngman’s design team were manoeuvrability and size as not only was a small footprint required but also the ability for the platform to be easily moved into and out of position. This has been achieved by incorporating lockable swivel castors within a lightweight construction that can easily support up to four people at a time thanks to a 364 kg safe working load.

In addition, to reduce the risk of children falling into the cockpit area, the height of the platform could not exceed one metre and, to allow simultaneous access and egress, the stairway had to be a generous 750 mm wide.

The final key requirement demanded by RAFAT was a finished product with pleasing aesthetics able to provide excellent visual impact when in position alongside the aircraft.