Firefly Ibex 6x6

2000 May 25, Red Giant in Total Eclipse: They said it wouldn't fly ... but oh brother, it did ... and how. Perhaps not literally, but it certainly "took off" down the epic two mile main runway at Elvington near York. Thursday 25th May 2000 was 5F 052's big day, a day earmarked for the prototype truck's initial speed and handling trials. On the runway apron rabbits nibbled lazily, birds warbled and a Tucano trainer tried to steal the limelight with a couple of low-level passes. However, as 5F 052 fired up it's mighty engine and the first banshee wails of the siren echoed across the airfield, the wildlife (and the RAF) fell silent. The Red Giant was about to put on a show ... a total eclipse.

The small group of invited onlookers took up their positions, cameras poised, as "Firebex" was made ready at the end of the concrete. What followed was the amazing spectacle of a 5 tonne 20+foot Ibex thundering past at 80mph, and it soon became obvious that the minimum performance requirements for rapid intervention aviation rescue vehicles would be blown away. Frankly, it was more Michael Schumacher than Fireman Sam.

Owner and chief test pilot Mike Eastman takes up the story:-
"In order to meet the requirements of ICAO Category 3, the vehicle must perform to an internationally laid down specification. There are several aspects to the spec but our main concern at Elvington was speed. The regulations state the vehicle must accelerate from 0-50mph, fully laden, in 25 seconds or less. They further state the vehicle must have a top speed of 70mph."

"This Ibex weighs 4920 kilos without the four crewmembers and a full load of fuel, so I would estimate an all up gross weight of about 5400 kilos. You make the calculations and check them and then re-check them, but at the end of the day there is only one way to find out if your vehicle performs ... if it has enough horses under the bonnet. Basically, you fill up with juice, find a very long stretch of concrete and nail the throttle to the floor."

"The first run was done in 4x6 high range with the vehicle empty. We clocked 0-50mph in 14.01 seconds and I stopped accelerating at 80mph, because the engine is still being run-in. The second run was done in 6x6 high range with the vehicle empty. On this run we clocked 0-50mph in 14.90 seconds and I backed off the gas at 75mph."

"The last two runs were done with the vehicle fully laden ... all the kit and equipment we carry, full (water) tanks and four crew. Run three was in 6x6 high range. We clocked a 21.02 second 0-50 time and an 80mph backed-off top speed."

"The final run was done in 6x6 low range, resulting in a 0-50 of 16.90 seconds and a top speed of 60mph."

"All in all a very satisfactory morning and I'm now looking forward to getting the vehicle off-road and into the countryside. We have to achieve an operational speed of 15mph off-road. I don't think we'll have much trouble exceeding that."
- Peter Bradley.

Serco Internationals Fire Ground.

Go to the cross country trials, 6x6, Firefly, Foers (Ibex), airfield and fire tender pages