OSHKOSH, WIS. (December 23, 2010) – Oshkosh Airport Products Group, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK), today announced that it has received an order for two more Oshkosh Striker 4500 aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles from the City of Denver. The vehicles will be placed into service at Denver International Airport (DIA), with delivery expected in April 2011.
When combined with four Striker 4500s and one Striker 1500 model already on duty, DIA will have seven Oshkosh Striker vehicles serving at the airport.
“We’re extremely pleased that, following an exhaustive evaluation, the Striker 4500 is again the ARFF vehicle of choice at such a prestigious and internationally significant airport as Denver International,” said Jeff Resch, Oshkosh Corporation Airport Products vice president and general manager. “The Striker’s ability to respond to large and challenging airport emergency scenarios is confirmed by Denver’s real world experience with the Striker over the last two years.”
DIA purchased its first Striker 4500 in 2008 following an evaluation to determine the vehicle’s capabilities for serving the airport’s emergency response requirements.
“Our ARFF emergency response team has extremely high standards for on and off-road vehicle performance, and the Oshkosh Striker 4500 has met our requirements,” said Denver International Airport Assistant Fire Chief Bill Davis. “Denver International has a 53 square mile footprint, and we need the capability to quickly transport large quantities of water to remote locations.”
The Striker 4500 features an 8 x 8 axle configuration and proprietary technologies such as TAK-4® independent suspension, triple agent firefighting capabilities and Command Zone™ advanced electronics for enhanced maneuverability, firefighting power and reliability. Other features include:
• 4,500 gallons (17,033 L) of water capacity
• 420 gallons (1,590 L) of foam capacity
• 500 pounds (227 kg) of dry chemical
• Roof turret with 1,200 GPM (4,542 LPM) flow capacity
• High volume, low attack bumper turret with Hydrochem nozzle and 1,200 GPM (4542 LPM) flow
• Pre-connected water and foam hoses
• Oshkosh Rear Steer system to decrease overall turning circle and reduce tire wear
• Caterpillar C18 diesel engine with 950HP and 2,400 ft. lbs of torque
The Striker 1500 is on duty at the Denver Fire Department ARFF Training Academy located within the airport grounds. This Training Academy is a state-of-the-art facility that trains firefighters from around the world in the most advanced methods of fighting aircraft fires. Along with the Striker 1500 vehicle, the Academy features 16 state-certified instructors, unique interactive technology and a full-scale aircraft mock-up to provide tremendous learning opportunities in a realistic environment.
At 53 square miles, DIA is the largest airport in the United States, and the third largest in the world. Its 16R/34L runway is the longest commercial runway in North America. In 2009, with 50,167,495 passengers served, DIA was the tenth busiest airport in the world as measured by passenger traffic. The airport is located in northeastern Denver, Colo., and is operated by the city and county of Denver.
About Oshkosh Airport Products
The Oshkosh Airport Group, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is a designer and builder of industry-leading airport firefighting and snow removal vehicles. Its flagship Striker® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle and Oshkosh® H-Series™ snow removal chassis are known for their durability and superior performance and sold throughout the world. For more information, visit www.oshkoshairport.com.
