Griffon 1500 |
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The Griffon 1500 can carry 12 people or 1.5 tonnes of payload at 55kmh for 8 hours. This one is 22 years old and we've been working on it through 2010-11 to refurbish it. |
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The cockpit layout when we first saw the craft. The navigators positionon the left now has HF, VHF, and Satelite Comms |
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Steve Moody gets going with an angle grinder to release the skirt fixings ready for transportation from Lytham to Southampton |
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The wiring needed a little attention... |
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...in some places more than others. Between Griffon and HoverAid volunteers we've re-wired a lot of the craft. |
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The drivers position. We've added in multiple temperature sensors to the engine and bearings, and we'll add a GPS system before it goes to Mozambique |
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At Griffon's works off Southampton Water. I was very cold! |
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Next to a new Marines Griffon 2400. The Marines craft weighs nearly 4 times as much but isn't that much bigger. |
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And with two RNLI Griffon 500 craft which were undergoing maintenance. The Griffon 1500 is only a little heavier than the 500, but can carry significantly more payload |
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The reaar thrust assembly. After 22 years the duct needed a lot of re-laminating and new bracing was added too. |
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The Deutz 6 litre engine - originally developed for light tanks is air cooled. It needs to be replaced to give the craft a full clean bill of health. The clutch bearings have already been replaced. |
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The inside of the fuel tanks when we opened them up. Two decades of gunge was causing problems with fuel supply. Don't worry they are spotless now! |
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The skirt is in really good condition. |
