Since 2005, Airblast Eurospray have created two state-of-the-art de-painting and recoating facilities for royal Air Force (RAF) jets and now they are preparing to complete the "hat trick." Airblast Eurospray has been awarded a third contract for RAF Coningsby, where they will create a facility for the maintenance of four squadrons of Typhoon FGR4 aircraft – one of the world’s fastest fighter jets.Airblast Eurospray were awarded their first RAF contract in 2005, when they were commissioned to build a plastic media strip, or PMS, and paint spray facility for RAF Cottesmore, the core component of Joint Force Harrier and home to four operational squadrons of flying Harrier V/STOL multi-role jet aircraft. RAF engineers required a complete aircraft stripping and repainting facility to allow the Harrier fleet to be upgraded to GR9 specification. Airblast Eurospray’s proposal was chosen over tenders from a number of leading international manufacturers, as it was deemed to be the most innovative and technically advanced.
The 2,300-sq-metre steel framed structure enclosed a PMS booth capable of accepting a complete Harrier fuselage; two similarly sized aircraft spray booths; four smaller linked spray booths; a compressed air and plant area; a full width, high-level maintenance platform separated from the booths by a ventilated corridor; air handling equipment; mess, changing and showering facilities for 24 operators; offices and store rooms; and external dust extractors and an oil storage facility.
Airblast Eurospray completed the project on budget and ahead of schedule and the facility proved to be highly successful. Subsequently, Airblast Eurospray were awarded a second contract to build a facility at RAF Marham. The Marham Wing is one of the largest and busiest in the RAF, operating four Squadrons of Tornado GR4 aircraft in attack and reconnaissance roles. To ensure that these aircraft continued to work efficiently, RAF Marham required a top-of-the-line facility and Airblast Eurospray were happy to oblige. The project was complicated by the fact that the new facility was to be built into an existing hangar and no part of the structure could be used to support it and the roof could not be penetrated. Despite these tricky circumstances Airblast Eurospray, once again, completed the project on budget and on time and now in 2013, they will create a third facility at RAF Coningsby.
It’s not just in the UK that Airblast Eurospray are taking off. In the U.S. AirblastAFC have commissioned a facility for the Aviation Classification Repair Activity Depot (AVCRAD) in Missouri. Airblast AFC is a joint venture between Airblast Ltd and AFC Finishing Systems (AFC) who have been manufacturing paint spray booths, air make-up units, powder coating equipment and more throughout North America since 1967. The advanced de-painting and repainting facility will be used to maintain some of the US army’s most iconic helicopters - CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Black Hawks.
About Airblast EurosprayAirblast Eurospray offers a comprehensive range of equipment from blast rooms, hand blast cabinets, dust extraction systems and a full range of abrasives through to PPE equipment, paint spray booths and painting equipment. airblast eurospray products cover a range of applications including marine, civil, metal restoration and off-shore and the company also sells spares and replacement parts. The UK office is based in Langtoft just outside Peterborough. For more information, please call 0845 7697225 or visit www.airblast.co.uk or www.airblastpartsdirect.co.uk.
