The new Rosenbauer Panther Fire Truck at New Plymouth Airport is tasked with keeping the facility safe for the next 20 years.
After it received a blessing from the Puketapu hapū, the fire crew members have spent their time getting up to speed with the truck’s capabilities and modern technology.
The 6×6 S model, which has a 700 horsepower engine with a maximum speed of 115kph, was entirely road-friendly and fully off-road capable.
When it comes to dealing with potential fires at the airport it could hold up to 10,300 litres of extinguishing material (water and foam) at medium capacity, has a 7000L per minute pump output and could accelerate from nought to 80kph in less than 28 seconds.
Article first published by: Glenn McLean, Stuff.co.nz