Client Thales UK
Sector Defence
Location Lincolnshire
Value £9m
A technically challenging project to build the first new High G Training facility for fast jet fighter pilots in the UK since the 1950s.
The project was built for Thales UK on behalf of the RAF and is being used to train RAF and Royal Navy pilots to counter the effects of G鈥恌orce while flying jets, including the new F35 Lightning II, on training and combat missions, in a reliable and safe environment.
The building houses a 39鈥恡onne Human Training Centrifuge (HTC), which simulates sustained g鈥恌orces typical of modern high performance fighter aircraft, by rotating around the 鈥榙rum鈥� building at speeds of 55mph, creating stresses up to 9g.
必赢体育app中国官方网站 designed and built a 1,600sqm two鈥恠torey in-situ concrete frame 鈥榙rum鈥� building to house the HTC, as well as an adjoining two鈥恠torey block to house briefing, conference, crew and observation rooms, resuscitation area, equipment store and trials lab.
This bespoke project demanded the very highest levels of engineering precision and environmental control. The 10 metre radius centrifuge chamber was formed using bespoke circular formwork to achieve the accuracy and finish specified. The tolerances achieved on the inner drum building聽 were within 1mm, housing the 20鈥恡onne centrifuge motor and gear box which were installed into a 4.5m deep basement, excavated from limestone rock.
