The Possum Works is a play on words, akin to the Skunk Works.
The Possum Works, which will be our centre for research and development of special vehicles for special purposes, will focus on designing new firefighting vehicles, equipment and suits to improve firefighting, especially for bush fires, but to also maximise the protection of the fire crews.
The CFA MWT project will be part of a series of vehicles, that will be built for the purposes of fighting bush fires. A squad will comprise of the following:
2 Mobile Water Tanks
4 Mobile Personnel Carriers
1 Command Vehicle
2 Fast All-terrain Reconnaissance and Rescue Vehicles
2 Water and Fuel Carriers
1 Support Vehicle
We will design and develop the 55 tonne Mobile Water Tank. This is a firefighting vehicle specially designed to be heat resistant with an outer casing of “space shuttle” heat resistant tiles, mobile in difficult terrain, carry 50,000 litres of water and has diesel electric motors to drive the tank tracks and power the water cannons, with state-of-the-art cabin equipment.
Hose Cannon – This is your typical firefighting hose, to concentrate fast and heavy water inundation on the fire.
Shower Cannon – This cannon provides a shower water effect, which can be fast or slow and has an adjustable aperture to allow for wide sprays of water. This is used to suppress light fires over a wide area.
Jet Cannon – This cannon is more akin to a high-pressure garden hose, which provides a high burst of concentrated water, that can be directed at a single object or through a narrow opening.
Mist Cannon – This is designed to combat flying embers to prevent the spread of fire. The cannons will spray water into the air creating a water mist barrier, which will put out embers.
These vehicles can scout fire safe routes or exists. They can rescue stranded people or scout roads and follow the path of the fire and communicate with the command vehicle to direct the fire fighting.
A Carry All, is a helicopter, that is capable of picking up and transporting a fully laden MWT from its base to the point of fire.
The HWTF is a purpose-built helicopter that has the carrying capacity of 50 tonnes or 50,000 litres of water. It will function in a similar way to an MWT, but from the air. The failure of current aircraft water bombers is, that they generally drop their entire water load in one go and it is difficult to accurately target where to drop. The HWTF, with its hovering ability and its multi-function water cannons, will be able to target fires and apply the necessary amount of water in which ever form is required to extinguish the fire. From targeted water cannon fire to fast or slow shower effect, the 50,000 litres of water will be put to good use making controlling fires more effective. The underside of the helicopters will be coated in the same heat-resistant material.
Boeing build the Chinnock Helicopter, so we would like to do a deal with Boeing to open a manufacturing and development factory in Australia, under licence, so we can use their expertise. The Carry All is intended to be able to pick up a 55-ton MWT, so in theory a HWTF could be built to carry a 50-ton water tank, which when empty could be unhitched and a new one attached, for quick refill turnaround. It can also be used to refill front line MWT units.
Personal Back Pack Water Cannon – This is a water cannon, designed to be carried by a single person, that is used by firefighters on the ground. The device is designed to conserve water, by making effective use of the water that is carried. The ability to alter the nozzle to change the water flow from spray to jet, will make fighting fires more efficient and achieving greater results. With a carrying capacity of six litres in four 1.5L bottle array, the packs can be refilled quickly by swapping out the empty bottles and replacing them. The cannon pump will be powered by an electric motor with an electric battery, which too can be swapped out when discharged.
Fire protection suits must be fire and heat resistant, to afford maximum protection to the wearer from fire, especially when fighting bush fires, where the fireman could quite easily become encircled by fire. The suits must be able to withstand high temperatures to afford maximum protection.
Each unit will have a Command Vehicle, which is designed to co-ordinate the other units and their fire-fighting capabilities. Armoured personnel carriers will afford maximum protection to the fire crews when traversing fires. Support vehicles will carry all necessary equipment and supplies.
We will work with existing Australian fire engine manufacturers to increase the FRV and CFA vehicle fleets with the latest models and equipment. This commitment will help maintain Australian manufacturing jobs as well as providing our fire fighters with the equipment they desperately need.
A country our size, with so many remote places, drones are an ideal way to investigate and explore the outback. Drones can be used for sporting, military or civil purposes. They are relatively cheap to make and carry less risk than a conventional aeroplane.
Airships are making a comeback; they are most commonly used as blimps; but modern designs are pushing the boundaries as to what is possible with large commercial airships. From pleasure craft to cargo transporters the possibilities are enormous. With the capability of carrying up to 200 tonnes, airships can get to remote places which other modes of transport find difficult. They can deliver supplies to cut off regions and deliver 100,000 litres of water to farmers desperately in need of water for their livestock and crops. They can be used as renewable energy generation platforms, being able to hover above the clouds to maximise the sunshine and high-speed winds. With Australia producing its own helium, will make the cost of operating an airship more economical viable.
We must design, develop and manufacture our own, solar panels, roof wind turbines, sea pump renewables, solar hot water systems, solar storage batteries, canal and pipe water turbines and airship and barrage balloon renewable generator platforms. This will create employment and put Australia in the forefront of renewable technology.
Australia must start taking space seriously, whether it be communication satellites or orbital landers or exploratory satellites. Space and the planets are the future, so we must look at ways that we can contribute to this new frontier industry.
