OSHKOSH, Wisconsin - For pilots, Oshkosh is probably best known for Airventure, the world's largest airshow. Mention the city to just about everybody else and the iconic overalls of Oshkosh B'gosh often comes to mind. But if you're in the market for some very specialized, very big trucks, Oshkosh has you covered there as well.
Oshkosh Trucks is a company that specializes in making "Severe-duty Trucks" for fire departments, the military and general commercial use. Based just across the main runway from Airventure, the company brought a few of their trucks to the airshow.
Trying to keep the aviation theme going, we stopped by and looked at their 6x6, 87,000 pound, 40 foot long airport fire truck. Oshkosh has been making airport fire trucks since the late 1960s. The Striker is their latest model and is capable of dousing a fire with water, foam and dry chemical powder.
Waiting in line with a bunch of other 8-10 year olds, we had a look inside the cockpit of this massive machine. The driver sits in the center while the nozzle operator sits to the right next to a pair of joysticks that direct the front and roof mounted turrets.
The water tank holds 3,000 gallons and the roof turret can shoot up to 1,585 gallons per minute on a fire. And yes, for those of you who were wondering, it does have the optional "Pulse Technology" that can shoot dry chemical powder over 90 feet.
The massive truck is powered by a 700 horsepower 16 liter diesel V8 with 2,131 ft/lbs of torque. Being a fire truck, the ability to get to a fire quick is important. Appropriately Oshkosh lists the 0-50mph time for the Striker. It's no Veyron, but 35 seconds isn't half bad for moving more than 40 tons.
If you're in the market, expect to pay between $700,000 and $900,000 depending on whether or not you wanted the aforementioned Pulse Technology or other options including rear axle steering.
Photos: Jason Paur/Wired.com
