Abu Dhabi Special Forces purchase 6 Griffon 380TDs

The Abu Dhabi Special Forces recently purchased six Griffon 380TD hovercraft to provide the security for the Formula 1 race that took place on Yas Island in November 2009. The 25 km2 island, located between the coast and city of Abu Dhabi and Duba, is home to the Marine Circuit, described by Bernie Ecclestone as “one of the most exciting tracks I’ve ever seen”. However, it is also surrounded by shallow water, making it almost inaccessible by conventional boats. The low-noise 380TD will accomplish almost any task performed by a conventional boat of the same size, but it will operate where no boat can venture – overland, shallow water, sandbanks, mudflats, weed, logs, debris and rapids, making it the ideal choice for this task.

The craft were completed in less than two months and the Abu Dhabi Special Forces visited Griffon’s new offices in Hythe for tactical hovercraft training.

The 380TD is the smallest craft in the Griffon range, capable of carrying 6 persons or a payload of 450kgs. The 380TD is a rugged rigid-inflatable hovercraft that benefits from having two diesel engines, one for lift and one for thrust, improving craft control in a rescue scenario. With the hover-on hover-off trailer, one person can quickly and easily transport and operate this unique vessel, virtually anywhere.

This sale follows similar orders for larger hovercraft to a number of Middle Eastern clients and shows that Griffon Hoverwork Ltd leads the world in the design, manufacture and operation of hovercraft.

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