Thornycroft Nubian Major airfield crash tender, 1970. Registration no. ALP 157H, chassis no. 582845, engine no. 63399

Thornycroft became the leading supplier of crash tenders both to civilian and military authorities during the 1960s and 1970s and Thornycrofts were used widely within UK civilian airports. The Thornycroft Nubian Major model was introduced in 1964 and was designed to deal with emergencies involving aircraft and aviation fuel as airliners increased in size.

Mobile tenders of this type could deliver a large amount of foam very quickly while the vehicle was on the move or stationary, to smother a fire or prevent one from starting. This crash tender was owned by the British Airports Authority in 1970 and served at Heathrow and latterly Prestwick Airport.