World leader in the production of welding and cutting equipment and consumables, ESAB, is helping a British team with a serving military pilot at the helm to build a jet hydroplane with the aim of smashing the long-standing world water speed record.
Project Lead David Aldred, is along with his team constructing ‘Longbow’ – a powerful jet hydroplane – at its workshop in on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire.
With the ultimate intention of bettering the Outright World Water Speed Record (WWSR), set in 1978 at 317mph by Ausralian Ken Warby MBE, the Longbow jet hydroplane once the build is finished will be driven by serving Royal Navy pilot Lt David-John Gibbs.
Mr Aldred explained: “We wanted a welding system that was single phase, AC/DC and would weld aluminium as well as steel. As well as metalwork on the boat, we needed it for other applications such as engine mounting fabrication, pick-up points for lifting the hull and some of the engine cowling work.”
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