Ground reinforcement solution to facilitate the movement of a large-scale museum aircraft.
Customer: RAS Cosford
Location: Cosford, Shropshire
Timeline: 2-day hire (During April 2026)
Product: 100+ K-Mat Overlap Roadway Panels
RAF Cosford faced a complex logistical challenge: relocating one of its signature, large-scale aircraft across the museum grounds for essential restoration work. While the move was necessary, the transit route posed a significant problem. The path crossed primary visitor areas, manicured grass lawns designed for public seating and enjoyment.
Given the immense weight and scale of the aircraft, the ground was at extreme risk of deep rutting and compaction. The museum required a solution that was extremely heavy-duty to support the plane’s concentrated wheel loads, yet protective enough to keep the grass quality for visitors once the project was complete.
To facilitate RAF Cosford’s needs, we supplied our NEW K-Mat Overlap Roadway Panels to support the aircraft and create a dedicated trackway route for the tow vehicle. With a high-performance 160-tonne load capacity, these panels were the perfect choice for a plane of this immense size and weight. The specialised overlapping edge design makes these heavy-duty panels exceptionally easy to install, as each panel is securely connected using countersunk cam-locks.
This locking system was critical for the move, as it created a unified, flush surface with zero movement, ensuring the aircraft could be transitioned smoothly across the site without any risk of the mats shifting.
Objectives
- Flat surface to move aircraft
- Heavy weight support
- Protect the ground underneath
Installation
The matting was installed using a compact loader to overlap panels, then connected by hand with the cam-lock system.
Benefits
- Quick deployment with equipment
- Unique dual grip capability
- Easy installation process
- Avoid vehicles from bogging
Comments
The mats gave a rock-solid, flush surface a bit like a runway for this move that protected our grassed areas, where normally tyre tracks and wheel spins would’ve happened and needed some repair.
Project Manager
Conclusion
The Overlap K-Mats performed exactly as expected, ensuring the project ran smoothly across the two-day operation. Because these mats provided an ideal surface for the initial move, the site team has already confirmed they will be using the K-Mat Overlap Roadway Panels again for the second phase, once the restoration is complete to return the aircraft to its original position.
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