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You’re an adult now. Taxes, bills, appointments, and responsibilities. No surprises there. However, at one point in your early childhood, you may have mouthed siren noises as you played with a shiny toy fire truck. Better yet, your imagination probably ran wild when you gazed up at street-going or airport fire truck apparatuses. Well, the biggest airport-bound fire truck of them all might have you feeling like you’re six years old again.

The Falcon 8×8, the biggest airport fire truck in the world, will take you back to toy trucks and Transformers action figures

If you’ve seen a fire apparatus while traveling, you’ve likely noticed that many countries operate smaller emergency vehicles than those in the United States. There are reasons for that, from the availability of water sources to the classifications of buildings to the size of streets. However, when it comes to the biggest fire truck in the world, one airport fire apparatus has American rigs beat: the Falcon 8×8.

The massive aluminum-and-fiberglass truck certainly evokes childhood images of sleek toy fire trucks. But there is definitely a method behind the dramatic styling. The Falcon 8×8 is a fast intervention vehicle with over 1,400 horsepower to quickly transport its life-saving crew. 

However, you won’t find the Falcon 8×8 responding to structure fires and motor vehicle accidents (MVAs). It’s an airport fire truck apparatus, meaning it responds almost exclusively to runway fires, spills, crashes, and incidents. As you might imagine, aircraft fires burn hot and potently. So, to accomplish its task, the Falcon 8×8 carries over 4,225 gallons of water and 500 gallons of firefighting foam.  

The Falcon 8x8 airport fire truck looks like a real version of a fancy toy fire truck.
The Falcon 8×8 | NAFFCO

It seems almost too apropos that Dubai would be the home of the Falcon 8×8. Just 35 years ago, the city in the United Arab Emirates looked a bit like 1950s Las Vegas. A desert landscape teeming with potential, but not a lot going on. Fast forward to today, and Dubai is a fabulously wealthy metropolis with over three million residents. Pair that with the sky-stabbing Burj Khalifa and the hulking Falcon airport fire truck seems right at home in Dubai. 

To give you an idea of just how big the Falcon is, the tractor-drawn aerial apparatus in my former department would reach over 100 feet. However, even with the massive, telescopic aerial ladder system, it is the better part of 20 feet shorter than the Falcon 8×8 when it’s on the road.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).