Overview

Blue Bird first developed its dedicated chassis for the All American Forward Engine Type D School Bus in 1952. Ever since, we have continued to build on our belief that transporting people demands a chassis specifically designed to do just that. Accordingly, our All American Forward Engine chassis boasts high levels of precision, durability, and optimization. We build premium quality into every proprietary Blue Bird feature, and choose supplier components with reliability and purpose in mind to provide outstanding performance and value throughout the full – and exceptionally enduring – Blue Bird bus life cycle.

Understanding that school routes often require navigation around tight turns, we have designed our All American Forward Engine chassis utilizing shorter wheelbases per body length than competitive products. This shorter wheelbase combined with our Hendrickson front axle and new, 50º maximum cut steering gear delivers superior maneuverability and handling on difficult routes, reducing the need for backing up to help drivers tackle the roads and traffic ahead of them.

Dedicated, purpose-built Blue Bird All American Forward Engine Chassis delivers high levels of durability, optimization, and safety for extended life cycle value.

The All American's Shorter Wheelbase combined with its Hendrickson Front Axle and 50º maximum cut steering gear provide increased maneuverability and superior handling/steering, allowing drivers to navigate tight turns and to negotiate more tight spots without backing up.

Cummins engines cater to customers' specific market needs with a variety of horsepower options, providing smooth, quiet, powerful performance and commendable fuel economy, while meeting or exceeding current emissions standards.

Easily adjustable tilt/telescoping steering column improves driver ergonomics and accessibility.

Optional 100-gallon diesel fuel tank between frame rails in rear overhang ensures maximum protection while offering increased range and greater flexibility in routing.

Premium components such as maintenance-free Huck Spin fasteners on all permanent frame fixtures contribute to the Blue Bird All American Forward Engine's strength and durability.

Our 3/16-inch thick, 12-inch high bumper with Blue Bird's signature "A" frame bracing on corners adds strength and reliability to the All American's chassis while protecting bodywork.

Blue Bird's FE body combines our renowned safety and durability advantages such as one-piece steel roof bows, formed one-piece wheel wells and full, off-the-chassis undercoating with new advances in visibility, serviceability, ergonomics, comfort, and stylish, modern design. The result is a bus that will last years longer, while pleasing everyone from drivers and passengers to mechanics and Transportation Managers.

A 33% larger windshield, bonded to add structural strength to the All American's unitized body, provides unexcelled visibility. Its raised sightline eliminates ducking and craning to see traffic lights when drivers are stopped at the limit line.

Blue Bird's Panoramic Sightline, now including an enlarged driver's side window, increases the driver's view around the loading/unloading zone, increasing the safety of the All American Forward Engine Type D School Bus.

Blue Bird's trademark one-piece roof bows, now made with High Strength Low Alloy steel provide maximum roll-over strength.

Wiring is numbered and color coded for easy service, reducing downtime of the Blue Bird All American Forward Engine.

A variety of seat plans and configurations, including track seating and special needs options, offer customers optimal flexibility to meet specific passenger needs. Available capacities on the All American Forward Engine range from 54 to 90 students.

One-piece roof sheets from window top to window top and riveted construction add extra strength and durability to the Blue Bird All American FE.

Four full-length, 16 gauge exterior side rub rails are positioned to offer optimum strength and protection and are specifically designed to resist penetration on side collisions; rails are dimpled at bottom fasteners to facilitate drainage and prevent corrosion.

Drip molding visors embossed in the Blue Bird All American's roof sheets over each window minimize corrosion by eliminating a need for an additional metal joint and permitting ventilation during inclement weather.

Full-length, 16-gauge exterior side rub rails are positioned to offer optimum strength and protection and are specifically designed to resist penetration on side collisions; rails are dimpled at bottom fasteners to facilitate drainage and prevent corrosion.

The All American's ergonomic wrap-around driver's area put key functions, gauges, and switches where drivers need them the most. This accessibility ensures that driver attention remains focused, further contributing to the safety of the vehicle.

Blue Bird's integrated Comfort Aire A/C offering provides greater efficiency and quality than competitor aftermarket systems because the Comfort Aire system is designed in harmony with other OEM installed components.

Mineral Wool Insulation provides better vertical integrity than the fiberglass competitive buses use, and does not wick corrosive moisture into body cavities as fiberglass can do, adding to durability and total life cycle value.

The Blue Bird All American Forward Engine school bus not only offers safety and security, but it also directly caters to special needs students. Blue Bird understands that special needs passengers require unique features and has engineered these qualities into the design of the Blue Bird All American Forward Engine to provide peace of mind for parents and transportation professionals.

Specific Special Needs Equipment/Options on the Blue Bird All American Forward Engine school bus include:

• Recessed wheelchair track and tie-down for safe and secure transport
• Increased maneuverability from the short wheelbase and superior handling/steering to enable tight turn and curbside pick-ups if needed
• Smooth operating, ADA-compliant wheelchair lifts from suppliers including Braun and Ricon and flexible wheelchair securement track locations
• Optional flat floor for maximum configuration flexibility
• Comfort Aire, Blue Bird's integrated air conditioning systems, for maintaining passenger compartment temperatures with maximum efficiency and the quality only provided from an OEM installed component
• Exceptional passenger ride quality with Blue Bird's energy absorbing rubber isolater mounting system

For more information or a complete list of specifications for the Blue Bird All American Forward Engine, please download a .pdf copy of our Blue Bird All American Forward Engine brochures. If you would like to request a paper version of any of these brochures, you may do so by navigating to our literature order form.