[Shop-talk] airplane tugger

[Berry Kercheval]

Or you could try to make something like this:

http://www.sportys.com/PilotShop/product/13033

Sent from my iPad

On Jul 4, 2012, at 3:04 PM, "Karl Vacek" <kvacek at ameritech.net> wrote:

> If this is for a light plane on hard surface, something generally like this
> (first Google hit - I don't know about this particular brand):
> http://airtug.com/  can be built very simply and cheaply using a starter
> motor (or a winch motor) and small pneumatic wheels, with a 12-volt car
> battery for power.
>
> These can be built in nosewheel or tailwheel-airplane configuration.  For a
> tailwheel design, Google "Taildragger Dragger" - probably the oldest brand
> out there, and they work.  Copy one of those and it'll serve you well.
>
> If it's going onto grass, though, the problem gets much more difficult.  I
> pull the Stearman (2500 lbs. more or less with full fuel and no crew) out
> (when I'm too tired or lazy to just push it) with a 17-HP Craftsman lawn
> tractor.  Problem is, it's only 2-wheel drive and even when I get it to not
> spin one wheel, it can easily spin both at once.  For grass, it really
needs
> 4-wheel drive.
>
> If you would consider other options than a mobile unit,  I winch the plane
> back in with a Horrible Freight 2,000 pouund ($49.95) winch and a car
> battery - no problem at all.  I'm next planning to install a ground anchor
> about 35 feet out in front of the hangar and clip a snatch block on there
to
> allow me to use the winch to pull the plane out as well.
>
> Karl
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Niolon
> Subject: [Shop-talk] airplane tugger
>
> A friend has been offered me the the 'opportunity' to help him build an
> airplane tugger... (motorized unit to pull/push light plane in and out of
> the
> hanger...   don't want big, bulky...don't want gas powered.  Want something
> a average person could operate easily
> _______________________________________________
>
> Shop-talk at autox.team.net
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Suggested annual donation  $12.96
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage:
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/berry@kerch.com