Hi Fred,
My first attempt was with a super long bar. Maybe not quite 10 feet but at least 6. That did not seem to be all that good especially if I needed to turn around any sort of corner. So I cut it short to about 2 feet and it’s a helluva lot easier to work with but no easier to control direction . Not much more difficult either for me. Maybe it’s a left-handed right handed thing LOL.
Think I’ll get around to trying a dust pan shaped nose gear lifter and let y’all know how that works.
John
From: Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Frederick Moreno
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 8:26 AM
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Subject: [LML] Ride on mowers for tugging airplanes
We have a hangar full of airplanes including a Cirrus and a C182 RG at our local airport. All are moved quickly with an old recycled ride-on lawnmower. The secret: a VERY long tow bar (think 10 feet plus) made of 3/4 inch square steel tubing with a yoke that is pulled apart to engage the nose wheel, and then released to close into position. The tow bar is then connected to the lawnmower. The long tow bar makes backing the aircraft into position very easy because the reaction to any misalignment is slow enough to be easy to correct. With a little practice I have watched as they wheel an airplane out, then the second one, then put the first one back including a sharp turn to angle it against the side wall. It is a thing of beauty. But it takes a LONG tow bar. |
|
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3881 - Release Date: 09/06/11