Working on the ideal single engine tug!

Hello Alex,

Sporty's has a variety of tugs and tow bars, even a couple "deluxe
models" in the $1000.00 price range for any of you out there who
happen to have any cash left in this era of $5+/gallon Avgas! Here's
what Sporty's already has: http://www.sportys.com/tug/

Sounds like a risky proposition, unless you target the higher end twins
and small biz jet market. Maybe Eclipse would consider including one of
these as an accessory, but their "$1MM jet" is already up to $1.3MM...
sigh Cirrus may be interested too, but you would have to design a
parachute into, just in case... grin

Happy flying this weekend to everyone!

"Pixie Aviatrix"
Seattle, WA
__________________________________________________ _________________
TugMan wrote:
Alright all you pilots, linemen and pseudo-engineers...I am in the
process of designing the perfect single engine aircraft tug! My
company, ForkliftsDirect.com currently carries a line of aircraft tugs
ideal for planes from 12,500 MGTOW up to 30,000 MGTOW. What we've found
is that there is a lacking in the marketplace for a tug that is
designed for the single engine owner. So, here's where you come in. In
a perfect world, how would you like to see a tug for your airplane
equipped? How does it attach to the aircraft? Towbars? Clamp & Lift
mechanism? A simple platform with safety straps? Should the unit be
electric or gas? Walk behind or rideable? Any info would be quite
helpful to this project and is greatly appreciated. We hope to have a
rendering and specs in time for Osh Kosh this year. If you are
interested in what we are all about please check out the website above
or look for us in the Osh Kosh edition of "Twin & Turbine" magazine.

Regards,

Alex Elkin
ForkliftsDirect.com
877-736-7554
877-936-7554 - fax

"PixieAviatrix" wrote

TugMan wrote:
Alright all you pilots, linemen and pseudo-engineers...I am in the
process of designing the perfect single engine aircraft tug!

Powerplant should be the cheap 4 cycle weedeater engine, like the ones Ryobi
makes. Attach on axle ends, with a pneumatic wheel (wheelbarrow size) gear
and chain driven that is forced to the pavement or grass by lever action of
the steering arm pressing it into the ground. It should be steerable by a
crank on the end of the handle turning a worm gear to pivot the driving
wheel, all the way around in a 360 degree circle, which will also give you
the forward or reverse function. Centrifugal clutch, with disk brake
holding it still while throttle lever is at idle, with the addition of a
parking brake lever to facilitate starting the engine. All up weight should
be no more than 40 pounds. Cost no more than 450 dollars. Foldable to no
more than 36 inches long.
--
Jim in NC