What do you call the little thing that backs the airplanes up, and how are they able to push the planes?

Question

Sorry, but I didn't know how else to word it lol.

Answer 1

They're called pushbacks, towtractors, and tugs. In General Aviation, the little tractors you see pulling baggage carts for commercial airlines are used as tugs, (so are pickup trucks, SUV's riding mowers and golf carts.)

But if you're flying a commercial airliner, most of them refer to them as pushbacks. They're able to move the airplane due to large engines, that produce enormous amounts of torque, and incredible gear reduction. A modern, half ton truck is doing 70 mph at 2000 RPM, the average pushback is doing, in top gear, about 17 mph in top gear.

They're able to control the aircraft because of the incredible weight of the vehicle for the size of it's engine and the massive braking power that it often has.

Two rules of thumb are that for low speeds, pushing away from a gate, or out of a hangar, across reasonably level and dry ground, the tractor needs to weigh 10% of the aircraft weight.

For higher speed, across airport trips for maintenance or incident recovery, the rule becomes that the the tug needs to be rated for at least 10% of it's draw bar capacity. A tug weighing 50K# typically has a drawbar capacity of 30K#, giving it a ramp limit of handling aircraft up to 500K#, and a cross country limit of 300k#.

I worked for a company that purchased an old tug from the Boeing plant in Seattle. It weighed 50K# and was powered by a 549 cubic inch, (9 liter,) V-8 gasoline engine, rated at 30K# drawbar, (draw bar being what you're guaranteed to be able to lift vertically with the thing, and then slightly de-rated for safety,) and had a top speed around 16-17 MPH. We bought it to use for a customer with a DC-9 airliner that weighed over a 100K#'s.

By comparison, an 8K#, one ton pickup uses a 7.something liter gas engine to tow more than double it's weight at interstate speeds in heavy traffic.

The torque of the engine, weight of the tractor, and brakes are the key. Electric motors, pound for pound, put out more low end torqe than simillary horsepower rated gasoline or diesel engines. The weight of the batteries required to operate an electric push back reduce the amount of metal that's required to give the push back the necessary weight, reducing he cost of the acquisition and icreasing thermal stability.

Hope I managed to answer your question.

Answer 2

Mine's no longer extremely as solid as a number of those, yet pondering the actual undeniable reality that i become an 11 twelve months old lady on the time, it become fairly dang scary. My dad is a private pilot (i'm preparation to grow to be one now). we've a small grass airstrip through our homestead and function a small hangar that we save our planes in. on the time, Dad had an old military Aeronca Champ (L16). We flew that plane plenty. This time although, we would lengthy previous out in the late afternoon and pa had enable me fly extremely some the day, for sure, even as it become time to land, he'd taken over the controls. It become getting on the point of time for the sunlight to set and our airstrip faces rapidly the position the sunlight is going down, so precise as dad positioned the flaps down, the sunlight hit that factor the position its midway below the horizon and midway above it, in the present day, the sunlight become virtually blinding. So, in a short decision, dad determined it may well be more beneficial efficient to circle lower back round and allow the sunlight set somewhat then land with out being waiting to work out. nicely, the placement become that as we began to climb, we clipped a tree limb, hence spinning the uncomplicated plane round in a one-80 that ended even as it smashed into the tree. The wing collapsed onto the in trouble-free words go out door. We managed to push open the door and we both climbed out. thankfully, the airplane did not capture fireplace, even although there become gasoline everywhere.

Answer 3

It's a tug. Either they use a towbar connected to the tug and the other end to the nose wheel. Thats like backing up with two trailers. Others have a platform that goes under the nosewheels and lifts nose of the plane up a bit. Those are a little easier to move around.

Answer 4

That would be a push back tractor and with its big diesel engine and low gearing I have pushed back a 747 with all 4 engines running at idle .. they are very Powerful vehicles

Answer 5

Because the tug is a pretty solid chunk of iron and the airplane is a long hollow aluminum tube, only LOOKS heavy. Well, it is heavy, but not as heavy as it looks. It can FLY you know.

Answer 6

I assume you're talking about airliners, and that little critter is called a tug. It won't run more than about 20 mph, but can pull a house down.

Answer 7

It is called a TUG. They have very low gears . They will not win race but they can pull building down

Answer 8

Its also called a push back. They are VERY heavy and very powerful.

Answer 9

They are called a tug. They are superbly strong but are very slow.

Answer 10

a tug,they weigh 15000 pounds