PC680-powered RV-6 dragger/tug

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by Scott Hersha

Sure wish I had a set of plans for this.

Hey.....we build airplanes.....we should be able to figure this out from a couple of photos....give creativity a chance to run free.

Nice tug, and yes, a MIG (with gas bottle) is a great tool for the shop.

[rocketbob]

Very nicely done. I am curious if the wheelchair gearboxes and motors could provide enough torque for a much heavier airplane. I have been contemplating building something similar to move the Comanche 260B I just bought.

[Tomcat RV4]

The other option used is a used garden tractor/riding lawn mower, work very well and watching garage sales/ local adds can usually be $100-150

[Canadian_JOY]

Bob - if you do a search through posts here by Troy Branch you'll see he posted a link to his homemade tug, built to move his RV10. It's a similar concept but of course intended for a nose dragger airplane. His design works well, including offering variable speed control.

Personally, I opted to go very heavy duty and purchased an AeroTow tug very similar to the current GetJet model. It's old as the hills but built like an absolute tank. It was intended to move airplanes up to about 8000lbs and looks overbuilt even for that purpose. I love the idea that it gets the nose wheel off the ground, using the weight on the nose wheel to help provide additional traction.

[JordanGrant]

Originally Posted by Scott Hersha

Sure wish I had a set of plans for this.

I've considered trying to write a submission for Kitplanes. Even if I don't do that, I'll try to write down some of the key things once I reach a final configuration, to make it easy to replicate (i.e. dimensions, angles, part sources). As was mentioned, the MIG welder (with gas) makes the structural stuff pretty easy to make.

[Snowflake]

Do you lift the tailwheel off the ground while moving, or does it just pull the tail along with the wheel running on the ground?

[JordanGrant]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Do you lift the tailwheel off the ground while moving, or does it just pull the tail along with the wheel running on the ground?

It works either way, actually. It's easier to turn/steer the tug with the tailwheel up, and lifting the tail puts all the weight on the tug wheels, which helps with traction (on a smooth hangar floor, the tug wheel can spin unless you load them up).

[JordanGrant]

Video of the tug in action:

https://youtu.be/g7t8pDY0A8U

[Alchemist]

Great project, I love wheel chair motors! I built a smart phone version a few years ago.

https://youtu.be/OVl8BZiq0EU

[6ato14a]

Loved the tug pushing the Citabria
How does it attach to the tailwheel?
Would it work on rv-a model?
Any more pictures?