FBO tugs

[RNB]

New to me plane brought home yesterday. Shared hangar, used to leaving plane at FBO, they put it away. After an hour yesterday they called and said they had no way of doing this with available equipment, must use tug bar. I'm grateful they did not risk the plane. Is this true for most RV10s or is there some way of tugging this along. I think rear part of the wheel pant design was the culprit and there was nowhere to strap.

I think I need to add a "no tug" label to the wheel pant.

 

[Toobuilder]

Shared hangar, used to leaving plane at FBO, they put it away.

I have to be honest. I don’t know what these words mean.

 

[kirkbauer]

I just parked at an FBO a few days ago and I heard them saying they would need to use a special adapter to move my RV10.

 

[dvalle]

New to me plane brought home yesterday. Shared hangar, used to leaving plane at FBO, they put it away. After an hour yesterday they called and said they had no way of doing this with available equipment, must use tug bar. I'm grateful they did not risk the plane. Is this true for most RV10s or is there some way of tugging this along. I think rear part of the wheel pant design was the culprit and there was nowhere to strap.

I think I need to add a "no tug" label to the wheel pant.

Yes, a bit hard to understand. Assume you have been used to a certified plane, they all are much more designed for a tow bar/tug capability. Now on my 4th RV (2-6A. 7A, 9A), none of them work well with any tow bar/tug. Pulling forward, things are pretty good, pushing backward takes extreme caution. I always do it by hand by pushing the tail down and usually have help maneuvering when moving backwards but when alone, cautiously use a tow bar. RV10 may be better, for your sake, I hope so

 

[RNB]

I have to be honest. I don’t know what these words mean.

The plane I sold was a 172.
New plane is a 10.

 

[catmandu]

I have to be honest. I don’t know what these words mean.

Our society has taken to constructing sentences as if we are texting, a fault I also have, too often for my late mother’s taste.

 

[toolmanmike]

You will need an adapter built for your nose wheel. We have a 10 at my field and it can be tugged in 2 ways. either the adapter snaps into the nose wheel pant and attaches to a tow bar ( guy made a full tow bar that stays with his plane) or the electric tug with the “scoop” up front is used with a set of chalks on the scoop so the wheel pant does not come in contact with the front of the scoop. Either way, you have to get creative with the solution.

 

[MacCool]

Yes, a bit hard to understand. Assume you have been used to a certified plane, they all are much more designed for a tow bar/tug capability. Now on my 4th RV (2-6A. 7A, 9A), none of them work well with any tow bar/tug. Pulling forward, things are pretty good, pushing backward takes extreme caution. I always do it by hand by pushing the tail down and usually have help maneuvering when moving backwards but when alone, cautiously use a tow bar. RV10 may be better, for your sake, I hope so

I'm confused by this. Maybe my 9A is different than yours somehow. I have found towing with a tug or Bogert tow bar, forward or backward, to be pretty straightforward. Attach it to the axle lugs and off you go.

I use a Best Tugs Alpha 2. Probably not enough for an RV-10, but I'll bet that an Alpha 3 would work well.

 

[rocketman1988]

I have a Best Tug B8 and have zero issues moving my -10 around, pushing or pulling.

How I got the B8 is a different story.

 

[rvmills]

New to me plane brought home yesterday. Shared hangar, used to leaving plane at FBO, they put it away. After an hour yesterday they called and said they had no way of doing this with available equipment, must use tug bar. I'm grateful they did not risk the plane. Is this true for most RV10s or is there some way of tugging this along. I think rear part of the wheel pant design was the culprit and there was nowhere to strap.

I think I need to add a "no tug" label to the wheel pant.

I have to be honest. I don’t know what these words mean.

Michael, I'm pretty sure he means he keeps his plane at an FBO, where it shares space with other aircraft...probably corporate jets, from the sound of it. It's very typical for the jet guys to be shut down at a pax drop point, and the FBO ramp crew puts the jet away. It's very much Gucci valet parking, and the FBO parks the jets and planes in the manner they need to to fit them in the hangar. They are often allowed to move any plane in the hangar as needed to get other planes in and out. There is a lot of trust in this environment. In this case, the ramp crew doesn't have the right tow bar for the RV-10.

@RNB, having operated out of a lot of FBOs for work, recommend you find a tow solution that is safe for your plane, and take the time with the ramp crew to train them how to move your plane, especially if they are backing your plane. They should have insurance, but the repair is your PITA if they mess it up.

Cheers,
Bob

 

[Amadeus]

I have to be honest. I don’t know what these words mean.

Who puts your plane away? Never experienced this level of service anywhere. I'm certain that once I did I could never go back.

As an avid alpine skier I have struggled getting in and out of boots for many years. One (corporate paid) trip to Aspen I had a ski valet who helped me in and out of my boots as well as carried my skis alongside to the first lift/gondola so I could enjoy a cup of coffee or cocoa on the walk. Now I sit around the base station asking all passerby if they will put my boots on for me and carry my skis. Alas, I always end up doing it myself.

Somehow I see myself forever putting away my own bird, too.

 

[Toobuilder]

The plane I sold was a 172.
New plane is a 10.

What I mean is, I didn’t even know that somebody could move your airplane for you. Didn’t even know that was a thing in the GA world. I’ve been flying for 30 years and to my knowledge, nobody has ever moved one of my airplanes

 

[togaflyer]

If the FBOs tow bar works on a Cirrus it should work on the -10 if the standard Vans install was used.

 

[thodgdon]

My takeaway from all this is that it’s a high-quality problem to have!! We’ve been using a homemade *steel* tow bar for 16 years that weighs a ton but works. Probably need to pick up a Bogert tow bar to keep in the plane

 

[Auburntsts]

I guess it depends on the FBO. I’ve had my 10 towed numerous times without issue for a variety of reasons, although it usually was because they had to move it to another tie down during an overnight stay somewhere. I fly with a Bogert Bogi-bar if I need to move it myself and at home I have a Best Tugs A3.

 

[RNB]

If the FBOs tow bar works on a Cirrus it should work on the -10 if the standard Vans install was used.

I looked at a Cirrus and agree. They said no when I asked. I think it was about the posterior portion of the fairing, or else fairing just 1/2" lower on a 10.

 

[Dugaru]

What I mean is, I didn’t even know that somebody could move your airplane for you. Didn’t even know that was a thing in the GA world. I’ve been flying for 30 years and to my knowledge, nobody has ever moved one of my airplanes

Sometimes in leases for shared hangars the owners are actually prohibited from moving their own planes in and out of the hangar.

 

[Jesse23]

I keep the Bogart in the plane and if the FBO has to move it, they use the supplied tow bar as advised beforehand. Like the idea of a decal/label No Tow.

I rarely have to have someone else move it.

 

[J. Lorusso]

I had the same issue when I started flying long cross country flights with our RV-10, none of the FBO’s had the right tow bar adapter (or at least they were not sure what ones to use since the 10 is not on their adapter list) so I would try and pre arrange where they wanted us to park, or sometimes they would move it by hand with our supplied tow bar.

All of the FBO’s we have been to use the Brackett TR tow bar, and some of them had let us try a few of there adapters to see what ones would fit. In the end…..we installed a homemade version of these https://bogertaviation.com/products/rv10-rv14-tow-pin-kits
these pins are the same dimension as a 172/182 so it makes it easier and safer for the FBO‘s or maintenance facilities to safely move the aircraft if needed, you will have to make sure the opening in the wheel pant is large enough as well.

 

[FlyNSoCal]

I'm considering building the RV-10. How hard is the RV-10 to push/pull solo? For example, you fly to a different airport and must push the RV-10 into a parking spot solo, is it doable, or must you have some sort of power tow or seek assistance from others? My Skylane (Empty Weight ~1900 lbs) requires 100% of my effort on flat ground, and if there is a slope, forget it. I wonder if wheel diameter affects it as well.

 

[jcarne]

I have never had an FBO have what they need to tug my plane. I always tell them if they need to move it it will have to be by hand. Pretty easy to do and I usually help them. There are many FBOs that don't have chocks that fit too so carry your own, always.

 

[RNB]

I'm considering building the RV-10. How hard is the RV-10 to push/pull solo? For example, you fly to a different airport and must push the RV-10 into a parking spot solo, is it doable, or must you have some sort of power tow or seek assistance from others? My Skylane (Empty Weight ~1900 lbs) requires 100% of my effort on flat ground, and if there is a slope, forget it. I wonder if wheel diameter affects it as well.

Similar to a 172

 

[RNB]

I had the same issue when I started flying long cross country flights with our RV-10, none of the FBO’s had the right tow bar adapter (or at least they were not sure what ones to use since the 10 is not on their adapter list) so I would try and pre arrange where they wanted us to park, or sometimes they would move it by hand with our supplied tow bar.

All of the FBO’s we have been to use the Brackett TR tow bar, and some of them had let us try a few of there adapters to see what ones would fit. In the end…..we installed a homemade version of these https://bogertaviation.com/products/rv10-rv14-tow-pin-kits
these pins are the same dimension as a 172/182 so it makes it easier and safer for the FBO‘s or maintenance facilities to safely move the aircraft if needed, you will have to make sure the opening in the wheel pant is large enough as well.

Can you better explain how that product works? Do they go on and stay on? What about them allows a fbo connect?

I’ve only seen where they want to put the front tire on a metal plate while wrapping a strap around to secure.

 

[rocketman1988]

I'm considering building the RV-10. How hard is the RV-10 to push/pull solo? For example, you fly to a different airport and must push the RV-10 into a parking spot solo, is it doable, or must you have some sort of power tow or seek assistance from others? My Skylane (Empty Weight ~1900 lbs) requires 100% of my effort on flat ground, and if there is a slope, forget it. I wonder if wheel diameter affects it as well.

If you have a bogi bar or similar, it is possible. I am 6’1” and 270 lbs and it takes a substantial effort if there is any slope to the ramp, when pushing it. Pulling is an effort but not as much.

I don’t think I would want to try it if the ramp was slippery…

 

[Kyle Boatright]

I'm considering building the RV-10. How hard is the RV-10 to push/pull solo? For example, you fly to a different airport and must push the RV-10 into a parking spot solo, is it doable, or must you have some sort of power tow or seek assistance from others? My Skylane (Empty Weight ~1900 lbs) requires 100% of my effort on flat ground, and if there is a slope, forget it. I wonder if wheel diameter affects it as well.

The RV will be a couple hundred pounds lighter which will help. Maintaining tire pressure (I use 50 psi) is important. I move mine around fine on flat ground. It is slightly uphill into my hangar and for a 20’ push or pull it isn’t a problem. I’m 5’7 165 if that tells you much.

 

[J. Lorusso]

Can you better explain how that product works? Do they go on and stay on? What about them allows a fbo connect?

I’ve only seen where they want to put the front tire on a metal plate while wrapping a strap around to secure.

The product referenced replaces the factory tow points with a larger tow pin. Both the factory pins and the ones referenced are permanently installed.