HFS
Well Known Member
Here's a pic of my homemade tug I use on my Rocket. I used to push it around by hand, but getting too old for that now.
This one uses a 24 VDC gear motor out of a powered wheelchair, and a hand grip throttle for speed control. A large DPDT switch (sized mostly for convenience) changes direction.
Because of the surface conditions, I needed quite a bit of "tractive" effort to move the plane - consequently that is why I have two, heavy duty 12 VDC batteries in series, and a 45 lb steel ballast weight underneath the frame + the weight of the tail wheel centered over the drive wheels.
Yes, I have to lift (see "stored" handle on tug handle) the TW into the tug socket - but have done that in my self powered version for the last 20 years - and it's no "biggie". Maybe it will be someday, but not yet.
It does what I need it to do - just one more way to skin that cat.
YMMV - probably for the better.
HFS
HR II S/N 002
This one uses a 24 VDC gear motor out of a powered wheelchair, and a hand grip throttle for speed control. A large DPDT switch (sized mostly for convenience) changes direction.
Because of the surface conditions, I needed quite a bit of "tractive" effort to move the plane - consequently that is why I have two, heavy duty 12 VDC batteries in series, and a 45 lb steel ballast weight underneath the frame + the weight of the tail wheel centered over the drive wheels.
Yes, I have to lift (see "stored" handle on tug handle) the TW into the tug socket - but have done that in my self powered version for the last 20 years - and it's no "biggie". Maybe it will be someday, but not yet.
It does what I need it to do - just one more way to skin that cat.
YMMV - probably for the better.
HFS
HR II S/N 002