The 747 is the only airline transport I know of that can have the pushback tug connect
to either the front or rear of the nosegear
It’s rare to see the tug underneath the fuselage pushing or pulling from this position though
Couple of questions, my theory on this ability to connect in the front or the rear is when space in front of the parked aircraft at the gate is too tight for the large tug that’s required then you just connect it to the rear
There’s so much space beneath the fuselage it’s not a problem
Can anyone provide more insight and are there any other aircraft with this facility?
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- Channex757
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Re: Towing the 747
This is going to be more a function of the tug than the aircraft. Only a low height tug could do it. I've see the A346 handled like this but can't recall it being regular practice.
It also needs sufficient clearance of the aircraft's belly. A low height wheel pickup tug would be the best solution. The new remote electric tugs will be able to do the job as they are very low height thanks to not needing a cab for a driver. They are not really suitable for a long tow/push around an airport; more the solution for gate manoeuvring and pushback to the engine start point.
It also needs sufficient clearance of the aircraft's belly. A low height wheel pickup tug would be the best solution. The new remote electric tugs will be able to do the job as they are very low height thanks to not needing a cab for a driver. They are not really suitable for a long tow/push around an airport; more the solution for gate manoeuvring and pushback to the engine start point.
Re: Towing the 747
We used to push (pull?) from underneath in inclement weather. Not really sure it made a difference, but it's what we did. Towing from below was a little different, and only did it for push back. If we need to pull the aircraft forward, we would disconnect and hook up from the front.
I haven't seen one towed from the aft lug in a couple of decades.
I haven't seen one towed from the aft lug in a couple of decades.
Re: Towing the 747
Aft lugs are common for aircraft recovery if they happen to leave a runway.
Re: Towing the 747
777s have them too. Clearance is less of a problem on a -300 than a -200.
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- speedbird52
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Re: Towing the 747
I had no idea this is possible. I am intrigued.
Re: Towing the 747
If somebody tells me how to post a phone pic on this site, Ill post a picture
Re: Towing the 747
Being that our hanger is almost to small for a 747, we would quit often tow from the rear of the nose gear going into and out of the hanger.
Last edited by stratclub on Mon Jun 04, 2018 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Towing the 747
zeke wrote:Aft lugs are common for aircraft recovery if they happen to leave a runway.
Yes of course, but from the main gear usually. The main gear have lunette eyes built into the main gear for that purpose. Trying to tow a stuck aircraft from the nose gear could cause severe damage to the aircraft.
Lunette eye between tires on main gear.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 747-8I.jpg
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- speedbird52
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Re: Towing the 747
stratclub wrote:zeke wrote:Aft lugs are common for aircraft recovery if they happen to leave a runway.
Yes of course, but from the main gear usually. The main gear have lunette eyes built into the main gear for that purpose. Trying to tow a stuck aircraft from the nose gear could cause severe damage to the aircraft.
Lunette eye between tires on main gear.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 747-8I.jpg
Has anyone found a photo of this happening?
Re: Towing the 747
Max Q wrote:The 747 is the only airline transport I know of that can have the pushback tug connect
to either the front or rear of the nosegear
It’s rare to see the tug underneath the fuselage pushing or pulling from this position though
Couple of questions, my theory on this ability to connect in the front or the rear is when space in front of the parked aircraft at the gate is too tight for the large tug that’s required then you just connect it to the rear
There’s so much space beneath the fuselage it’s not a problem
Can anyone provide more insight and are there any other aircraft with this facility?
I've used the aft Nose gear towbar hookup only a few times in 33 Years @ SFO. Both Docking and De-docking a B747 into and out of Dock #1 at the MOC and the Superbay Dock #1.. You Have to be careful as the nose of the airplane moves exactly opposite normal towing when working from the aft pintile.
Re: Towing the 747
I can't find an image of a B747 with a tow vehicle under it, but if you Google "t-500 tow vehicle" and select images, you'll see a pic of the tow vehicle we used.
Re: Towing the 747
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MLR_e0sHgJE
Above is the link to a video of a 777 being towed like this.
Here are a couple more examples including the 747SP
Above is the link to a video of a 777 being towed like this.
Here are a couple more examples including the 747SP
Re: Towing the 747
speedbird52 wrote:stratclub wrote:zeke wrote:Aft lugs are common for aircraft recovery if they happen to leave a runway.
Yes of course, but from the main gear usually. The main gear have lunette eyes built into the main gear for that purpose. Trying to tow a stuck aircraft from the nose gear could cause severe damage to the aircraft.
Lunette eye between tires on main gear.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 747-8I.jpg
Has anyone found a photo of this happening?
Seen what happening? Sorry.You would not see aircrafts nose gear or supporting structure damage by exceeding towing loads on the nose gear during recovery operations because recovery operations are performed in accordance with approved technical data as provided by the aircraft manufacture.
If it is possible that towing limits on the nose gear would exceed design limits, then the Lunette eyes on the main gear would be used for towing if appropriate.
Re: Towing the 747
Great pictures
Any other aircraft that can do this, what about the L1011 ?
The DC10 angled nose gear would seem to preclude this but what about Airbus, can any of their wide bodies connect a tug from behind the nose gear ?
Any other aircraft that can do this, what about the L1011 ?
The DC10 angled nose gear would seem to preclude this but what about Airbus, can any of their wide bodies connect a tug from behind the nose gear ?
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- FlyDeltaJets
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Re: Towing the 747
Many times on the 747 that feature is used to tow the aircraft to nose main deck cargo systems that are integrated into the cargo building.
Re: Towing the 747
FlyDeltaJets wrote:Many times on the 747 that feature is used to tow the aircraft to nose main deck cargo systems that are integrated into the cargo building.
Interesting, had not thought of that
Do you have any pictures?
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- AST1Driver
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Re: Towing the 747
All wide body aircraft that I have worked have this capability. The only limitations would be the hight of the tug being used and the location of any antenna or drain mast under the aircraft.
Re: Towing the 747
The BA Tug blokes around the Hangars at LHR frequently tow like this... very common.
I’ve done it a few times on 777’s.....
Easy enough for a competant Driver.
I’ve done it a few times on 777’s.....
Easy enough for a competant Driver.
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