Aircraft Tug Archives

When You Need to Move an Aircraft, You Get a DJProducts AircraftCaddy

AircraftCaddy Delivery

We value our customers, and we love to hear when they have had an exceptional experience with us. Here are some of the things they have had to say about the AircraftCaddy.

The Aircraft

This customer owns a few small aircraft including the Vans RV-6A and Lancair Super ES. They came to us because they were struggling to move their fully fueled Super ES especially if the ground wasn’t dry. They said that given the unusual design of tow plate the AircraftCaddy 4k was the clear winner over the competition due to its ability to tow more weight than they needed and a versatile mounting solution.

Receiving and Operation

When it came to operation of the Aircraft Tug, the client was overjoyed with the whole process form receiving to assembling the AircraftCaddy they said, “I spent more time breaking down the crate than I did getting it open, assembling the tug and operating it.” Operating the tug was also exceedingly easy, so much so that they were able to film the use of the tug with one hand and operate it with the other hand. They were able to remove the aircraft and put it back in the hanger all one handed.

The Benefit of the AircraftCaddy

So, what was the benefit of this tug over the competition? This is what the customer has to say “The ACC 4K just makes it easy. Irrespective of which plane I want to fly, I no longer have the deflating experience of having to worry about how I’m going to get the planes in and out of the hangar, nor do I need to worry about how long it’s going to take.” We will let you make the decision.

If you are looking for solutions for moving aircraft big or small contact DJProducts, Call 800.686.2651 or use the handy online chat feature to learn more from our Sales Engineers.

Pilots Love the Maneuverability of the AircraftCaddy 4K/8K

Planes glide smoothly through the air, but on the ground it’s a whole other story. Moving aircraft in and out of hangars is a difficult and tedious job. Lighten the load with the AircraftCaddy, a battery-powered aircraft tug from DJ Products.

AircraftCaddy: Solution to Every Pilot’s Problem

How many employees does it take to move aircraft around an airfield? Not only do you need to keep a minimum number of people on hand for this task, but you incur additional costs if they become injured and you have to replace them.

Thanks to the AircraftCaddy, a single person can comfortable move small aircraft weighing up to 4,000 pounds. This frees up the rest of your staff to attend to other workday tasks while reducing the risk of injury from muscle or joint strain.

Much of the activity on an airfield takes place outdoors. Our aircraft tug is sturdy enough to function on a number of different surfaces, up and down inclines and during inclement weather.

Customers Sing the Praises of the AircraftCaddy

Don’t just take our word for it. Here are comments from one of our many satisfied customers, who spoke with DJ Products Sales Specialist Karl Koznick:

“Just ran the tug in and out of hangar with my Baron attached… very smooth, easy to maneuver and simple! Overall, very pleased with the caddy! Whoever designed it should be given kudos!”

Top AircraftCaddy Features

With these great features, it’s no surprise that the AircraftCaddy is so efficient and cost-effective:

* The AircraftCaddy is powered by three 12-volt batteries, making it eco-friendly and low maintenance.

* A high-tech speed controller and neutral throttle braking make operating the pusher simple for anyone.

* The AircraftCaddy’s ergonomic design reduces the chance of chronic injuries from repetitive motions.

* For the ultimate in convenience, add an optional remote control that allows you to move your aircraft at the touch of a button.

Want to Learn More About Our Aircraft Tug?

Our friendly and knowledgeable Sales Engineers are ready to help you choose the right product for your specific needs. Call 800.686.2651 or use our online chat feature for more information.

VIDEO: AircraftCaddy – The Quick & Easy Aircraft Tow Solution

Our line of AircraftCaddy Aircraft Tug solutions allow for faster and easier maneuverability of your personal aircraft. Quickly and seamlessly move your aircraft in, out and around tightly stacked hangars. Enjoy your travels and get to your destination faster.

DJ Products has solutions for all types of aircraft – from 3,000 up to 35,000 lbs. Whether your plane has wheel pants, is dual-nosed or single-nosed, we have an aircraft tug for your airplane. All of our AircraftCaddy solutions are customizable to ensure they fit your airplane.

Why Choose the AircraftCaddy?

All units are battery-powered for smooth and quiet operation
Cost-effective and virtually maintenance free
Zero emission eco-friendly solution
Maneuverable indoors or outdoors on a variety of terrain
Solutions for all aircraft types (with or without wheel pants, dual or single nose wheel, weights up to 35K lbs.)

Interested in more information about the AircraftCaddy? Contact us and a sales engineer will be in touch shortly!

Video: AircraftCaddy Aircraft Tug Customer Testimonial

The AircraftCaddy Aircraft Tug helps Tim Wall easily maneuver various airplanes in, out and around the hangar at Prescott Flying Club in St. Paul, MN.

Benefits:

Versatile: units can transport a variety of airplanes up to 35,000 lbs. for individual, FBO, or corporate aircraft ground equipment
Virtually maintenance-free compared to gas-guzzling plane tows
Battery-powered for smooth and quiet operation by a single person

Watch the video below to hear what Tim enjoys most about the AircraftCaddy. Contact a sales engineer at DJ Products to determine which unit is right for your airplane: 800-686-2651.

What to Do and Not Do When Moving Your Small Airplane

If you work at an airfield or fly small aircraft, you’ve probably towed a plane into position by pulling on the propellers—even though you’ve been warned not to. There’s a reason why professionals use an aircraft tug.

Never Pull a Prop by the Tip

When moving a small airplane by the propellers, there’s a greater risk for damage when your hand is farther from the hub. The blades bend, the bearings loosen, and you may need to replace the entire hub earlier than you should.

Pilots and ground crews debate plenty about tugging on the props. They all agree that you should at least hold it near the hub.

Push or Pull an Aircraft by Hand?

Your propellers can handle plenty of force, but why risk injury or accident? The exertion of twisting and pulling thousands of pounds in an awkward body stance can tear a muscle or build up to a repetitive stress injury.

Moving small aircraft by hand also makes it impossible to see in every direction. In tight spaces near hangar walls or other planes, it’s worth using a walk-behind aircraft tow for better visibility.

Get an Aircraft Tug You Will Want to Use

A user-friendly aircraft towing system will reduce the temptation to pull on propellers. The Lindbergh AircraftCaddy from DJ Products lets one person do the job easily. Our tugs come with options for 4,000 to 35,000 pounds, and for aircraft with or without wheel pants.

The AircraftCaddy removes most of the manual effort for towing small planes. For operations, it saves on employee time while reducing injury and damage risk.

For a better way to move small planes in and out of hangars, contact DJ Products or explore our site for battery-powered aircraft tugs.

30,000 FAA Workers to Be Moved From Federal to Private Sector Payrolls

Airline Tugs Make Hauling Planes into Tight Hangars Much More Manageable.

In an effort to save tax dollars, President Trump’s 2018 budget calls for the removal of 14,000 air traffic controllers and an additional 16,000 FAA employees from the federal workforce to a nongovernmental organization.

The White House claims reducing the FAA workforce by over 65 percent will not only benefit taxpayers but also improve service for airline passengers.

Airline industry divide on the plan

While on the federal payroll, FAA employees are subject to salary caps. That led the air traffic controllers union to support the proposal. National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) president, Paul Rinaldi notes the impact government shutdowns can have on air travel and the lack of available funding to add new controllers when needed.

When the plan was first presented to the Senate, it encountered strong bipartisan opposition. Opponents claimed reducing the FAA to the role of a regulatory oversight agency would be most damaging to smaller airports. The concern is that a privatized organization reporting to businesspeople would be more likely to overlook the interests of small airports. Resources like technical support and human resources would be primarily focused on the larger, busier airports.

Larger airlines vs smaller airports

Small airports are served by small airlines. While most people would not see much reason for large airlines to be concerned about competition from small airports, the largest airlines detest any amount of competition for passengers. Small airports must maximize manpower and be vigilant about finding ways to reduce costs.

Many airports are saving money with economical innovations like the DJ Products aircraft tug. The battery-powered tug allows one person to safely and easily maneuver aircraft in tight hangars. The sales engineers at DJ Products can help owners find the ideal aircraft tug for their business.

How Ergonomics Directs Force

AircraftCaddy 4K-8K Aircraft Tow

Muscling an airplane out of a hangar and onto the runway takes a fair amount of physical effort. Exert just a little too much force while your body twists during maneuvering and you could be spending weeks at the chiropractor. Ergonomic design directs force with maximum efficiency. When applied to aircraft tugs like Lindy’s motorized AircraftCaddys, ergonomic design allows airplane owners and FBO ground crews to move aircraft with minimum physical effort, significantly decreasing the risk of muscle strain and injury.

Think about the forces at work when you push and pull an aircraft out of the hangar and onto the runway. Four forces come into play:

Starting force. The greatest effort is required to initiate movement. Considerable effort must be exerted to overcome resistance created by inertia, friction and gravity. Greater force is always necessary to start or stop a wheel turning than to keep that wheel in motion.
Sustained force. Also called rolling force, sustained force is the effort required to keep a moving object in motion. Once a towed aircraft is moving at a constant rate of speed, inertial resistance falls nearly to zero. Some effort may be required for maneuvering — slowing down, speeding up or turning — but little effort is required to keep the plane moving.
Turning force. When an aircraft is turned, two forces create difficulty. Inertia must be overcome to accelerate in a new direction, and friction between the ground and wheel must be overcome. Because momentum will want to keep the plane traveling in its original trajectory, significant force must be applied to change direction. Turning often results in asymmetric and uncomfortable body postures, over extension and overexertion that can result in injury.
Stopping force. As with starting, the same forces must be counteracted to bring a rolling object to a full stop.

Lindy’s motorized AircraftCaddys use ergonomic design to mitigate force and reduce injury risk.

Browse our selection of quality, American made aircraft tugs.

New Aircraft Designs Aim to Decrease Fuel Usage

Back in 2010, many people thought changing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) law to improve the average car fuel economy from 27.5 mpg to 37.8 mpg by 2016 was an ambitious proposal. That was a 37 percent improvement. The Tech Journal reports that researchers from MIT, with the help of a NASA grant, have developed an aircraft design that will improve the fuel efficiency of planes by 70 percent.

Moving aircraft efficiently in the air

NASA established a $2.1 million dollar research contract for the development of a new generation of subsonic passenger planes. NASA provided different grants to Lockheed Martin and Boeing for designing supersonic planes. Researchers at MIT developed a “double bubble” concept for their subsonic aircraft proposal. It features a dual fuselage design with these compartments being side by side and resembling two bubbles that have fused with one another. This shorter and wider fuselage with a tail-mounted engine provides more seating capacity and improves the loading and unloading process for passengers.

Moving aircraft efficiently on the ground

While the MIT researchers may have come up with an aircraft design that reduces emissions, can take off on shorter runways, and cuts down on noise pollution, you already have the most efficient method of towing small aircraft available with the Lindbergh Aircraft Tug Company’s family of aircraft tugs. We have electric aircraft tugs that allow a single person to quietly move planes weighing from 4,000 pounds to as much as 15,000 pounds.

For more information on these low-maintenance and economical aircraft tugs, visit DJProducts.com, and visit our blog for other tips and industry news.

Tag: Aircraft Tug