AIRBUS A321 Pushback with Towbarless Tractor

[210482fmj]

will this cause more of the weight to be shifted to the rear of the plane

[cesar333]

You guys call it a towbarless tractor? We call it a "super tug".

[boeing63]

ooh A321 doing wheelie backwards

[Chrisell]

Wow that was super cool, great video, and possibly the greatest job on the tarmac. Well done my friend.

[skydive911]

imagine the aircraft falls on it's tail! That would be a disaster!

[aykwm]

@skydive911 the aircraft is lifted for few inches or feet, so it is unlikely to fall back

[skydive911]

@aykwm Must be an incredibly strong hydraulic pump though!

[aykwm]

@skydive911 yes of course, a small truck like that weight about 25~50 tons, so it is not weird to see it having one of the strongest hydraulics

[bobac1083]

@aykwm what about the nose gear of the new Airbus A380 or is a better tracktor needed?

[aykwm]

@bobac1083 I think there are some already in service, I think the tractor for 777 or 747 is the same as the one for a380 

[Engineer9736]

@aykwm No, airports need to buy new tractors to be able to pushback a380's. And the weight of the aircraft isn't lifted by pure hydraulics. The system works with heavy cast-metal U-profiles where over the 'wheelholder' rolls. The first part of the U-profile makes the 'wheelholder' to close around the nosewheel, the last part goes upwards a little bit which lifts the aircraft. I've seen the system with my own eyes from a meter distance, i work at the local airport over here.

[aykwm]

@Engineer9736 I said I think I didn't say that this is the way. There are many kinds of tractors. Dubai airport uses only towbarless tractors, I always see tractors in dubai airport, all seem be the same as the old ones, I didn't notice any new ones